Novel mechanisms in insulin release and insulin resistance

The World Health Organisation published in August 2011 that 346 million people worldwide are thought to have diabetes and in 2004, 3.4 million people died from the consequences of high blood sugar. Diabetes is characterised by elevated circulating blood sugar accompanied by reduced insulin release and/or insulin resistance. Insulin release is normally stimulated by rising concentrations of circulating glucose, but the magnitude and timing of the release is also regulated locally in the pancreatic islet and centrally at the hypothalamus. GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, is released in the hypothalamus and also co-released with insulin from beta-cells. GABA receptors are also expressed on hypothalamic neurons and on beta and alpha cells in the lslet. Activation of GABA receptors has been shown to modulate insulin release, thereby playing an important role in feedback regulation. Dysfunction of GABA receptors has implications in the development of diabetes.
This project aims to systematically investigate the roles of GABA-B receptors in insulin release and glucose homeostasis. The student will be trained in conducting physiological, pharmacological and biochemical investigations in animal models, including transgenic models. Results from the studies will contribute to the identification of novel pharmacotherapies for the treatment of type II diabetes.