The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on insulin release and phosphate efflux from isolated, perifused islets of Langerhans.

Islets of Langerhans isolated by collagenase digestion were shown to elicit an immediate monophasic release by insulin when subjected to cryoprotective concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) in a perifusion system. This response only terminated after removal of the drug from the perifusate, and was attributed to membrane permeability changes as demonstrated by the immediate monophasic release of phosphate from perifused islets which also terminated only after removal of the drug.