Pancreatic β cells secrete insulin, the body's only hormone capable of lowering plasma
glucose levels. Impaired or insufficient insulin secretion results in diabetes mellitus. The β
cell is electrically excitable; in response to an elevation of glucose, it depolarizes and starts
generating action potentials. The electrophysiology of mouse β cells and the cell's role in
insulin secretion have been extensively investigated. More recently, similar studies have
been performed on human β cells. These studies have revealed numerous and important …