Glyceraldehyde, but not cyclic AMP‐stimulated insulin release is preceded by a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+

The dynamics of changes in membrane potential, cytosolic free Ca2+, [Ca2+]i and immunoreactive insulin release were assessed in RINm5F cells. Membrane depolarization and a rise in [Ca2+]i preceded the stimulation of insulin release by D-glyceraldehyde. Forskolin, which raised the cellular cyclic AMP levels, stimulated insulin release without changing membrane potential or [Ca2+]i. It is concluded that cyclic AMP acts on insulin release not by mobilizing Ca2+ but by another, as yet undefined, mechanism.