Effects of organic mercurials on mammalian pancreatic β-cells. Insulin release, glucose transport, glucose oxidation, membrane permeability and ultrastructure

Abstract

The effects of p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid on pancreatic islets were studied in vitro. Obese–hyperglycaemic mice were used as the source of microdissected islets containing more than 90% β-cells. p-Chloromercuribenzoic acid and chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid stimulated insulin release at concentrations of 0.01mm or above. This stimulation was significantly inhibited by the omission of Ca²⁺or the addition of adrenaline, diazoxide or 2,4-dinitrophenol. p-Chloromercuribenzoic acid or chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid did not interfere with the insulin-releasing ability of glucose. Micro-perifusion experiments revealed that the release of insulin in response to organic mercurial occurred almost instantaneously, was reversible, and was biphasic. The two mercurials inhibited glucose transport as well as glucose oxidation, and increased the mannitol and sucrose spaces of isolated islets. Compared with the effects on insulin release, those on glucose transport and membrane permeability were characterized by a longer latency and/or required higher concentrations of organic mercurial. Apart from a seemingly higher proportion of β-cells exhibiting certain degenerative features, in islets exposed to 0.1mm-chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid for 60min, no significant differences with respect to β-cell fine structure were noted between non-incubated islets and islets incubated with chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid or glucose or both. It is suggested that insulin release may be regulated by relatively superficial thiol groups in the β-cell plasma membrane.