Pancreatic islet cells: electrogenic and electrodiffusional control of membrane potential

1. Responses of the membrane electrical characteristics of mouse pancreatic islet cells to ionic environmental changes have been used to assess the role of [Na]0 and [K]0 in the control of membrane potential, i.e. by electrodiffusion or via an electrogenic sodium pump. Islet cell electrical properties were measured in vitro with intracellular glass micro-electrodes. 2. Substitution of LiCl for extracellular NaCl did not change the islet cell membrane potential significantly in low (2.8 mM) glucose solutions, but readmission of NaCl caused a transient hyperpolarization (membrane potential maximum: -70 mV) in high glucose; when choline chloride was substituted for NaCl no hyperpolarization was observed on NaCl re-admission. 3. Superfusion with K-free solution gave no marked change in membrane potential during 30 min incubation in either low (2-8 mM) or high (28 mM) glucose concentrations but longer periods of exposure to K-free solutions caused progressive depolarization. 4. Readmission of K+ induced a transient hyperpolarization of up to 30 mV magnitude and 10 min duration in the presence of high (28 mM) but not low glucose (2-8 mM) concentrations. At the level of maximum hyperpolarization the membrane potential reached -60 mV, the electrical activity induced by the high glucose concentration being concurrently completely blocked. Replacement of [Cl]0 by isethionate accentuated these effects. 5. Ouabain, 10(-3) M, or a decrease in temperature from 37 to 7 degrees C depolarized the islet cells and blocked the transient hyperpolarization induced by readmission of K+. 6. Diphenylhydantoin, 1-5 times 10(-4) M, caused a significant hyperpolarization of the islet cells in low glucose (2-8 mM) and inhibited the electrical activity induced by high glucose (28 mM) or tolbutamide (0-7 mM). 7. It is concluded from these results that both an electrogenic and ionic component contribute to the membrane potential of the mouse pancreatic islet cell although electrodiffusional control normally predominates; acceleration of the Na-K exchange pump by diphenylhydantoin inhibits glucose-induced electrical activity. These findings are discussed in relation to the permeability characteristics of the islet cell membrane and the mechanism of insulin release.