Abstract
Pancreatic acinar cells are classical exocrine gland cells. The apical regions of clusters of coupled acinar cells collectively form a lumen which constitutes the blind end of a tube created by ductal cells – a structure reminiscent of a “bunch of grapes”. When activated by neural or hormonal secretagogues, pancreatic acinar cells are stimulated to secrete a variety of proteins. These proteins are predominately inactive digestive enzyme precursors called “zymogens”. Acinar cell secretion is absolutely dependent on secretagogue-induced increases in intracellular free Ca 2+. The increase in [Ca 2+] i has precise temporal and spatial characteristics as a result of the exquisite regulation of the proteins responsible for Ca 2+ release, Ca 2+ influx and Ca 2+ clearance in the acinar cell. This brief review discusses recent studies in which transgenic animal models have been utilized to define in molecular detail the components of the Ca 2+ signaling machinery which contribute to these characteristics.
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