Glucose-induced Ca2+ signals in rat pancreatic β cells

Using microfluorometry to assay intracellular Ca2+ , the influences of varied factors on glucose induced Ca22+ signals, such as glucose-induced initial decline phase (GIDP), Ca2+ oscillation, and Ca2+ release from internal stores, were investigated in single rat pancreatic β cells. Glucose was able to evoke GIDP even at non-stimulus concentration (5 mol/L), which is insufficient to induce Ca2+ spikes. GIDP was dependent on neither membrane depo larization nor extraeellular Ca2+ . However, GIDP was inhibited by thapsigargin, indicating a dependence on Ca2+ up take by Ca22+ stores. The glucose-induced calcium oscillation was inhibited when external Ca2+ was removed. However, thapsigargin could not block the Ca2+ oscillation. These results suggest that maintenance of Ca22+ oscillation requires ex tracellular Ca2+ but not Ca2+ stores. Glucose was able to evoke Ca2+ signals even in the absence of external Ca2+ . The glucose-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores was blocked by TTX. However, TTX had no effect on high K--induced Ca2+ store release, suggesting that membrane depolarization can directly release Ca2+ from some internal Ca2+ stores in β cells.