Objective: Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is an incretin released from intestinal K-cells during the postprandial period. Previous studies have suggested that GIP may play an etiologic role in obesity; thus, the GIP receptor may represent a target for anti-obesity drugs. The present studies were conducted to elucidate mechanisms by which GIP might promote obesity by examining the effect of GIP on both glycerol release (indicative of lipolysis) and free fatty acid (FFA) release (indicative of both lipolysis and reesterification), as well as the ability of a GIP-specific receptor antagonist (ANTGIP) to attenuate these effects. Research Methods and Procedures: Isolated rat adipocytes were perifused on a column with 10 nM GIP alone or in combination with 10 U/mL insulin, 1 M isoproterenol, or 1 M ANTGIP. Samples were collected every minute and assayed for FFA, glycerol, and lactate. Results: GIP significantly increased FFA reesterification (decreased FFA release by 25%), stimulated lipolysis (increased glycerol release by 22%), and attenuated the lipolytic response to isoproterenol by 43%. These properties were similar to those of insulin in vitro, suggesting that GIP possesses insulin-like lipogenic effects on adipocytes. Finally, ANTGIP reversed the effects of GIP on both basal and stimulated adipocyte metabolism. Discussion: These studies provide further evidence for an important physiological role for GIP in lipid homeostasis and possibly in the pathogenesis of obesity. They also suggest that the GIP receptor may represent an excellent target for the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-related type 2 diabetes.

Background & Aims-In addition to its role as the primary mediator of the enteroinsular axis, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) may play a critical role in the development of obesity. The purpose of these studies was to characterize the effects of GIP and its receptor (GIPR) in adipocyte development and signaling.

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are characterized by elevated nocturnal circulating free fatty acids, elevated basal insulin secretion, and blunted glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). The CB1 receptor antagonist, Rimonabant, has been shown to improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in vivo but its direct effect on islets has been unclear. Islets from lean littermates and obese Zucker (ZF) and Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats were incubated for 24 h in vitro and exposed to 11 mmol/l glucose and 0.3 mmol/l palmitate (GL) with or without Rimonabant. Insulin secretion was determined at basal (3 mmol/l) or stimulatory (15 mmol/l) glucose concentrations. As expected, basal secretion was significantly elevated in islets from obese or GL-treated lean rats whereas the fold increase in GSIS was diminished. Rimonabant decreased basal hypersecretion in islets from obese rats and GL-treated lean rats without decreasing the fold increase in GSIS. However, it decreased GSIS in islets from lean rats without affecting basal secretion. These findings indicate that Rimonabant has direct effects on islets to reduce insulin secretion when secretion is elevated above normal levels by diet or in obesity. In contrast, it appears to decrease stimulated secretion in islets from lean animals but not in obese or GL-exposed islets.