Localization of inorganic phosphate in the pancreatic B cell and its loss on glucose stimulation.

Perifusion experiments have shown that there is a discharge of inorganic phosphate into the medium when insulin secretion from isolated islets is stimulated by glucose. Histochemical and microprobe examination of resting pancreatic islets in the electron microscope shows a specific accumulation of inorganic phosphate adjacent to the plasmalemma and nucleolus of the B (beta) cells. This phossphate is lost from the cells during secretory stimulation of islets with high concentrations of glucose.