Secretion of Newly Synthesized Insulin in vitro

Abstract

UP to the present, there has been little information available concerning the rate at which newly synthesized protein hormones may be secreted, following the stimulation of endocrine glands. In recent work on the synthesis of insulin within pancreas slices, in vitro, it became of interest to determine whether or not newly synthesized insulin may be released directly into the incubation medium, or alternatively whether or not release of insulin might be delayed following its accumulation within β-granules. It has already been suggested by Lacy¹ that release of insulin from β-cells in response to glucose involves the movement of these granules to the cell surface, where they are released into blood vessels.