Regulation of pancreatic acinar function: effects of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and theophylline in vitro.

Abstract

The role of cyclic AMP in the regulation of pancreatic acinar function has been assessed by measuring the effects of exogenous cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and theophylline on protein synthesis and amylase secretion. The rate at which slices of rat pancreas incorporated leucine into protein did not change as a consequence of treatment with either cyclic AMP or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, nor did the slices alter their rate of amylase secretion. Moreover, theophylline did not enhance the ability of submaximal doses of pancreozymin to stimulate amylase secretion or to suppress protein synthesis. These results fail to demonstrate that cyclic AMP regulates either the synthesis or secretion of pancreatic digestive enzymes but they do not rule out the possibility.