The pancreatic β cell recognition of insulin secretagogues. Influence of neuraminidase treatment on the release of insulin and the islet content of insulin, sialic acid, and cyclic adenosine 3':5' monophosphate
Pancreatic islets rich in β cells and microdissected from noninbred ob/ob mice contained about 15 pmol sialic acid per μg dry weight as determined by a microversion of the Warren thiobarbituric acid method. Removal of half of the sialic acid by treatment with Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase had no effect on the islet content of insulin, moderately inhibited glucose oxidation, and resulted in