Description:

Mitochondria play a key role in the regulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic islet cells, and oxygen consumption in response to fuel secretagogues represents an important marker of mitochondrial metabolism. Oscillatory metabolism, including oscillations in oxygen consumption, is believed to underline pulsatile insulin output from the beta cells. Oscillatory insulin secretion is important, as suggested by its loss in type 2 diabetic patients. Currently, oscillatory glycolysis via phosphofructokinas (PFK) has been considered the main system responsible for generation of oscillatory insulin secretion.

Progress:

Single mouse and rat beta cell oxygen consumption, in response to various insulin secretagogues, was measured using the oxygen amperometric electrode technique developed at the BRC. Our preliminary results demonstrate similar oscillatory patterns in oxygen consumption in response to glucose as well as non-glycogenic fuels, suggesting that other factors than simply just glycolysis may contribute to generation of the oscillatory metabolism and insulin secretion. This work has clear relevance to understanding the mechanism of generation of oscillatory metabolism, and how this process is impaired in type 2 diabetic conditions.