Gap junction development is correlated with insulin content in the pancreatic B cell.
The development of gap junctions between insulin-containing B cells was quantitatively analyzed in islets of Langerhans isolated from rats treated with the sulfonylurea glibenclamid for 1, 2, or 7 days. Glibenclamid treatment was associated with a marked depletion of the insulin content of B cells and with an increase in the number and size of gap junctions between these cells. A significance correlation was found between these two events.
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats
D007328:Insulin; D005905:Glyburide