RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Glucose Inhibition of Glucagon Secretion From Rat α-Cells Is Mediated by GABA Released From Neighboring β-Cells JF Diabetes JO Diabetes FD American Diabetes Association SP 1038 OP 1045 DO 10.2337/diabetes.53.4.1038 VO 53 IS 4 A1 Wendt, Anna A1 Birnir, Bryndis A1 Buschard, Karsten A1 Gromada, Jesper A1 Salehi, Albert A1 Sewing, Sabine A1 Rorsman, Patrik A1 Braun, Matthias YR 2004 UL http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/53/4/1038.abstract AB γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed to function as a paracrine signaling molecule in islets of Langerhans. We have shown that rat β-cells release GABA by Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of synaptic-like microvesicles. Here we demonstrate that GABA thus released can diffuse over sufficient distances within the islet interstitium to activate GABAA receptors in neighboring cells. Confocal immunocytochemistry revealed the presence of GABAA receptors in glucagon-secreting α-cells but not in β- and δ-cells. RT-PCR analysis detected transcripts of α1 and α4 as well as β1–3 GABAA receptor subunits in purified α-cells but not in β-cells. In whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings, exogenous application of GABA activated Cl− currents in α-cells. The GABAA receptor antagonist SR95531 was used to investigate the effects of endogenous GABA (released from β-cells) on pancreatic islet hormone secretion. The antagonist increased glucagon secretion at 1 mmol/l glucose twofold and completely abolished the inhibitory action of 20 mmol/l glucose on glucagon release. Basal and glucose-stimulated secretion of insulin and somatostatin were unaffected by SR95531. The L-type Ca2+ channel blocker isradipine evoked a paradoxical stimulation of glucagon secretion. This effect was not observed in the presence of SR95531, and we therefore conclude that isradipine stimulates glucagon secretion by inhibition of GABA release.