Proceedings of the November 1994 meeting. The 59 contributions cover glucose recognition, the role for K (ATP) channels, intracellular messengers, modulation of islet release, beta-cell metabolism and Ca2+, beta-cell heterogeneity: building a homogeneous response from a heterogeneous population, ISS

Proceedings of the First International Meeting of the Pancreatic Islet Study Group held in the Alicante, Spain, November 25-28 1994

Pancreatic a-cell biophysics has undergone a veritable informa tion explosion in the past two years. Single channel and macroscopic currents have become easily accessible following the introduction of the patch clamp technique. In addition to this new approach, further development of techniques for optical measurements, ion-sensitive microelectrodes, permeabilized cells and mathematical modelling have recently added to the now classical techniques of membrane potential recording and tracer flux measurement. The International Workshop on Biophysics of the Pancreatic a-Cell held in Alicante (Spain) on Sep tember 30 - October 1, 1985, has now given us the opportunity to share experiences with these new techniques applied to the a-cell. Further more this was the first occasion for most of the groups doing patch clamp studies of the a-cell to decide on appropriate nomenclature and to debate the different characteristics of the a-cell ionic channels. To make this information available to the larger scientific community a record of the meeting has been assembled in this book. It is a collection of research papers by leading scientists at the meet ing working on biophysical, biochemical and physiological aspects. of secretion. We grouped their contributions in seven sections, includ ing new experimental approaches, K-channels, Ca-channels, role of ionic channels, intracellular ionized calcium, neural regulation and mechanisms of insulin release. Each section gives an account of the state of the problem at the time of the meeting, and the subjects are analyzed from the different perspectives of the various contributors."

Molecular biology techniques have led to increased understanding of ion channel structure which has opened the way for the development of new drugs targeted at specific types of ion channels. This book aims to provide a fully comprehensive, single-volume overview of the effects of different drugs and toxins on ionic channels, with every chapter providing a detailed description of the pharmacology of each particular ion channel. It will be an essential reference tool for all researchers in this topical and fast-moving subject area.