Abstract
A new technique was designed to analyse whether pancreatic islet cells are able to regulate their volume in anisotonic media. The projected cell area of individual cells was continuously observed, and the corresponding volume calculated during microperifusion with media of different osmolarities. In isotonic medium (317 mosmol) the cell volume was stable during perifusion and decreased by 17 or 25% when the osmolarity was increased (sucrose) to 417 or 517 mosmol. Reducing the medium osmolarity to 285 mosmol resulted in a volume reduction of about 7%. No evidence for cell volume regulation was observed in these media. However, reducing the medium osmolarity to 262 mosmol induced an immediate and rapid cell swelling of approximately 14%, after which the initial cell volume was regained within 9 min. The data suggest that the pancreatic islet cells are equipped with mechanisms for regulatory volume decrease that appear to be activated when the cell volume is increased above a certain limit.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.