Decreased Rat Hepatic Guanylate Cyclase Activity in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes Mellitus

Guanylate cyclase is found in virtually all cells, but its physiologic role and the effect of hormones on its activity have not been clarified. Hepatic soluble guanylate cyclase activity (37,000 g supernatant) in rats with diabetes-mellitus-like syndrome induced by streptozotocin, 65 mg./kg. i.V., was 140 ± 8 pmoles accumulated/mg. protein/10 min. (n = 13 rats) as against 279 ± 16 pmoles accumulated/mg. protein/10 min. (n = 12 rats) in normal rats. The average blood sugar for the 12 normal rats was 100 ± 4 mg./100 ml. and 546 ± 32 mg./100 ml. for 13 diabetic rats. The decreased soluble hepatic guanylate cyclase activity in diabetic rats was completely restored to normal with 10 U. regular insulin, i.p. The maximum increase in guanylate cyclase activity was observed as early as five minutes and as late as two hours after insulin administration. Insulin restoration of guanylate cyclase was dose-related over a range of 1 U. to 10 U., i.p. Hepatic cyclic GMP levels in vivo paralleled in-vitro guanylate cyclase activity, being 29 ± 0.4 pmoles/gm. wet weight in normals, 17 ± 0.4 pmoles/gm. wet weight in streptozotocin-diabetic rats, and 38 ± 0.4 pmoles/gm. wet weight two hours after the injection of 10 U. regular insulin. We conclude that rat hepatic guanylate cyclase is decreased in streptozotocin-induced diabetes and that insulin modulates this enzyme. The administration of exogenous insulin in normal animals did not further augment hepatic guanylate cyclase activity.