Linzel M, Ciccarelli A, Merrell R C
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1988 Jun 30;153(3):999-1005. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(88)81327-5.
Insulin secretion by intact islets, dispersed islet cells and dispersed cells allowed to reaggregate was compared in perifusion. Although single cells and aggregates showed basal insulin secretion and a prompt response to glucose challenge, basal secretion, peak insulin secretion and total insulin secretion during a 60 minute stimulation were profoundly less than those activities of intact islets. These results suggest that dispersed beta cells are responsive to glucose as a secretagogue, but the magnitude of the response is greatly diminished and not restored by simple cell contact.
