Effect of arginine and glucagon on perifused purified beta cells

The secretory response of purified beta cells was studied employing a newly developed microperifusion technique. In control experiments, initial high insulin release up to 50 minutes followed by a steady state basal level was observed up to five hours. The changes in hydrodynamic pressure of perifusion produced small, statistically non-significant fluctuations in the insulin release in succeeding two samples of effluent. Pulse stimulation of the purified beta cells with arginine 10 mM and 20 mM produced a biphasic secretory response. The total insulin secretion with arginine (1, 5, 10, or 20 mM) was concentration dependent. Glucagon (1, 5, 10, or 20 nM) produced concentration dependent stimulation of insulin secretion. The results of these studies indicate that the secretory responses of the purified beta cells could be studied employing the microperifusion technique described in this report. The purified beta cells respond to arginine and glucagon with increased insulin secretion as observed in microperifusion and static incubation studies (1, 2).