Rat Islet Cells have Glucose-Dependent Periodic Electrical Activity

M. Ikeuchi; W. Y. Fujimoto; D. L. Cook

doi:10.1055/s-2007-1014717

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 1984; 16(3): 125-127
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1014717

Rat Islet Cells have Glucose-Dependent Periodic Electrical Activity

M. Ikeuchi, W. Y. Fujimoto, D. L. Cook

Department of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

Abstract

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Summary

In order to examine whether rat islet cells have a glucose-dependent plateau/silent phase pattern of electrical activity as seen in mouse islets, intracellular recordings were made in cultured whole rat islets. Rat islet cells responded to glucose stimulation with membrane potential alterations between a polarized silent phase and a depolarized plateau phase associated with spikes. Increasing or decreasing glucose stimulation prolonged or shortened the relative duration of plateau phase, respectively. Removal of glucose from the medium caused membrane hyperpolarization with disappearance of electrical activity while reintroduction of glucose caused membrane depolarization and biphasic onset of electrical activity. These results indicate that rat islet cells have a glucose dependent plateau/silent phase electrical mechanism nearly identical to that seen in mouse islets.

Key-Words:

Rat Islets - Glucose - Electric Activity

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