Effects of chloride deficiency on the pancreatic B-cell response to acetylcholine.

Muscarinic stimulation of pancreatic B-cells markedly amplifies insulin secretion through complex mechanisms which involve changes in membrane potential and ionic fluxes. In this study, normal mouse islets were used to evaluate the role of Cl- ions in these effects of acetylcholine (ACh). Whatever the concentration of glucose, the rate of 36Cl- efflux from islet cells was unaffected by ACh. Replacement of Cl- by impermeant isethionate in a medium containing 15 mM glucose did not affect, or only slightly decreased, the ability of ACh to depolarize the B-cell membrane and increase electrical activity, to accelerate 45Ca2+ and 86Rb+ efflux from islet cells, and to amplify insulin release. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, a high concentration of ACh (100 microM) mobilized intracellular Ca2+ and caused a transient release of insulin and a sustained acceleration of 86Rb+ efflux. None of these effects was affected by Cl- omission or by addition of furosemide, a blocker of the Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport. Isethionate substitution for Cl- in a medium containing a nonstimulatory concentration of glucose (3 mM) barely reduced the depolarization of B-cells by ACh, but inhibited the concomitant increase in 86Rb+ efflux. We have no explanation for the latter effect that was not mimicked by furosemide. In conclusion, ACh stimulation of pancreatic B-cells, unlike that of exocrine acinar cells, is largely independent of Cl- and is insensitive to furosemide. The acceleration of ionic fluxes produced by ACh does not involve the Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport system.

Effects of acute sodium omission on insulin release, ionic flux and membrane potential in mouse pancreatic B-cells.

The effects of acute omission of extracellular Na+ on pancreatic B-cell function were studied in mouse islets, using choline and lithium salts as impermeant and permeant substitutes, respectively. In the absence of glucose, choline substitution for Na+ hyperpolarized the B-cell membrane, inhibited 86Rb+ and 45Ca2+ efflux, but did not affect insulin release. In contrast, Li+ substitution for Na+ depolarized the B-cell membrane and caused a Ca2+-independent, transient acceleration of 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin release. Na+ replacement by choline in the presence of 10 mM glucose and 2.5 mM Ca2+ again rapidly hyperpolarized the B-cell membrane. This hyperpolarization was then followed by a phase of depolarization with continuous spike activity, before long slow waves of the membrane potential resumed. Under these conditions, 86Rb+ efflux first decreased before accelerating, concomitantly with marked and parallel increases in 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin release. In the absence of Ca2+, 45Ca2+ and 86Rb+ efflux were inhibited and insulin release was unaffected by choline substitution for Na+. Na+ replacement by Li+ in the presence of 10 mM glucose rapidly depolarized the B-cell membrane, caused an intense continuous spike activity, and accelerated 45Ca2+ efflux, 86Rb+ efflux and insulin release. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, Li+ still caused a rapid but transient increase in 45Ca2+ and 86Rb+ efflux and in insulin release. Although not indispensable for insulin release, Na+ plays an important regulatory role in stimulus-secretion coupling by modulating, among others, membrane potential and ionic fluxes in B-cells.

Modulation of the effect of acetylcholine on insulin release by the membrane potential of B cells.

Mouse islets were used to test the hypothesis that the B cell membrane must be depolarized for acetylcholine to increase insulin release. The resting membrane potential of B cells (at 3 mM glucose) was slightly decreased (5 mV) by acetylcholine, but no electrical activity appeared. This depolarization was accompanied by a Ca-independent acceleration of 86Rb and 45Ca efflux but no insulin release. When the B cell membrane was depolarized by a stimulatory concentration of glucose (10 mM), acetylcholine potentiated electrical activity, accelerated 86Rb and 45Ca efflux, and increased insulin release. This latter effect, but not the acceleration of 45Ca efflux, was totally dependent on extracellular Ca. If glucose-induced depolarization of the B cell membrane was prevented by diazoxide, acetylcholine lost all effects but those produced at low glucose. In contrast, when the B cell membrane was depolarized by leucine or tolbutamide (at 3 mM glucose), acetylcholine triggered a further depolarization with appearance of electrical activity, accelerated 86Rb and 45Ca efflux, and stimulated insulin release. Acetylcholine produced similar effects (except for electrical activity) in the presence of high K or arginine which, unlike the above test agents, depolarize the B cell membrane by a mechanism other than a decrease in K+ permeability. Omission of extracellular Ca abolished the releasing effect of acetylcholine under all conditions but only partially decreased the stimulation of 45Ca efflux. The results show thus that acetylcholine stimulation of insulin release does not result from mobilization of cellular Ca but requires that the B cell membrane be sufficiently depolarized to reach the threshold potential where Ca channels are activated. This may explain why acetylcholine alone does not initiate release but becomes active in the presence of a variety of agents.

Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, increases CA2+-dependent electrical activity induced by glucose in mouse pancreatic B cells.

The effects of forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, on the membrane potential of pancreatic B cells have been studied with microelectrodes. Forskolin (5 microM) did not affect the stable resting membrane potential (3 mM glucose). In the presence of 10 mM glucose, forskolin lengthened the slow waves with superimposed spikes and shortened the polarized intervals between them. This caused a marked increase in the frequency of the slow waves and doubled the fraction of time spent at a depolarized level, with spike activity. The frequency of the spikes was not changed. The effects of forskolin were of rapid onset, but were only slowly and partially reversible; they were completely blocked when Ca2+ influx was prevented by cobalt. The results show that forskolin increases electrical events underlain by Ca inward currents and suggest that, besides its action on intracellular Ca stores, cyclic AMP could also modulate the permeability of Ca channels in the plasma membrane of B cells.

Effects of extracellular adenine nucleotides on the electrical, ionic and secretory events in mouse pancreatic beta-cells.

1. The mechanisms whereby extracellular adenine nucleotides modulate pancreatic beta-cell function were studied with mouse islets stimulated by 15 mM glucose. 2. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) (100 microM) inhibited insulin release, 45Ca efflux and 86Rb efflux from islet cells, and decreased electrical activity in beta-cells. These changes were rapid but small and transient. 3. alpha,beta-Methylene ADP caused a rapid and sustained inhibition of insulin release, 45Ca efflux and 86Rb efflux from islet cells. It also produced a slight hyperpolarization of the beta-cell membrane, with sustained modification of the pattern but only transient decrease of the intensity of the electrical activity. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, alpha,beta-methylene ADP increased 45Ca and 86Rb efflux without changing insulin release. Most effects of alpha,beta-methylene ATP were qualitatively similar but quantitatively smaller than those of the ADP-analogue. 4. Adenylylimido-diphosphate (AMP-PNP) slightly increased 45Ca and 86Rb efflux and potentiated insulin release in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. However, its effects on electrical activity in beta-cells were qualitatively similar to those of the alpha,beta-methylene analogues. 5. The small effects of ATP and ADP could result from their degradation into adenosine. alpha,beta-Methylene ADP appears to increase K+ permeability of the beta-cell membrane and to produce a second, intracellular, effect which largely contributes to the inhibition of insulin release. Another recognition site, with higher affinity for triphosphate derivatives, could mediate the small stimulatory effects of AMP-PNP.

Sparteine increases insulin release by decreasing the K+ permeability of the B-cell membrane.

The effects of sparteine on the pancreatic B-cell function have been studied with mouse islets. In the presence of a non-stimulatory concentration of glucose (3 mM), sparteine (0.2-1 mM) decreased the rate of 86Rb+ efflux from islet cells, depolarized the B-cell membrane, induced a glucose-like electrical activity and stimulated insulin release. This increase in release was observed over a large range of glucose concentrations (3-20 mM), and was most marked in the presence of 10 mM glucose. At this concentration of glucose, the effect of sparteine was already detected with 0.02 mM and was maximal with 0.5 mM. Higher concentrations of sparteine only had a transient effect on insulin release. In the presence of 10 mM glucose, 0.2 mM sparteine decreased 86Rb+ efflux and increased 45Ca2+ efflux from islet cells. The effect on 86Rb+ efflux was only transient in the presence of extracellular calcium, whereas the effect on 45Ca2+ efflux required the presence of extracellular calcium. The electrical activity induced by glucose in B-cells was augmented by sparteine which, at a concentration of 0.5 mM, produced a persistent depolarization with continuous spike activity. The potentiation of insulin release by sparteine was not reversible, but was inhibited by adrenaline and completely blocked by omission of extracellular calcium. Sparteine reversed the increase in 86Rb+ efflux and the decrease in insulin release caused by diazoxide. These results show that sparteine increases insulin release by reducing the K+-permeability of the B-cell membrane.

