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Although type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with insulin resistance, many individuals compensate by increasing insulin secretion. Putative mechanisms underlying this compensation were assessed in the present study by use of 4-day glucose (GLC; 35% Glc, 2 ml/h) and lipid (LIH; 10% Intralipid + 20 U/ml heparin; 2 ml/h) infusions to rats. Within 2 days of beginning the infusion of either lipid or glucose, plasma glucose profiles were normalized (relative to saline-infused control rats; SAL; 0.45% 2 ml/h). During glucose infusion, plasma glucose was maintained in the normal range by an approximately twofold increase in plasma insulin and an approximately 80% increase in beta-cell mass. During LIH infusion, glucose profiles were also maintained in the normal range. Plasma insulin responses during feeding were doubled, and beta-cell mass increased 54%. For both groups, the increase in beta-cell mass was associated with increased beta-cell proliferation (98% increase during GLC and 125% increase during LIH). At the end of the 4-day infusions, no significant changes were observed in islet-specific gene transcription (i.e., the expression of islet hormone genes, glucose metabolism genes, and insulin transcription factors were unaffected). Two days after termination of the infusions, the glucose-stimulated plasma insulin response was increased approximately 67% in glucose-infused animals. No sustained effect on insulin secretory capacity was observed in the LIH animals. The increase in plasma insulin response after glucose infusion was achieved in the absence of any change in insulin clearance. We conclude that, in rats, an increase in insulin demand after an increase in glucose appearance or free fatty acid leads to an increase in beta-cell mass, mediated in part by an increase in beta-cell proliferation, and that these compensatory changes lead to increased insulin secretion, normal plasma glucose levels, and the maintenance of normal islet gene expression.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its two receptor tyrosine kinases, Flk-1/KDR and Flt-1, may play an important role in mediating the revascularization of transplanted pancreatic islets. METHODS: Using semiquantitative multiplex reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction we determined the gene expression of VEGF and its receptors in cultured and transplanted rat islets. RESULTS: After exposure of islet cells to hypoxia in vitro, increases were found in the gene expression of the VEGF120 and VEGF164 isoforms, with simultaneous increases in VE-cadherin, Flk-1/KDR, and Flt-1. In vivo studies consisted of analysis of islet grafts transplanted into both normal and diabetic recipients. Expression of both VEGF120 and VEGF164 in grafts was up-regulated for the first 2-3 days after transplantation, with the response being more prolonged in the diabetic rats. These increases were followed by reduced expression of VEGF on days 5, 7, and 9. Increases in the expression of VE-cadherin in islet grafts in normal and diabetic recipients tended to parallel VEGF expression, with the increases in both probably being caused by hypoxia. The early increases of VEGF expression were followed by a rise in the expression of VEGF receptors, which probably represents the early stages of angiogenesis. Graft expression of Flk-1/KDR and Flt-1 was enhanced at 3 and 5 days in the normoglycemic recipients, while in the diabetic recipients increases were found later on days 5, 7, and 14. CONCLUSIONS: The delayed expression of VEGF receptors in the diabetic recipients could reflect impaired angiogenesis caused by the diabetic milieu; this delay could contribute to the less outcomes of grafts transplanted into a hyperglycemic environment.

