VARIATIONS IN ATP-SENSITIVE K-CELLS( CHANNEL ACTIVITY PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR INHERENT METABOLIC OSCILLATIONS IN PANCREATIC BETA)

The cell-attached configuration of the patch clamp technique was used for studying slow variations in the activity of the ATP-sensitive K+ c hannels in pancreatic beta-cells isolated from mouse and man. In 0 or 3 mM glucose, the fraction of time the channels were open exhibited os cillations with frequencies in the 0.25-0.40 /min range. This phenomen on is a strong argument for inherent fluctuations in the ATP productio n of the beta-cells. variations in metabolism may thus be a major dete rminant for the characteristic large amplitude oscillations of cytopla smic Ca2+ with equivalent frequency. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.