Glucose-Induced Changes of the Membrane Potential of Pancreatic B-Cells: Their Significance for the Regulation of Insulin Release

Abstract

The D-glucose molecule is recognized by the pancreatic B-cell as the major physiological stimulus for insulin release, and it is generally accepted that calcium ions are an essential prerequisite for the insulin releasing process. However, the precise mechanism of the regulation of insulin release by D-glucose and calcium is not yet clear. Electrophysiological experiments in B-cells have shown that D-glucose and other insulin secretagogues induce membrane depolarization and electrical activity (1,2) which seem to be directly connected with insulin release. By these studies it has been suggested that the glucose-inducted potential changes play an important role in the regulatory process of insulin secretion. Hence, the investigation of the membrane potential of B-cells seems to be appropriate to obtain a further insight into the stimulus-secretion coupling process.