Palmitate stimulation of glucagon secretion in mouse pancreatic α-cells results from activation of L-type calcium channels and elevation of cytoplasmic calcium

We have investigated the short-term effects of the saturated free fatty acid (FFA) palmitate on pancreatic alpha-cells. Palmitate (0.5 or 1 mmol/l bound to fatty acid-free albumin) stimulated glucagon secretion from intact mouse islets 1.5- to 2-fold when added in the presence of 1-15 mmol/l glucose. Palmitate remained stimulatory in islets depolarized with 30 mmol/l extracellular K+ or exposed to forskolin, but it did not remain stimulatory after treatment with isradipine or triacsin C. The stimulatory action of palmitate on secretion correlated with a 3.5-fold elevation of intracellular free Ca2+ when applied in the presence of 15 mmol/l glucose, a 40% stimulation of exocytosis (measured as increases in cell capacitance), and a 25% increase in whole-cell Ca2+ current. The latter effect was abolished by isradipine, suggesting that palmitate selectively modulates L-type Ca2+ channels. The effect of palmitate on exocytosis was not mediated by palmitoyl-CoA, and intracellular application of this FFA metabolite decreased rather than enhanced Ca2+-induced exocytosis. The stimulatory effects of palmitate on glucagon secretion were paralleled by a similar to50% inhibition of somatostatin release. We conclude that palmitate increases alpha-cell exocytosis principally by enhanced Ca2+ entry via L-type Ca2+ channels and, possibly, relief from paracrine inhibition by somatostatin released by neighboring delta-cells.