Determination of beta-cell function: ion channel function in beta cells.
For the regulation of beta-cell function ion channels are of outstanding importance. Beta cells are specialized to convert changes in blood glucose concentration to an adequate secretory response. To achieve this, nutrient-induced alterations of electrical activity are directly coupled to changes in insulin release. Consequently, determination and analysis of ion channel activity are important tools for the characterization of beta-cell (patho)physiology and for the investigation of drugs that influence insulin release. With implementation of the patch-clamp technique it has become possible to analyze ion currents in beta cells under various conditions (e.g., in intact cells or independent of cell metabolism, as whole-cell currents or on a single channel level). In addition, this method enables to combine ion current recordings with determination of membrane potential and exocytosis. This chapter introduces the basic principles of different patch-clamp configurations and focuses on experimental protocols for ion channel recordings in beta cells.
Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. martina.duefer@uni-tuebingen.de
Martina
M
Düfer
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D007473:Ion Channels; D000666:Amphotericin B; D002118:Calcium