Feedback control of the ATP-sensitive K+ current by cytosolic Ca2+ contributes to oscillations of the membrane potential in pancreatic β-cells

Abstract

During glucose stimulation, pancreatic β-cells display membrane potential oscillations that correspond to intermittent Ca2+ influx, leading to oscillations of the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) and insulin secretion. The role of ATP-sensitive K+ (K+-ATP) channels in the control of these oscillations was investigated by measuring the K+-ATP current (IKAPP) with the perforated mode of the patch-clamp technique. No oscillations of IKATP were observed when glucose-stimulated β-cells were kept hyperpolarized, thus with low and stable [Ca2+]c. However, increasing [Ca2+]c by Ca2+ influx (depolarizing pulses) or Ca2+ mobilization (acetylcholine) transiently augmented IKATP. This effect was abolished by tolbutamide, attenuated by increasing the glucose concentration in the medium, and prevented by abrogation of the [Ca2+]c rise, which demonstrates that the current is really IKATP and that its increase is Ca2+-dependent. Injection of a current of a similar amplitude to that of the Ca2+-induced increase in IKATP was sufficient to repolarize glucose-stimulated β-cells. These results suggest that, in the absence of [Ca2+]c oscillations, no metabolic oscillations affect IKATP in pancreatic β-cells. In contrast, [Ca2+]c oscillations evoke IKATP oscillations. This mechanism may constitute the feedback loop controlling the glucose-induced oscillating electrical activity in β-cells.