Isolated rat pancreatic islets were studied to determine the dynamic regulatory effects of glucose stimulation on the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R) isoforms I, II, and III. The relative isoform abundance was: IP3R-III > IP3R-II approximately IP3R-I. Culture of islets with glucose (G; 20 mM) or alpha-ketoisocaproic acid for 30 min increased only IP3R-III mRNA expression above control (5.5 mM glucose). 2-Deoxyglucose was without effect. Islet culture for 2 h with G (20 mM) or alpha-ketoisocaproic acid reduced IP3R-III mRNA expression levels below control, and cycloheximide blocked the response. Culturing islets for 1 day or 7 days with G (11 mM) reduced the expression of IP3R-III mRNA but increased the expression of IP3R-II mRNA in a time-dependent manner. Cytosine arabinoside lowered cultured islet IP3R-II and -III mRNA levels, but glucose effects remained evident. IP3R-II mRNA levels were also significantly higher in islets from hyperglycemic 90% partial pancreatectomized rats, compared with sham animals. Islet IP3R mRNA expression also showed osmotic sensitivity. Islet IP3R-III protein levels increased after 2 h islet culture at 20 mM G, were unchanged after 1 day culture at 11 mM G, and were lower than control after 7 days culture at 11 mM G. In contrast, IP3R-II levels increased after 1 day and 7 days culture at 11 mM G, whereas IP3R-I protein levels remained unchanged. Thus, G stimulation rapidly increases transcription and expression of IP3R-III mRNA and protein levels in rat islets. However, chronic G stimulation up-regulates IP3R-II mRNA in cultured islets and in islets from partial pancreatectomized rats. Metabolic regulation of IP3R-II and III expression may mediate beta-cell IP3-responsive Ca2+ mobilization and insulin secretion.

Differentiated pancreatic beta cells are unique in their ability to secrete insulin in response to a rise in plasma glucose. We have proposed that the unique constellation of genes they express may be lost in diabetes due to the deleterious effect of chronic hyperglycemia. To test this hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats were submitted to a 85-95% pancreatectomy or sham pancreatectomy. One week later, the animals developed mild to severe chronic hyperglycemia that was stable for the next 3 weeks, without significant alteration of plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels. Expression of many genes important for glucose-induced insulin release decreased progressively with increasing hyperglycemia, in parallel with a reduction of several islet transcription factors involved in beta cell development and differentiation. In contrast, genes barely expressed in sham islets (lactate dehydrogenase A and hexokinase I) were markedly increased, in parallel with an increase in the transcription factor c-Myc, a potent stimulator of cell growth. These abnormalities were accompanied by beta cell hypertrophy. Changes in gene expression were fully developed 2 weeks after pancreatectomy. Correction of blood glucose by phlorizin for the next 2 weeks normalized islet gene expression and beta cell volume without affecting plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels, strongly suggesting that hyperglycemia triggers these abnormalities. In conclusion, chronic hyperglycemia leads to beta cell hypertrophy and loss of beta cell differentiation that is correlated with changes in c-Myc and other key transcription factors. A similar change in beta cell differentiation could contribute to the profound derangement of insulin secretion in human diabetes.

An increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ in beta-cells is a key step in glucose-induced insulin secretion. However, whether changes in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) directly regulate secretion remains disputed. This question was addressed by investigating the temporal and quantitative relationships between [Ca2+]i and insulin secretion. Both events were measured simultaneously in single mouse islets loaded with fura-PE3 and perifused with a medium containing diazoxide (to prevent any effect of glucose on the membrane potential) and either 4.8 or 30 mmol/l K+. Continuous depolarization with 30 mmol/l K+ in the presence of 15 mmol/l glucose induced a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i and insulin release. No oscillations of secretion were detected even after mathematical analysis of the data (pulse, spectral and sample distribution analysis). In contrast, alternating between 30 and 4.8 mmol/l K+ (1 min/2 min or 2.5 min/5 min) triggered synchronous [Ca2+]i and insulin oscillations of regular amplitude in each islet. A good correlation was found between [Ca2+]i and insulin secretion, and it was independent of the presence or absence of oscillations. This quantitative correlation between [Ca2+]i and insulin secretion was confirmed by experiments in which extracellular Ca2+ was increased or decreased (0.1-2.5 mmol/l) stepwise in the presence of 30 mmol/l K+. This resulted in parallel stepwise increases or decreases in [Ca2+]i and insulin secretion. However, while the successive [Ca2+]i levels were unaffected by glucose, each plateau of secretion was much higher in 20 than in 3 mmol/l glucose. In conclusion, in our preparation of normal mouse islets, insulin secretion oscillates only when [Ca2+]i oscillates in beta-cells. This close temporal relationship between insulin secretion and [Ca2+]i changes attests of the regulatory role of Ca2+. There also exists a quantitative relationship that is markedly influenced by the concentration of glucose.

