Demonstration of glucose inhibition of insulin release in the presence of diazoxide.

beta-Cell-rich pancreatic islets from ob/ob mice were taken for measurements of insulin release in response to glucose after culture in RPMI 1640 medium. The stimulatory effect of 20 mmol/l glucose was converted into an inhibition when the medium was supplemented with 400 mumol/l diazoxide. Glucose inhibition of insulin release was observed when the islets had been cultured in the presence of 1 or 20 mmol/l glucose in media either containing or lacking Ca2+. The data provide further evidence for an inhibitory component in the action of glucose on insulin release, suggesting that glucose stimulation of the Ca2+ efflux is essential for the appearance of this inhibition.