Distinct mechanisms for two amplification systems of insulin release.

The mechanisms whereby activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A or the Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C amplifies insulin release were studied with mouse islets. Forskolin and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) were used to stimulate adenylate cyclase and protein kinase C respectively. The sulphonylurea tolbutamide was used to initiate insulin release in the presence of 3 mM-glucose. Tolbutamide alone inhibited 86Rb+ efflux, depolarized beta-cell membrane, triggered electrical activity, accelerated 45Ca2+ influx and efflux and stimulated insulin release. Forskolin alone only slightly inhibited 86Rb+ efflux, but markedly increased the effects of tolbutamide on electrical activity, 45Ca2+ influx and efflux, and insulin release. In the absence of Ca2+, only the inhibition of 86Rb+ efflux persisted. TPA (100 nM) alone slightly accelerated 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin release without affecting 45Ca2+ influx or beta-cell membrane potential. It increased the effects of tolbutamide on 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin release without changing 86Rb+ efflux, 45Ca2+ influx or electrical activity. Omission of extracellular Ca2+ suppressed all effects due to the combination of TPA and tolbutamide, but not those of TPA alone. Though ineffective alone, 10 nM-TPA amplified the releasing action of tolbutamide without affecting its ionic and electrical effects. In conclusion, the two amplification systems of insulin release involve at least partially distinct mechanisms. The cyclic AMP but not the protein kinase C system initiating signal (Ca2+ influx) triggered by the primary secretagogue.

The permissive effect of glucose, tolbutamide and high K+ on arginine stimulation of insulin release in isolated mouse islets.

Mouse islets were used to study how glucose modulates arginine stimulation of insulin release. At 3 mmol/l glucose, arginine (20 mmol/l) decreased the resting membrane potential of B cells by about 10 mV, but did not evoke electrical activity. This depolarisation was accompanied by a slight but rapid acceleration of 86Rb+ efflux and 45Ca2+ influx. However, 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin release increased only weakly and belatedly. When the membrane was depolarised by threshold (7 mmol/l) or stimulatory (10-15 mmol/l) concentrations of glucose, arginine rapidly induced or augmented electrical activity, markedly accelerated 86Rb+ efflux, 45Ca2+ influx and efflux, and triggered a strong and fast increase in insulin release. When glucose-induced depolarisation of the B-cell membrane was prevented by diazoxide, arginine lost all effects but those produced at low glucose. However, the delayed increase in release still exhibited some glucose-dependency. In contrast, depolarisation by tolbutamide, at low glucose, largely mimicked the permissive effect of high glucose. Depolarisation by high K+ also amplified arginine stimulation of insulin release, but did not accelerate it as did glucose or tolbutamide. Omission of extracellular Ca2+ abolished the releasing effect of arginine under all conditions. The results thus show that the permissive action of glucose mainly results from its ability to depolarise the B-cell membrane. It enables the small depolarisation by arginine itself to activate Ca channels more rapidly and efficiently. Changes in the metabolic state of B cells may also contribute to this permissive action by increasing the efficacy of the initiating signal triggered by arginine.

Cyclic variations of glucose-induced electrical activity in pancreatic B cells.

