[Role of intercellular communication via gap junctions in insulin secretion]

Alike most other cell types of eukaryotic organisms, the insulin-producing beta-cells of pancreatic islets are functionally interconnected by specialized regions of their cell membrane, referred to as gap junctions. These structures represent concentrations of channels which are formed by the proteins of the connexin family, and that are specialized for the exchange between neighboring cells of cytoplasmic ions and small molecules. This exchange is referred to as junctional coupling. Increasing evidence indicates that a normal expression of connexins and junctional coupling is essential to ensure proper insulin biosynthesis and secretion.