Muscarinic control of pancreatic B cell function involves sodium-dependent depolarization and calcium influx.

Mouse pancreatic islets were used to investigate the mechanisms and functional significance of the B cell membrane depolarization by acetylcholine (ACh). At low glucose (3mM), ACh (20 microM) increased 22Na+ influx, and slightly depolarized the B cell membrane but did not induce electrical activity or stimulate 45Ca2+ influx. ACh also accelerated 86Rb+ and 45Ca2+ efflux and barely affected basal insulin release. At a stimulatory concentration of glucose (10 mM), ACh stimulated 22Na+ influx, depolarized the B cell membrane, increased glucose-induced electrical activity, and stimulated 45Ca2+ influx. ACh also accelerated 86Rb+ and 45Ca2+ efflux and strongly potentiated insulin release. Omission of extracellular Ca2+ did not impair ACh stimulation of 22Na+ influx or 86Rb+ efflux, slightly modified the acceleration of 45Ca2+ efflux, and almost completely suppressed the increase in insulin release. Na+ omission (with N-methyl-D-glucamine as substitute) prevented the B cell membrane depolarization and the stimulation of 45Ca2+ influx, largely inhibited the acceleration of 86Rb+ efflux and insulin release, and suppressed the late phase of 45Ca2+ efflux otherwise produced by ACh. On the other hand, ACh stimulation of 3H efflux from islets prelabeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol was not affected by Na+ omission. All effects of ACh were blocked by atropine and unaffected by nicotinic antagonists. It is concluded that activation of muscarinic receptors depolarized the B cell membrane by increasing its permeability to Na+. When the membrane is already depolarized by glucose, this further depolarization augments Ca2+ influx and, hence, potentiates insulin release.