Arginine-induced dispersion of cells from neonatal rat islets of Langerhans.

Neonatal rat islets of Langerhans respond in vitro to prolonged arginine exposure by cellular dissociation and a cell monolayer formation resulting in complete dissolution of the islet structure. This effect is seen at an arginine concentration of 10 mM and a minimum exposure of 8 hr. The dissociated cells remain viable in culture for at least 3 weeks though there is no response to a glucose challenge following the first week. Leucine, another amino acid which initiates hormone release, does not alter islet morphology. The arginine-induced alteration in the islet structure may be due to an effect on the factors which control cellular adhesion.