PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Bergsten

Publications and source records attributed to P Bergsten.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The dual action of glucose on the cytosolic Ca2+ activity in pancreatic beta-cells. Demonstration of an inhibitory effect of glucose on insulin release in the mouse and man.

The cytosolic Ca2+ activity was measured with the fluorescent indicator quin-2 in pancreatic beta-cells obtained from obese-hyperglycemic mice. When present at a concentration of 20 mmol/l in a medium physiologically balanced in cations, glucose induced a rise of cytosolic Ca2+ after a delay of 1--3 min. At lower concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ this effect was not only prevented but the sugar promptly reduced the cytosolic Ca2+ activity. The dual effect of glucose on cytosolic Ca2+ had its counterpart in the release of insulin. Whereas 20 mmol/l of glucose stimulated the release of insulin from mouse islets previously stored in a Ca2+-deficient medium, the sugar was clearly inhibitory when present at a concentration of 6 mmol/l. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests revealed a temporary glucose depression of the serum concentrations of insulin and C-peptide in several patients with diabetes. In a mentally retarded girl with hyperinsulinemia associated with acanthosis nigricans the glucose suppression of circulating insulin was prolonged and sufficiently pronounced to suggest an almost complete inhibition of the secretory activity of the pancreatic B-cells.

Aminoquinolines↗

Glucose and phosphate modulation of intracellular 45Ca incorporated into pancreatic islets during culture in the absence and presence of serum.

The effects of glucose and phosphate on the intracellular 45Ca content were measured in beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets cultured in media containing or lacking serum. Irrespective of the glucose and serum concentrations there were no or very small increments of 45Ca contents when phosphate was raised from 0.8 to 5.8 mM during culture for 1 day. However, after 7 days of culture in serum-free medium there was a massive accumulation of 45Ca in the islets in response to the higher phosphate concentration. Glucose markedly reduced, and serum eliminated, the extensive accumulation probably due to increased cell viability. In the cells cultured in the presence of serum, raising the glucose concentration from 1.0 to 5.5 mM resulted in an increased incorporation of 45Ca. This effect was particularly pronounced after culture for 7 days in 5.8 mM phosphate. A further increase of glucose to 20 mM reduced the 45Ca content. The results are consistent with the concept that glucose both stimulates 45Ca uptake into different beta-cell pools and degranulates the cell with associated loss of intracellular calcium from the granular calcium pool.

Animals↗

Glucose inhibits insulin release when not promoting the entry of calcium into the beta-cells.

The basal Ca2+ permeability of islets from ob/ob-mice was raised by culture in a Ca2+-deficient medium. The resulting secretory activity upon transfer to a higher Ca2+ concentration was significantly inhibited by 6 mM glucose although higher concentrations of the sugar further stimulated insulin release. In the presence theophylline, the inhibitory effect of 6 mM glucose was altered into a stimulatory one. After blocking the voltage-dependent channels for Ca2+ with D-600, 20 mM glucose did not enhance but significantly inhibited insulin release. The demonstration of a paradoxical glucose inhibition of insulin release is in accordance with recent reports that the sugar not only increases but also can lower the cytoplasmic Ca2+ activity in the pancreatic beta-cells.

Animals↗

Differentiation between the short and long term effects of glucose on the intracellular calcium content of the pancreatic beta-cell.

The problem of how glucose affects the intracellular (La3+-nondisplaceable) calcium content of pancreatic beta-cells was approached by combining measurements of 45Ca in ob/ob-mouse islets loaded to isotopic equilibrium with determinations of calcium using electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Whereas short term changes of the glucose concentration induced marked alterations of insulin release, the islet content of intracellular 45Ca was remarkably stable. The chronic actions of glucose differed from the acute ones in being readily demonstrable and sometimes resulting even in a suppression of the calcium content. Thus, after 7 days of culture in 20 mM glucose, the amount of intracellular calcium was actually lower than when the islets were cultured at 5.5 mM glucose. The long term effect of glucose in suppressing the islet content of intracellular calcium was associated with degranulation and loss of immunoreactive insulin, indicated both from staining of the beta-cells and measurements of the extracted hormone by RIA. The previously unknown ability of glucose to suppress the islet content of intracellular calcium may consequently result from mobilization of the secretory granules.

Animals↗

Interactions between magnesium and calcium in beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets.

