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. 2019 Nov 5;117(11):2188–2203. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.10.037

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Simulating how metabolically deficient cells impact islet function via electrical coupling. (A) Simulations of an islet with normal GK activity are shown. Left: schematic of GK activity across simulated islet. Middle: time courses of [Ca2+] for four individual cells within the simulated islet for gcoup = 120 pS (black line). Right: time courses of [Ca2+] for four individual cells within the simulated islet for gcoup = 0 pS (red line). (B) shows the same as in (A) but for simulations in which 40% of cells have no GK activity (GK, black cells). (C) shows the same as in (A) but for simulations in which 60% of cells have no GK activity. (D) Fraction of cells showing depolarization and elevated [Ca2+] activity (“active cells”) in simulated islets versus the percentage of cells deficient in GK is shown for gcoup = 120 and 0 pS. (E) Average parameter values in simulation for cells with normal GK activity (GK+) compared to cells deficient in GK activity (GK) at 50% GK cells are shown. Error bars in (E) represent SD over 500 cells. All simulations were run at 11 mM glucose. Scale bars in (A)–(C) represent 0.5 μM. To see this figure in color, go online.