Characterization and control of pulsatile secretion of insulin and glucagon.

Periodic oscillation of insulin and glucagon by isolated mice islets has been studied. Pulsatile secretion of insulin and glucagon was observed at all glucose concentrations tested. The frequency of oscillation per 20 min for glucagon was 5.0 +/- 0.26 and for insulin 4.0 +/- 0.26 (n = 6), approximating to periodicities of 4 and 5 min, respectively. These did not change by increasing the glucose concentration to 11.1 or 22.2 mM from 5.5 mM (basal). The maximal amplitude of glucagon secretion was not altered by raising the glucose concentration to 11.1 mM from basal. However, 22.2 mM glucose significantly suppressed the amount of glucagon released when compared with glucagon secretion in the presence of 5.5 mM glucose. In contrast, the maximal amplitude of insulin increased from 444.2 +/- 37.7 to 777.2 +/- 61.4 and from 271.8 +/- 35 to 701 +/- 26.5 pg/min (p less than 0.01, n = 6) by switching from basal to 11.1 and 22.2 mM glucose, respectively. We conclude from this study that the pacemaker controlling pulsatile secretion of insulin and glucagon is within the islet. Although the amplitude of secretion of these hormones is regulated by the ambient glucose concentration, the frequency of their pulsatile secretion is not.