Effects of Glimepiride and Glibenclamide on Insulin and Glucagon Secretion by the Perfused Rat Pancreas

Glimepiride and glibenclamide act apparently in a closely comparable manner upon both insulin and glucagon release. Except for the decreased efficiency of D-glucose in suppressing glucagon release after a prior exposure of the pancreas to the hypoglycemic sulfonylureas, no evidence was obtained to suggest that a positive glucagonotropic action of the latter drugs would counteract their hypoglycemic action, as mainly attributable to stimulation of insulin release.