Adenine nucleotides are thought to serve as second messengers in the control of beta-cell function by glucose, e.g. by regulating the activity of ATP-dependent K+ channels. However, their localization in different intracellular pools may mask the biologically relevant changes and complicate the interpretation of measurements in whole cells. The plasma membrane of mouse islet cells was selectively permeabilized by the alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus to allow diffusion of cytoplasmic nucleotides. After permeabilization of cells from freshly isolated islets, approximately 68% of ATP, 45% of ADP, and 52% of AMP rapidly diffused out of the cells, whereas the insulin content hardly varied. The nondiffusible pool of nucleotides was stable for at least 90 min at 4 C, which suggests that it is contained in cellular organelles. The size of this nondiffusible pool decreased proportionally to insulin stores when these were lowered by stimulating secretion to different degrees during culture before permeabilization. From these results, it can be calculated that nondiffusible nucleotides are mainly contained in insulin secretory granules, with a small proportion in another, probably mitochondrial, compartment. Approximately 80% GTP and 30% GDP were present in the diffusible pool, and their relative proportions in the granular pool were only about 20% that of adenine nucleotides. Incubation of the cells in 20 instead of 2 mM glucose before permeabilization did not affect the nondiffusible pool, which indicates that the increase in the ATP/ADP ratio measured in intact cells occurred in the diffusible pool. Cytoplasmic nucleotide levels could be evaluated by subtracting the nondiffusible pool from the measurements in intact cells. It emerges that glucose induces large changes in the ATP/ADP ratio in the cytoplasmic pool, and that these changes are largely due to a fall in ADP.

The following sequence of events is thought to underlie the stimulation of insulin release by hypoglycaemic sulphonylureas. Interaction of the drugs with a high-affinity binding site (sulphonylurea receptor) in the B-cell membrane leads to closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, depolarization, opening of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, Ca2+ influx and rise in cytoplasmic [Ca2+]i. Recent experiments using permeabilized islet cells or measuring changes in B-cell membrane capacitance have suggested that sulphonylureas can increase insulin release by a mechanism independent of a change in [Ca2+]i. This provocative hypothesis was tested here with intact mouse islets. When B-cells were strongly depolarized by 60 mM K+, [Ca2+]i was increased and insulin secretion stimulated. Under these conditions, tolbutamide did not further increase [Ca2+]i or insulin release, whether it was applied before or after high K+, and whether the concentration of glucose was 3 or 15 mM. This contrasts with the ability of forskolin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to increase release in the presence of high K+. Tolbutamide also failed to increase insulin release from islets depolarized with barium (substituted for extracellular Ca2+) or with arginine in the presence of high glucose. Glibenclamide and its non-sulphonylurea moiety meglitinide were also without effect on insulin release from already depolarized B-cells. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, acetylcholine induced monophasic peaks of [Ca2+]i and insulin secretion which were both unaffected by tolbutamide. Insulin release from permeabilized islet cells was stimulated by raising free Ca2+ (between 0.1 and 23 microM). This effect was not affected by tolbutamide and inconsistently increased by glibenclamide. In conclusion, the present study does not support the proposal that hypoglycaemic sulphonylureas can increase insulin release even when they do not also raise [Ca2+]i in B-cells.

La régulation de la sécrétion d’insuline par les variations d ela concentration plasmatique de glucose est un phénomène crucial pour le maintient de l’homéostasie glucidique. L’insuline est sécrétée exclusivement pas les cellules B pancréatiques. Celles-ci constituent 60-80% des cellules des îlots de Langerhans (pancréas endocrine), dispersés au sein du tissu pancréatique exocrine. La diabète est une pathologie fréquente (environ 5% de la population des pays industrialisés) caractérisée par une élévation de la glycémie à jeun et/ou après les repas. On distingue deux types principaux de diabète. Le diabète insulino-dépendant (DID), aussi appelé le diabète de type 1, affecte ∼0.4% de la population. Il est dû à la destruction sélective des cellules B par un phénomène autoimmunitaire. Son traitement actuel consiste en une insulinothérapie substitutive associée à un régime alimentaire (Atkinson & McLaren, 1994). Les greffes d’îlots de Langerhans et une immunothérapie destinée à arrêter le processus destructeur des cellules B pancréatiques constituent de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques en cours d’investigation. Le diabète non-insulino-dépendant (DNID), aussi appelé diabète de type 2 (∼85-90 % des patients diabétiques), est une affection hétérogène. Il est caractérisé par l’association, à des degrés variables, d’une diminution de l’action de l’insuline sur ses tissus cibles (insuline-résistance) et d’une altération progressive de la sécrétion d’insuline par les cellules B (DeGronzo, 1992 ; Porte & Kahn, 1995). Ces deux anomalies s’aggravent mutuellement, de sorte qu’il est difficile d’affirmer si l’une précède l’autre dans le déclenchement du processus physiopathologique (Yki-Järvinen, 1994 ; Weir, 1995). En plus de facteurs environnementaux, des facteurs génétiques multiples semblent impliqués dans l’étiologie du DNID (Kahn, 1994). Leur identification repose sur diverses approches génétiques, dont la recherche de mutations de gènes-candidats (Froguel & Hager, 199, Thèse d'agrégation de l'enseignement supérieur (faculté de médecine) -- UCL, 1996

1. Islets from normal mice were used to test the acute effects of genistein, a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic beta-cells. 2. Genistein produced a concentration-dependent (10-100 microM), reversible, increase of insulin release. This effect was marginal on basal release or in the presence of non-metabolized secretagogues, and much larger in the presence of glucose or other nutrients. The increase in insulin release caused by 100 microM genistein was abolished by adrenaline or omission of extracellular Ca2+. It was not accompanied by any rise of cyclic AMP, inositol phosphate or adenine nucleotide levels. 3. Although genistein slightly inhibited ATP-sensitive K+ channels, as shown by 86Rb efflux and patch-clamp experiments, this effect could not explain the action of the drug on insulin release because the latter persisted when ATP-sensitive K+ channels were all blocked by maximally effective concentrations of glucose and tolbutamide. Genistein was also effective when ATP-sensitive K+ channels were opened by diazoxide and the beta-cell membrane depolarized by 30 mM K, but ineffective in the presence of diazoxide and normal extracellular K. 4. Genistein paradoxically decreased Ca2+ influx in beta-cells, as shown by the inhibition of glucose-induced electrical activity, by the inhibition of Ca2+ currents (perforated patches) and by the lowering of cytosolic [Ca2+]i (fura-2 technique). Genistein thus increases insulin release in spite of a lowering of [Ca2+]i in beta-cells. 5. Daidzein, an analogue of genistein reported not to affect tyrosine kinases, was slightly less potent than genistein on K+ and Ca2+ channels, but increased insulin secretion in a similar way.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Most guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) possess an S-prenylated C-terminal cysteine whose carboxyl group can be reversibly methylated. The prenylcysteine analog N-acetyl-S-geranylgeranyl-cysteine (AGGC) (50 microM), a competitive inhibitor of prenylcysteine methyl transferases, introduced into streptolysin-O permeabilized HIT-T15 cells doubled the rate of basal (0.1 microM Ca2+) and of stimulated (10 microM Ca2+ or 100 microM GTP gamma S) insulin secretion in a reversible and ATP-dependent manner. N-acetyl-S-farnesylcysteine (AFC) was less potent while N-acetyl-S-geranyl-cysteine was inactive. Prenylcysteine action on exocytosis did not involve inhibition of G-protein methylation, since (1) the methyl ester derivative of AFC, an inefficient inhibitor of methyltransferases in HIT-T15 cell fractions, was as potent as AGGC in stimulating exocytosis; (2) S-adenosyl-homocysteine, a general inhibitor of methylation reactions, did not alter basal or GTP gamma S-triggered secretion while inhibiting Ca(2+)-induced insulin release. The binding of G-proteins to Rab/GDP-dissociation inhibitor, Rab3A/GTPase activating protein or rabphilin-3A was not affected by the prenylcysteine analogs. AGGC or AFC had the same effect on insulin release as a synthetic peptide mimicking the amino acid residues 52-67 of the G-protein Rab3A (Rab3AL). Moreover, the action on secretion of the combination of Rab3AL and prenylcysteines was not additive. We propose that the prenylcysteines and the Rab3AL peptide influence exocytosis by affecting the association of Rab3A with different proteins of the exocytotic machinery of insulin-secreting cells.

