Tight Coupling Between Electrical Activity and Exosytosis in Mouse Glucagon-Secreting α-Cells

摘要

α-Cells were identified in preparations of dispersed mouse islets by immunofluorescenc dmicroscopy. A high fraction of α-cells correlated with a small cell size mea- sured a the average cell diameter (10μm) and whole-cell capacitance (<4 pF). The α-cells generated action poten- tilas at a low frequency (1 Hz) in the absence of glucose. These action potentials were reversibly inhibited by ele- Vation of the glucose concentration to 20 mmol/l.