Diurnal variations in insulin secretion and K+ permeability in isolated rat islets

1. The effects of glucose on insulin secretion and 86Rb efflux from isolated rat islets were studied at six different times during a 24-h period (00.00, 04.00, 08.00, 12.00, 16.00 and 20.00 h). 2. In the absence of glucose and in the presence of substimulatory concentrations (2.8 mmol/L) of the sugar, insulin secretion did not vary with the time of day. At a glucose concentration of 5.6 mmol/L the stimulated insulin secretion was greater than basal levels only at 20.00 h. 3. At a higher sugar concentration (8.3 mmol/L) the increase in insulin secretion and the reduction in 86Rb efflux rate were more marked during the dark period. No effect of the time of day on insulin secretion was observed at glucose concentrations above 8.3 mmol/L (except in 27.7 mmol/L). 4. The time of day appears to affect insulin secretion mainly at glucose concentrations close to physiological values (5.6-8.3 mmol/L). 5. This result agrees with the ability of physiological amounts of glucose to alter the 86Rb-permeability of pancreatic B cells at the same time intervals.