title: Beta cell contact and insulin release.
abstract: Insulin secretion by intact islets, dispersed islet cells and dispersed cells allowed to reaggregate was compared in perifusion. Although single cells and aggregates showed basal insulin secretion and a prompt response to glucose challenge, basal secretion, peak insulin secretion and total insulin secretion during a 60 minute stimulation were profoundly less than those activities of intact islets. These results suggest that dispersed beta cells are responsive to glucose as a secretagogue, but the magnitude of the response is greatly diminished and not restored by simple cell contact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linzel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Merrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose