In Vitro Insulinogenic Effect of Two Monoamine-Oxidase Inhibitors

The stimulatory effect of two monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, nialamide and tranylcypromine, upon insulin secretion was studied using the in vitro rat slice pancreas incubation technic. It was found that these drugs stimulated insulin release in the presence of low levels of glucose. They were also able to enhance the insulin release elicited by high levels of glucose.

These results would explain, at least in part, the protective role of MAOI in some types of experimental and clinical diabetes.