Microelectrodes were used to record the effects of glucose on the membrane potential of single mouse B cells. In most cells, the slow waves of depolarization and the intervals of repolarization produced by a constant concentration of glucose displayed a great regularity. However, cyclic variations in the duration of these slow waves and/or intervals were observed in a certain number of B cells. These oscillations were more clearly visible and more frequent (47%) in the presence of 15 mM glucose, than in the presence of 10 mM glucose (19%). They sometimes disappeared with time, but sometimes persisted for over 90 min and were not affected by atropine, propanolol and phentolamine. Their mean period was 203 s at 10 mM glucose and 235 s at 15 mM glucose. The membrane potential and the degree of electrical activity were not different in B cells exhibiting these cyclic variations or not. These oscillations in the duration of slow waves and intervals induced by glucose could be due to fluctuations in metabolic events and in cytoplasmic K+ activity in B cells.

Forskolin suppresses the slow cyclic variations of glucose-induced electrical activity in pancreatic B cells.

The membrane potential of mouse pancreatic B cells was recorded with microelectrodes. In certain cells, both the slow waves of depolarization and the intervals of repolarization triggered by glucose (10 or 15 mM) displayed regular oscillations in their duration, though the concentration of the sugar remained constant. When forskolin (0.2 microM), an activator of adenylate cyclase, was added to the medium, the electrical activity rapidly became very regular, with slow waves and intervals of constant duration. This effect was unrelated to the overall increase in activity also brought about by forskolin. The oscillations resumed in 75% of the cells after withdrawal of the drug. Under similar conditions, forskolin rapidly and reversibly raised the cAMP concentration in the islets. The data suggest that cAMP is an important modulator of the electrical activity triggered by glucose in insulin-secreting cells.

Effects of a calcium channel agonist on the electrical, ionic and secretory events in mouse pancreatic B-cells.

The changes in pancreatic B-cell function produced by a Ca channel agonist, the dihydropyridine derivative CGP 28392, have been studied with mouse islets. CGP 28392 (5 microM) modified the electrical activity induced in B-cells by 10 mM glucose: the duration and the amplitude of the slow waves of membrane potential increased, but the overall spike activity decreased. Simultaneously, CGP 28392 markedly increased insulin release and 45Ca2+ efflux, and slightly accelerated 86Rb+ efflux from islet cells. These latter effects were abolished by omission of extracellular Ca2+. Qualitatively similar changes were observed at 15 mM glucose, whereas CGP 28392 was ineffective at 3 mM glucose. These results strongly suggest that an influx of Ca2+ contributes to the slow waves of membrane potential triggered by glucose, and underline the importance of this influx of Ca2+ for the control of insulin release by the sugar.

Mechanism of the stimulation of insulin release in vitro by HB 699, a benzoic acid derivative similar to the non-sulphonylurea moiety of glibenclamide.

HB 699 is a benzoic acid derivative similar to the non-sulphonylurea moiety of glibenclamide. The mechanisms whereby it affects B-cell function have been studied in vitro with mouse islets. In the presence of 3 mmol/l glucose, HB 699 decreased 86Rb+ efflux and accelerated 45Ca2+ efflux from islet cells, depolarized the B-cell membrane and induced an electrical activity similar to that triggered by stimulatory concentrations of glucose, and increased insulin release. The changes in 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin release, but not the inhibition of 86Rb+ efflux, were abolished in the absence of Ca2+. In the presence of 10 mmol/l glucose, HB 699 increased 86Rb+ and 45Ca2+ efflux from the islets, caused a persistent depolarization of the B-cell membrane with continuous electrical activity and markedly potentiated insulin release. All these changes were suppressed by omission of extracellular Ca2+. In the presence of 15 mmol/l glucose, diazoxide increased 86Rb+ efflux, hyperpolarized the B-cell membrane, suppressed electrical activity and inhibited insulin release. HB 699 reversed these effects of diazoxide. It is suggested that HB 699 decreases K+ permeability of the B-cell membrane, thereby causing a depolarization which leads to activation of voltage-dependent Ca channels and Ca2+ influx, and eventually increases insulin release. A sulphonylurea group is thus not a prerequisite to trigger the sequence of events that is also thought to underlie the releasing effects of tolbutamide and glibenclamide.