Galanin inhibits rat pancreatic amylase release via cholinergic suppression

Abstract

The effects of galanin on pancreatic exocrine function were examined using rat pancreatic tissues. In anesthetized rats, galanin (40 μg/kg/h) decreased amylase secretion stimulated by 2-deoxy glucose ( 5.8 ± 0.1 vs. 3.1 ± 0.1 times basal) and cholecystokinin octapeptide ( 21.5 ± 0.6 vs. 16.8 ± 0.5), while not inhibiting bethanechol-stimulated secretion. In dispersed acini, there was no effect of galanin alone (10 −8 to 10 −13 M) on amylase release, nor did galanin (10 −6 or 10 −8 M) coincubation affect amylase release stimulated by bethanechol (10 −3 to 10 −7 M) or CCK-8 (10 −8 to 10 −13 M). Using pancreatic lobules, coincubation with galanin (10 −6 M) suppressed 75 mM KCl-stimulated amylase secretion and ACh release ( 10.1 ± 0.6% vs. 7.3 ± 0.4%). Veratridine-stimulated (10 −4 M) amylase secretion and ACh release ( 12.4 ± 1.7% vs. 8.5 ± 0.7%) were similarly diminished.