Whether adenine nucleotides in pancreatic B cells serve as second messengers during glucose stimulation of insulin secretion remains disputed. Our hypothesis was that the actual changes in ATP and ADP are obscured by the large pool of adenine nucleotides (ATP/ADP ratio close to 1) in insulin granules. Therefore, mouse islets were degranulated acutely with a cocktail of glucose, KCl, forskolin, and phorbol ester or during overnight culture in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10 mM glucose. When these islets were then incubated in 0 glucose + azide (to minimize cytoplasmic and mitochondrial adenine nucleotides), their content in ATP + ADP + AMP was decreased in proportion to the decrease in insulin stores. After incubation in 10 mM glucose (no azide), the ATP/ADP ratio increased from 2.4 to > 8 in cultured islets, and only from 2 to < 4 in fresh islets. These differences were not explained by changes in glucose oxidation. The glucose dependency (0-30 mM) of the changes in insulin secretion and in the ATP/ADP ratio were then compared in the same islets. In nondegranulated, fresh islets, the ATP/ADP ratio increased between 0 and 10 mM glucose and then stabilized although insulin release kept increasing. In degranulated islets, the ATP/ADP ratio also increased between 0 and 10 mM glucose, but a further increase still occurred between 10 and 20 mM glucose, in parallel with the stimulation of insulin release. In conclusion, decreasing the granular pool of ATP and ADP unmasks large changes in the ATP/ADP ratio and a glucose dependency which persists within the range of stimulatory concentrations. The ATP/ADP ratio might thus serve as a coupling factor between glucose metabolism and insulin release.

The pattern of the increase in cytoplasmic Cai2+ that glucose produces in beta cells has been reported to be highly variable. Here, we evaluated the influence of the culture duration (1-4 days) and conditions (5-10 mmol/l glucose) on Cai2+ in normal mouse islets stimulated by glucose. After 1 day of culture in 10 mmol/l glucose, a rise of the glucose concentration from 3 to 15 mmol/l induced a triphasic change of Cai2+ in the islets. A small initial decrease was followed by a large peak increase and then by regular fast oscillations (approximately 2.5/min). When the culture was prolonged to 2, 3 and 4 days, the initial decrease became inconsistent and the peak occurred earlier, whereas the oscillations decreased in frequency, increased in duration and eventually disappeared; on day 4 the Cai2+ rise was sustained. After culture in 5 mmol/l glucose, the pattern of Cai2+ changes induced by 15 mmol/l glucose was different. The initial decrease was very pronounced, the first peak was delayed and clearly separated from the subsequent oscillations. These were of a mixed type (fast Ca2+ transients on top of slow ones) after 1 day, and of a slow type only after 4 days. These alterations in the Cai2+ oscillations triggered by glucose could not be ascribed to desynchronization of the signal between different regions of the islets. In conclusion, culturing normal mouse islets in 5 or 10 mmol/l glucose for 1-4 days, markedly alters the characteristics of the changes in Cai2+ produced by glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The novel alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist SL 84.0418 (2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-propyl-pyrrolo[3, 2,1- hi]-indole hydrochloride) is a racemic mixture of a (-) enantiomer (SL 86.0714) and a (+) enantiomer (SL 86.0715 or deriglidole). It was recently reported to inhibit alpha 2-adrenoceptors and ATP-sensitive K+ channels in mouse pancreatic B-cells, and to increase insulin release. We have now studied the stereospecificity of these responses with isolated mouse islets. Both enantiomers were equipotent in potentiating insulin release induced by 15 mM glucose alone. SL 86.0714 and deriglidole were also equally effective in inhibiting 86Rb efflux from islets perifused with a low-glucose medium, and in reversing the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release caused by the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels with diazoxide. In contrast, deriglidole was approximately 100-fold more potent than SL 86.0714 in reversing the inhibition of insulin release caused by the activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with clonidine. The effects of SL 84.0418 are thus stereoselective on alpha 2-adrenoceptors, but not on ATP-sensitive K+ channels of pancreatic B-cells.

