Initial uptake and insulin releasing action of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid (CMBS) in suspensions of pancreatic islet cells.

The effects of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid on dispersed cells prepared from beta-cell-rich ob/ob-mouse islets were studied. 1) Chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid at concentrations of 0.1 mmol/l or higher diminished cell viability which was partially counteracted by increasing concentrations of bovine serum albumin. 2) The uptake of 203Hg-chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid after incubation for 4 seconds or longer showed that most of the non-toxic concentrations of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid was bound to the cell within 40 seconds. Maximal uptake was achieved after 3 minutes of incubation. The uptake of radioactive chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid was inhibited by bovine serum albumin. 3) The dynamics of insulin release from perifused dispersed beta-cells embedded in fibrin showed a maximal 40--50-fold stimulation by 0.03 mmol/l chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid within 10 minutes of perifusion. 4) Scanning electron microscopy of beta-cells revealed no major changes in the cell surface under conditions of maximal binding and insulin releasing effects of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid. These data support the concept that the ability of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid to induce insulin release is related to its initial binding to the beta-cell surface. The binding of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid and the subsequent release of insulin seem to occur without major changes in beta-cell surface morphology.