Insulinotropic glucagonlike peptide-I(7–37)/(7–36)amide A new incretin hormone

Intestinal peptide hormones, released into circulation in response to a meal, are important augmentors of the postprandial insulin release stimulated by absorbed nutrients. In this “Incretin concept” glucagon-like peptide I(7–37) plays a major role because it is the most powerful glucose-dependent insulin secretagogue described so far. Glucagonlike peptide I(7–37) also stimulates proinsulin gene expression and proinsulin biosynthesis in insulinoma cells, and it may be involved in the regulation of the intracellular insulin pool of the B cell. Recent studies show elevated levels of glucagonlike peptide I(7–37) in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The physiology and pathophysiology of the enteroinsular axis is a promising field of basic and clinical research that has a relevance to diabetes mellitus.