This is the first study using the selective agonist/antagonist stereoisomers of dihydropyridine 202791 to investigate stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic islet cells. We studied effects of the (+)(Ca2+ channel agonist) and (-)(Ca2+ channel antagonist) forms of the dihydropyridine, on 45calcium net uptake, insulin secretion, and membrane potential measured in rodent islets. The antagonist partially inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion and Ca2+ uptake; however, the potassium-induced Ca2+ uptake was completely inhibited. The antagonist did not completely block glucose-evoked spike activity. Addition of the agonist enhanced insulin release and Ca2+ uptake in the presence of 5.6 mM-glucose, but did not increase insulin release or Ca2+ uptake in 16.7 mM-glucose. In the presence of tetraethylammonium (TEA), (+)202791 increased and (-)202791 decreased the duration of glucose-induced action potentials. The results again confirm the presence of a dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel in pancreatic B-cells. In addition these data suggest that in these cells there is activation of a dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca2+ entry in the presence of glucose.