Voltage dependence of rhythmic plateau potentials of pancreatic islet cells

The origin and control of glucose-induced rhythmic plateau potentials of pancreatic islet cells have been studied with intracellular microelectrodes in isolated mouse islets. Rapid changes of extracellular potassium concentration and direct electrical stimulation via a suction electrode were used to perturb islet cell membrane potentials. We show that brief depolarizing stimuli trigger permature plateau potentials, and brief hyperpolarizing currents abort endogenous plateaus. Both responses occur in an all-or-none manner, show a reciprocal relationship between stimulus strength and stimulus duration, have stimulus thresholds that approach zero at the time of the endogenous event, and completely reset the endogenous plateau rhythm. These results indicate that the plateau potentials are due to voltage-dependent regenerative mechanisms as in other electrically excitable tissues and implicate membrane potential or membrane ionic fluxes in the glucose-dependent pacemaker system that triggers their onset and offset.