Gramicidin D is a potent insulin secretagogue: Dependence on extracellular calcium influx

Adnan I. Dibas, Thomas Yorio, Richard A. Easom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Gramicidin D, a sodium ionophore, was identified as a potent insulin secretagogue in the mouse β-cell line, βTC3. Gramicidin D stimulated insulin secretion by 3.2-fold relative to control cells incubated with vehicle alone. Using ion-specific fluorescent probes, gramicidin D (1 μM) increased the intracellular concentrations of Na+ ([Na+]i) and Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). By contrast, no changes in pHi were detected in cells exposed to ionophore. The increase in [Ca2+]i was biphasic and characterized by an initial peak at 1-2 minutes followed by a sustained second phase. The addition of EGTA (2 mM) to the extracellular medium abolished gramicidin D induced increase in [Ca2+]i and insulin secretion. These parameters were also profoundly inhibited by the L-type Ca2+-channel inhibitor, verapamil (20 μM). These findings suggest that insulin secretion induced from βTC3 cells by gramicidin D is mediated via the promotion of Ca2+-influx.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)449-454
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume212
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

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