title: Relative importance of extracellular and intracellular Ca2+ for acetylcholine stimulation of insulin release in mouse islets.
abstract: Mouse islets were used to study whether mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ is sufficient to account for acetylcholine (ACh) amplification of glucose-induced insulin release. In the presence of 15 mM glucose, the acceleration of 45Ca efflux and insulin release by 1-100 microM ACh increased with the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ (0.25-2.5 mM). Low concentrations of the Ca2+-channel blockers D 600 (1 microM) or nifedipine (0.1 microM) partially inhibited glucose-induced insulin release and its amplification by ACh. At higher concentrations, D 600 (25 microM) or nifedipine (2 microM) practically abolished the ionic and secretory effects of 1 microM ACh. However, 100 microM ACh still caused a fast, large, but transient acceleration of 45Ca efflux, accompanied by a small, short-lived release of insulin. Similar results were obtained in a Ca2+-free medium, indicating that this peak of 45Ca efflux reflects Ca2+ mobilization. Addition of nifedipine or omission of Ca2+ during ACh stimulation rapidly and strongly inhibited 45Ca efflux and insulin release. Both glucose and ACh-induced 45Ca uptake were inhibited by D 600. Only high concentrations of ACh (100 microM) mobilize enough cellular Ca2+ to trigger a small and transient insulin release when Ca2+ influx is prevented or impossible. A continuous influx of Ca2+ is necessary for low ACh concentrations to increase release and for high concentrations to have a sustained effect. The amplification of release by the neurotransmitter results from a slight enhancement of Ca2+ influx associated with a marked increase in the effectiveness of incoming Ca2+ on the releasing machinery.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Diabetology and Nutrition, University of Louvain School of Medicine, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Henquin
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005711:Gallopamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005711:Gallopamil; D009543:Nifedipine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium