Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate mobilizes glucose-incorporated calcium from pancreatic islets

Mobilization of intracellular calcium from beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets of ob/ob-mice was studied by measuring unidirectional 45Ca efflux at 37 degrees and 18 degrees C during perifusion with a K+-rich medium deficient in Ca2+ and Na+. Addition of 100 microM carbachol induced a prominent peak of Ca2+ efflux from islets preexposed to glucose. After cell permeabilization with digitonin D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) caused glucose-dependent mobilization of calcium. In demonstrating that not only carbachol but also IP3 can mobilize calcium incorporated in response to glucose, the present data suggests that the endoplasmic reticulum participates in glucose-induced lowering of cytoplasmic Ca2+ activity in the pancreatic beta-cells.