Dynamics of Ca2+ and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate action on insulin secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized HIT-T15 cells.

The time course of Ca2+ and GTP-analogue effects on insulin secretion was investigated in HIT-T15 cells permeabilized with Staphylococcus alpha-toxin. These cells responded to Ca2+ in the range 0.1-10 microM and could be used in a dynamic perifusion system because of the minimal run-down of the secretory response. High Ca2+ (10 microM) elicited a monophasic ATP-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion that reached a peak within 5 min (approximately 20-fold increase) and rapidly decreased during the subsequent 15 min to a plateau remaining above basal rates (0.1 microM Ca2+). The decrease in Ca(2+)-induced insulin secretion with time could not be attributed to decreased capacity to respond…