Cyclic AMP triggers large [Ca2+]i oscillations in glucose-stimulated beta-cells from ob/ob mice.

The modulation of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) by cAMP was compared in pancreatic beta-cells of lean (+/+) and obese (ob/ob) mice. Neither forskolin nor 8-bromo-cAMP significantly affected basal [Ca2+]i in unstimulated lean and obese mouse beta-cells. In obese, but not in lean mouse beta-cells, adding forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP during the glucose-induced [Ca2+]i response triggered external Ca(2+)-dependent [Ca2+]i oscillations with a duration of 5-11 s and a frequency of 2.3-4.8 min-1. The induction of oscillations by cAMP required both a stimulatory glucose concentration and membrane depolarization. (Sp)-cAMPS, did induce oscillations in lean mouse beta-cells. However, these oscillations were different from those seen in obese mouse beta-cells and required higher concentrations of (Sp)-cAMPS. The inducibility of fast oscillations in obese mouse beta-cells indicates hypersensitivity of these cells to cAMP, and suggests an abnormal behavior of K+ and/or Ca2+ channels.