Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...

Insulin Secretory Vesicles

Insulin Secretory Vesicles

Insulin secretory vesicles release insulin to stimulate blood glucose uptake and regulate carbohydrate metabolism. When the blood glucose levels increase, glucose enters the pancreatic β-islet cells through glucose transporters. Once inside, glucose is metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, producing ATP. This increase in ATP concentration closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the membrane and the opening of...

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but this inhibition is released...

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...

Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas

Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas

The pancreas, a vital organ within the abdominal cavity, plays dual roles in the digestive and endocrine systems, collaborating with exocrine and endocrine cells to maintain optimal digestion and blood sugar levels.
Exocrine function is carried out by acinar cells, organized into clusters known as acini. These cells contribute to digestion by releasing substantial quantities of enzyme-rich, alkaline digestive juices.
Concurrently, the dispersed clusters of endocrine cells throughout the...

Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation

Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of pancreatic β-cells synthesizes preproinsulin, which consists of a signal peptide, A and B chains, and a C-peptide. Preproinsulin is then cleaved and folded into proinsulin, which translocates to the Golgi apparatus for sorting and packaging into secretory granules. In these granules, enzymatic clipping generates insulin and C-peptide.
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Real-life evaluation of intermittent triple antiretroviral therapy maintenance strategies.

Infectious diseases now·2025

Same author

Prospective international validation of the predisposition, infection, response and organ dysfunction (PIRO) clinical staging system among intensive care and general ward patients.

Annals of intensive care·2021

Same author

Incidental findings in a series of 2500 gene panel tests for a genetic predisposition to cancer: Results and impact on patients.

European journal of medical genetics·2021

Same author

Effect of initial periodontal therapy on gingival crevicular fluid cytokine profile in subjects with chronic periodontitis.

Clinical and experimental dental research·2018

Same author

Truncating variants of the DLG4 gene are responsible for intellectual disability with marfanoid features.

Clinical genetics·2018

Same author

ICEPO: the ion channel electrophysiology ontology.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation·2016

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Method for Mouse Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Intracellular cAMP Determination

A Method for Mouse Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Intracellular cAMP Determination

Published on: June 25, 2014

Islet-cell-to-cell communication as basis for normal insulin secretion.

S Bavamian¹, P Klee, A Britan

¹Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical School, Genève, Switzerland.

Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism

|October 9, 2007

Summary

Connexin 36 (Cx36) forms gap junctions in pancreatic beta cells, enabling communication essential for regulating insulin secretion. Understanding Cx36 is key to developing new diabetes therapies.

More Related Videos

Coculture Analysis of Extracellular Protein Interactions Affecting Insulin Secretion by Pancreatic Beta Cells

Coculture Analysis of Extracellular Protein Interactions Affecting Insulin Secretion by Pancreatic Beta Cells

Published on: June 15, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Method for Mouse Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Intracellular cAMP Determination

A Method for Mouse Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Intracellular cAMP Determination

Published on: June 25, 2014

Coculture Analysis of Extracellular Protein Interactions Affecting Insulin Secretion by Pancreatic Beta Cells

Coculture Analysis of Extracellular Protein Interactions Affecting Insulin Secretion by Pancreatic Beta Cells

Published on: June 15, 2013

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Pancreatic islets require signaling for beta cell coordination.
Connexin 36 (Cx36) forms cell-to-cell channels in beta cells.
These channels facilitate ion and metabolite sharing within islets.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of Cx36 in beta cell function.
To explore Cx36's mechanism in regulating insulin secretion.
To discuss potential therapeutic applications of Cx36 in diabetes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of Cx36 function in pancreatic islets.
Analysis of Cx36's role in cell-to-cell communication.
Evaluation of Cx36's impact on insulin secretion.

Main Results:

Cx36 forms gap junctions crucial for beta cell communication.
Cx36 significantly regulates insulin secretion through these junctions.
Cx36 has other potential, less-established functions.

Conclusions:

Cx36 is vital for intra-islet signaling and insulin secretion.
Targeting Cx36 may offer novel therapeutic strategies for diabetes.
Further research into Cx36's functions is warranted.