Insulin secretion from isolated pure beta cells

Isolation of pure beta cells of the rat pancreas was achieved employing counterflow sedimentation technique (CST) followed by density gradient centrifugation technique (DGCT). The proportion of non-endocrine cells to beta cells was minimal (1 acinar cell in 296 beta cells, and 1 duct cell in 300 beta cells) with total absence of alpha and delta cells. Oxidation of D-(U-14C) glucose to 14CO2 by the isolated beta cells was linear to time. Glucagon (1, 5, or 10 nM) or arginine (1, 5 or 10 mM) produced concentration dependent insulin secretion. Thus, a highly purified preparation of isolated beta cells of rat pancreas could be obtained with excellent morphologic, metabolic and functional integrity.