The glucagon-producing alpha cell: an electrophysiologically exceptional cell

Activation of potassium channels normally serves to reduce cellular activity but recent data indicate that the glucagon-secreting alpha cells are different in this respect and that inhibition of voltage-gated potassium channels results in a paradoxical inhibition of glucagon secretion. Here we discuss these findings and attempt to provide a model for the regulation of glucagon secretion that incorporates these observations.