title: Regulation of calcium fluxes in rat pancreatic islets: dissimilar effects of glucose and of sodium ion accumulation.
abstract: 1. Removal of extracellular K+ provoked a dramatic increase in 43Ca efflux from pancreatic islets prelabelled in the presence of glucose. Such an increase in 45Ca efflux was preceded by a modest and transient reduction in 45Ca efflux. The increase in 45Ca efflux was reduced when the islets were perifused either in the presence of glucose 16 . 7 mM or in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. It was abolished when the islets were perifused in the absence of extracellular Na+. 2. When the islets had been prelabelled in the absence as distinct from presence of glucose, the increase in 45Ca efflux observed on removal of extracellular K+ was of smaller amplitude. It was completely abolished when, in addition, Ca2+ was replaced by Co2+ in the perifusate. 3. Veratridine also provoked a dramatic increase in 45Ca efflux. This increase was slightly reduced when the perifusate contained glucose 5 . 6 mM and markedly reduced in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. 4. Both the removal of extracellular K+ or addition of veratridine had little or no effect on insulin release in the absence of glucose. A significant increase in insulin release was observed, however, in the presence of glucose. The increase in insulin release, due to removal of extracellular K+, was completely abolished at low extracellular Na+ concentration. Such as ionic manipulation failed to affect veratridine-induced insulin release. Tetrodotoxin failed to inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin release. 5. It is concluded that Na+ accumulation in islet cells due to either veratridine or removal of extracellular K+ provokes the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores but fails to reproduce the effect of glucose to reduce 45Ca efflux and to stimulate insulin release.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014701:Veratridine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D014701:Veratridine; D012964:Sodium; D005947:Glucose; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium