Optogenetic control of insulin secretion in intact pancreatic islets with beta-cell-specific expression of Channelrhodopsin-2

摘要

Insulin is secreted from the pancreatic beta-cells in response to elevated glucose. In intact islets the capacity for insulin release is determined by a complex interplay between different cell types. This has made it difficult to specifically assess the role of beta-cell defects to the insulin secretory impairment in type 2 diabetes. Here we describe a new approach, based on optogenetics, that enables specific investigation of beta-cells in intact islets.