Figure 7.

Simvastatin (Simva) inhibits [Ca²⁺]_i increases in response to L-arginine (Arg) and KCl in single β-cells. (a) An increase in [Ca²⁺]_i induced by 10 mM L-arginine was inhibited in the presence of 3 μg ml⁻¹ simvastatin, but not 60 μg ml⁻¹ pravastatin (Prava). (b) A sustained increase in [Ca²⁺]_i induced by 25 mM KCl was almost instantaneously inhibited by the addition of 3 μg ml⁻¹ simvastatin, and it was restored upon washing out the drug. The glucose concentration was 8.3 mM in (a) and 2.8 mM in (b). G16.7: change to 16.7 mM glucose. The results shown are representative of five cells in (a) and 14 in (b).