Effects of metabolic inhibition by sodium azide on stimulus-secretion coupling in B cells of human islets of Langerhans.

Sodium azide (NaN3), a reversible inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, blocks glucose-induced electrical activity and insulin secretion in human pancreatic islet B cells. Here we show that brief (10-15 min) application followed by removal of 3 mM NaN3 results in transient overshoot of electrical activity and insulin secretion even at substimulatory levels of glucose (3-5 mM). In addition, application of NaN3, even at very low [Ca2+]o, reversibly increases cytosolic Ca2+ to levels usually associated with substantial insulin release. These results suggest that (i) metabolic inhibition may reset B cell stimulus-secretion coupling and (ii) a rise in free cytosolic Ca2+, by itself, is not sufficient to trigger insulin secretion.