Oscillatory Ca2+ signaling in somatostatin-producing cells from the human pancreas

Oscillatory Ca2+ signaling was studied in human somatostatin-releasing pancreatic delta cells identified by immunostaining. A ratiometric fura-2 technique was used for measuring cytoplasmic concentrations of Ca2+ and Sr2+ in delta cells exposed to the respective cation. Rhythmic activity in terms of slow (frequency, 0.1 to 0.4 per minute) oscillations from close to the basal level was seen in the presence of 3 to 20 mmol/L glucose during superfusion with medium containing 2.6 to 5 mmol/L Ca2+ or 5 mmol/L Sr2. These oscillations could be transformed into a sustained increase by decreasing extracellular Ca2+ or adding 1 mmol/L tolbutamide or 20 nmol/L glucagon. Addition of glucagon to a medium containing 20 mmol/L glucose resulted in the generation of short (< 30 seconds) transients, which disappeared upon exposure to 100 nmol/L of the intracellular Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) inhibitor thapsigargin. When analyzing small aggregates of islet cells, it became evident that oscillatory activity in delta cells can be synchronous with that in adjacent non-delta cells. It is concluded that secretion of pancreatic somatostatin in man involves Ca2+ signaling similar to that regulating the pulsatile release of insulin.