SL 84.0418 (2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-propyl-pyrrolo[3, 2,1- hi]-indole hydrocholoride) is a novel alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist which possesses anti-hyperglycaemic properties in vitro study, we tested its effects on insulin release from isolated mouse islets. In the presence of 15 mM glucose, SL 84.0418 produced a concentration-dependent (0.1-100 microM) increase of insulin release with a slightly higher potency than tolbutamide. SL 84.0418 antagonized the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release caused either by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine or by diazoxide, a selective opener of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the beta-cell membrane. Its potency was greater on the inhibition by clonidine than on that by diazoxide, complete antagonism of the inhibition being achieved by 0.9 microM and 6 microM SL 84.0418 respectively. When alpha 2-adrenoceptors were blocked by the antagonist idazoxan, the low concentrations of SL 84.0418 (0.1-0.3 microM) no longer increased insulin release, whereas the effect of higher concentrations (> or = 1 microM) was not affected. SL 84.0418 (> or = 1 microM) inhibited 86Rb efflux from islets perifused with a medium containing 3 mM glucose, i.e. under conditions where many ATP-sensitive K+ channels are open. It also reduced the acceleration of 86Rb efflux that diazoxide caused in the presence of 6 mM glucose. Moreover, SL 84.0418 directly inhibited ATP-sensitive K+ currents measured in single beta-cells by the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1. Islets from normal mice were used to study the mechanisms by which imidazoline antagonists of alpha 2-adrenoceptors increase insulin release in vitro. 2. Alinidine, antazoline, phentolamine and tolazoline inhibited 86Rb efflux from islets perifused with a medium containing 3 mM glucose, i.e. under conditions where many adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channels are open in the beta-cell membrane. They also reduced the acceleration of 86Rb efflux caused by diazoxide, an opener of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. 3. ATP-sensitive and voltage-sensitive K+ currents were measured in single beta-cells by the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. Antazoline more markedly inhibited the ATP-sensitive than the voltage-sensitive current, an effect previously observed with phentolamine. Alinidine and tolazoline partially decreased the ATP-sensitive K+ current. 4. The four imidazolines reversed the inhibition of insulin release caused by diazoxide (through opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels) or by clonidine (through activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors) in a concentration-dependent manner. Only the former effect correlated with the ability of each drug to increase control insulin release stimulated by 15 mM glucose alone. 5. It is concluded that the ability of imidazoline antagonists of alpha 2-adrenoceptors to increase insulin release in vitro can be ascribed to their blockade of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in beta-cells rather than to their interaction with the adrenoceptor.

1. The effects of clonidine and adrenaline on adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channels were studied in pancreatic beta-cells from normal mice. 2. When perifused with a medium containing 1 mM glucose, many of the ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the beta-cell membrane are open. Under these conditions, clonidine (5-100 microM) reversibly decreased 86Rb efflux from the islets, whereas adrenaline was ineffective at concentrations up to 100 microM. 3. In 6 mM glucose, most of the ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the beta-cell membrane are closed. Opening these channels by diazoxide (100 microM) caused a marked acceleration of 86Rb efflux from the islets, which was attenuated by 100 microM clonidine. 4. ATP-sensitive K+ currents were measured in single beta-cells by the whole cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. At concentrations above 4 microM, clonidine reversibly inhibited the ATP-sensitive K+ current in a dose-dependent manner. 5. Voltage-sensitive K+ currents were unaffected by 20 microM but decreased slightly by 100 microM clonidine. 6. Calcium currents, measured by the whole cell or perforated patch technique, were unaffected by clonidine at concentrations up to 100 microM. 7. It is concluded that high concentrations of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, but not of adrenaline, can inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channels in pancreatic beta-cells. Other ionic channels are only slightly affected or unaffected.