Glucose stimulates Ca2+ influx and insulin secretion in 2-week-old beta-cells lacking ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

In adult beta-cells glucose-induced insulin secretion involves two mechanisms (a) a K(ATP) channel-dependent Ca(2+) influx and rise of cytosolic Ca(2+) and (b) a K(ATP) channel-independent amplification of secretion without further increase of Ca(2+). Mice lacking the high affinity sulfonylurea receptor (Sur1KO), and thus K(ATP) channels, have been developed as a model of congenital hyperinsulinism. Here, we compared Ca(2+) and insulin secretion in overnight cultured islets from 2-week-old normal and Sur1KO mice. Control islets proved functionally mature: the magnitude and biphasic kinetics of Ca(2+) and insulin secretion changes induced by glucose, and operation of the amplifying pathway, were similar to adult islets. Sur1KO islets perifused with 1 mm glucose showed elevation of both basal Ca(2+) and insulin secretion. Stimulation with 15 mm glucose produced a transient drop of Ca(2+) followed by an overshoot and a sustained elevation, accompanied by a monophasic, 6-fold increase in insulin secretion. Glucose also increased insulin secretion when Ca(2+) was clamped by KCl. When Sur1KO islets were cultured in 5 instead of 10 mm glucose, Ca(2+) and insulin secretion were unexpectedly low in 1 mm glucose and increased following a biphasic time course upon stimulation by 15 mm glucose. This K(ATP) channel-independent first phase Ca(2+) rise was attributed to a Na(+)-, Cl(-)-, and Na(+)-pump-independent depolarization of beta-cells, leading to Ca(2+) influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels. Glucose indeed depolarized Sur1KO islets under these conditions. It is suggested that unidentified potassium channels are sensitive to glucose and subserve the acute and long-term metabolic control of Ca(2+) in beta-cells without functional K(ATP) channels.