Circadian rhythm of insulin secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets

Introduction: With exception of the established knowledge that circadian rhythms are generated in both the mammalian hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus and the avian pineal gland, information is scarce on the circadian rhythms of other isolated organs and cells in vitro. Only a few in vitro investigations of insect tissues and mammalian cells/organs, e.g. intestine, adrenal glands, heart and liver cells, have shown the existence of circadian rhythms in culture. Although numerous investigations under both in vivo and in vitro conditions have noted oscillations in insulin secretion, with periods of between 9 and…