Polarization of chlorotetracycline fluorescence in pancreatic islet cells and its response to calcium ions and D-glucose.

Suspensions rich in pancreatic beta-cells were prepared from non-inbred ob/ob-mice, incubated with 10 micrometer-chlorotetracycline, and analysed for fluorescence polarization in a microscope. Throughout the temperature range 16--38 degrees C, fluorescence was enhanced by 5 mM-Ca2+ in the incubation medium; 20 mM-D-glucose decreased the fluorescence measured in the presence of Ca2+. Fluorescence showed a curvilinear negative regression on temperature. The curves were rectified to a virtually ideal degree by Arrhenius transformations of data. Non-parametric testing of differences between linearized regression lines forms the basis for the following conclusions. The temperature-dependence of fluorescence intensity appeared to be smaller for Ca2+-specific signals than for the background fluorescence of chlorotetracycline in Ca2+-deficient cells. D-Glucose significantly diminished the polarization of fluorescence in cells incubated with Ca2+. It is suggested that D-glucose increases the mobility of Ca2+ in beta-cell plasma membranes; this mobility increase may help to explain previously reported effects of D-glucose on 45Ca2+ fluxes and membrane electric potential.