A morphological basis for intercellular communication between alpha- and beta-cells in the endocrine pancreas.
By degranulating beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans of the rat with sulfonylurea, it has been possible to distinguish unambiguously alpha-cells from beta-cells in freeze-fracture replicas. In such preparations, we found morphologically typical tight and gap junctions occurring between alpha- and beta-cells. The presence of gap junctions offers indirect evidence that these cells are coupled with one another; coupling may influence the secretory behavior of alpha- and beta-cells maintaining glucose homeostasis within tightly constricted limits.
D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats
D005947:Glucose