Calcium-magnesium interactions, total amounts of intracellular magnesium, and insulin release were studied in beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets from ob/ob mice. Mg2+ inhibited the uptake of intracellular 45Ca and insulin release induced by glucose or high concentrations of potassium. Omission of Mg2+ from a Ca2+-deficient medium resulted in an increased efflux of 45Ca, whereas the characteristic glucose inhibition of the efflux was diminished. After addition of Mg2+ to a Mg2+-depleted medium, the glucose-stimulated 45Ca efflux was markedly reduced. Mg2+ inhibited the basal efflux of 45Ca, and this effect was preceded by a transient stimulation. Ca2+ but not Mg2+ stimulated 45Ca efflux in a medium depleted of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. The data indicate that Mg2+ interferes with Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Mg2+ may also inhibit the outward transport of Ca2+ from the cells at a site different from the Na+-Ca2+ countertransport mechanism. The total amount of intracellular magnesium remained unaffected by glucose and was not changed unless the ionic composition of the mediums were changed grossly. Under physiological conditions it is therefore unlikely that fluctuations in the intracellular Mg2+ concentration are part of the mechanism by which the functionally important Ca2+ is regulated.

Animals↗

Is Mg2+ important for the secretory function of the pancreatic beta-cells?

The interactions between Mg2+ and Ca2+ and the total content of magnesium were studied in beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets from ob/ob mice. High concentrations of Mg2+ inhibited basal intracellular 45Ca net uptake as well as that stimulated by K+ depolarization or Na+ omission, suggesting that Ca2+ and Mg2+ can compete for both the voltage-dependent Ca2+ and the Na+ channels. The magnesium content of the islets was remarkably stable being affected only under extreme conditions. It is suggested that the physiological stimulation of insulin secretion does not depend on dynamic fluctuations of magnesium metabolism.

Animals↗

Pathophysiology of impaired pulsatile insulin release.

Plasma insulin displays 5-10 min oscillations. In Type 2 diabetes the regularity of the oscillations disappears, which may lead to insulin receptor down-regulation and glucose intolerance and explain why pulsatile delivery of the hormone has a greater hypoglycemic effect than continuous delivery. The rhythm is intrinsic to the islet. Variations in metabolism, cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), other hormones, neuronal signaling and possibly beta-cell insulin receptor expression have been implicated in the regulation of plasma insulin oscillations. Most of these factors are important for amplitude-regulation of the insulin pulses. Although evidence exists supporting a role of both metabolism and [Ca(2+)](i) as pacemakers of the pulses, metabolic oscillations probably have a primary role and [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations a permissive role. Results from islets from animal models of diabetes suggest that altered plasma insulin pattern could be due to lowering of pulse amplitude of insulin oscillations rather than alterations in their frequency. Supporting a role of metabolism, altered plasma insulin oscillations were found in MODY2, MIDD and glycogenosis Type VII, which are linked to alterations in glucokinase, mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) and phosphofructokinase. Plasma insulin oscillations require coordination of islet secretory activities in the pancreas. The intrapancreatic ganglia have been suggested as coordinators. The diabetes-associated neuropathy may contribute to the deranged pattern as indicated by glucose intolerance in chagasic patients. Continued investigation of the role and regulation of pulsatile insulin release will lead to better understanding of the pathophysiology of impaired pulsatile insulin release, which could lead to new approaches to restore normal plasma insulin oscillations in diabetes and related diseases.

Activity Cycles↗

The role of Ca2+ in the release of pancreatic islet hormones.

The role of Ca2+ in initiating exocytosis of granule-bound secretory products was evaluated with respect to pancreatic islet hormones. Apart from stimulating the transfer of the granules to the plasma membrane and their subsequent extrusion, a rise of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) may under certain conditions also have depressive effects on insulin release. Glucose has a bidirectional action on [Ca2+]i by stimulating both the entry of the ion and its removal by organelle sequestration and outward transport. The recognition of glucose as a secretory stimulus is based on sudden transitions between oscillatory and steady-state [Ca2+]i at threshold concentrations of the sugar characteristic for the individual beta-cell. The intrinsic ability of each beta-cell to generate oscillations of [Ca2+]i and the subsequent synchronization of these signals result in a pulsatile release of insulin from isolated islets. Glucose regulation of this process is manifested as alterations of the amplitudes of the insulin pulses without effects on the frequency. It is suggested that electrical signalling from the beta-cells in combination with direct effects of glucose are important for regulating the release of glucagon and somatostatin.

Animals↗