title: Cell-specific Ca(2+) responses in glucose-stimulated single and aggregated beta-cells.
abstract: A rise in the cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) is a key event for insulin exocytosis. We have recently found that the 'early [Ca(2+)](i) response' in single ob/ob mouse beta-cells is reproduced during consecutive glucose stimulations. It, therefore, appears that the response pattern is a characteristic of the individual beta-cell. We have now investigated if a cell-specific [Ca(2+)](i) response is a general phenomenon in rodent beta-cells, and if it can be observed when cells are functionally coupled. With the use of the fura-2 technique, we have studied the 'early [Ca(2+)](i) response' in single dispersed beta-cells, in beta-cell clusters of different size and in intact islets from the ob/ob mouse during repeated glucose stimulation (20mM). beta-Cells from lean mouse and rat, and intact islets from lean mouse were also investigated. Significant correlations between the first and second stimulation were found for the parameters lag-time for Ca(2+) rise (calculated as the time from start of stimulation of the cell until the first value above an extrapolated baseline), nadir of initial lowering (difference between the baseline and lowest [Ca(2+)](i) value), and peak height (difference between baseline and the highest [Ca(2+)](i) value of the first calcium peak) in single dispersed beta-cells, in 'single beta-cell within a small cluster', in clusters of medium and large size, and in single dispersed beta-cells from lean mouse and rat. The lag-times for Ca(2+) rise and peak heights were correlated within the pairs of stimulation also in intact ob/ob islets. In summary, despite a large heterogeneity of the 'early [Ca(2+)](i) response' among individual cells, the lag-time for [Ca(2+)](i) rise, the nadir of initial lowering and the height of the first peak response can be identified as cell-specific markers in beta-cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Section for Histology and Cell Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pakhtusova
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaostrovskaya
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindström
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larsson-Nyrén
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016257:Fura-2; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D005810:Multigene Family; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2