Glucose-induced oscillations of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in the pancreatic beta-cell.

The cytoplasmic calcium concentration (Ca2+i) was measured in individual mouse pancreatic beta-cells loaded with fura-2 by recording the 340/380 nm fluorescence excitation ratio. An increase of the glucose concentration from 3 to 20 mM, caused initial lowering of Ca2+i followed by a rise with a peak preceding constant elevation at an intermediary level. However, at 11 mM glucose there were large Ca2+i oscillations with a frequency of 1 cycle per 2-6 min. The results indicate that both first and second phase secretion depend on elevated Ca2+i, and that many electrically coupled cells collectively determine the pace of rhythmic depolarization.