Pancreatic Amylase Output Research Articles

Changes ofin vivo pancreatic amylase output in the early stage after partial hepatectomy in rats

Changes ofin vivo pancreatic amylase output in the early stage after partial hepatectomy in rats

Effects of a cholecystokinin receptor antagonist on intestinal phase of pancreatic and biliary responses in man.

The present study was designed (a) to characterize the activity of loxiglumide as a peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist in healthy human subjects, and (b) to determine whether CCK is a physiologic regulator of the intestinal phase of meal-stimulated exocrine pancreatic and biliary secretions in man. Intravenous loxiglumide (22 mumol/kg per h) was highly potent in antagonizing CCK8-induced pancreatic enzyme and bile acid secretion as well as pancreatic polypeptide release. The potency and selectivity of loxiglumide as an antagonist of CCK provides the tool for evaluating the role of CCK as a physiological mediator of meal-induced pancreatic and biliary responses in humans. Infusion of a liquid test meal into the duodenum evoked an immediate response of pancreatic enzyme and bilirubin outputs, respectively. Intravenous loxiglumide significantly inhibited the meal-induced pancreatic amylase output by 63% (P less than 0.05), lipase output by 43% (P less than 0.05), and bilirubin output by 59% (P less than 0.05). These data suggest that CCK is a physiological mediator of the intestinal phase of meal-stimulated pancreatic and biliary responses.

An important role of endogenous insulin on exocrine pancreatic secretion in rats

We have investigated a physiological role of endogenous insulin on exocrine pancreatic secretion stimulated by a liquid meal as well as exogenous secretin and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) in conscious rats. Each rat was prepared with a chronic pancreatic fistula and an indwelling catheter in a jugular vein. Oral ingestion of a liquid meal (5 ml) resulted in significant increases in pancreatic secretion, including volume, bicarbonate, and amylase output, in these rats. A rabbit anti-insulin serum (1.0 ml) given intravenously completely blocked the postprandial exocrine pancreatic secretion, whereas a normal rabbit serum did not influence the pancreatic secretion in the same rats. When pancreatic secretion was stimulated by intravenous administration of both secretin and CCK-8 in three different doses, including 0.015, 0.03, and 0.06 clinical unit and microgram.kg-1.h-1, respectively, volume, bicarbonate, and amylase output increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. This increase in pancreatic secretion was also completely blocked by a rabbit anti-insulin serum, whereas it was not influenced by a normal rabbit serum. The amount of the antiserum employed abolished the postprandial increases in plasma insulin concentration. We conclude that endogenous insulin plays an important role on the regulation of postprandial pancreatic secretion in rats. Furthermore, for the stimulatory action of the two intestinal hormones secretin and CCK-8 on the pancreatic exocrine secretion, endogenous insulin is need.

Role of secretin and cholecystokinin in oleic acid-stimulated pancreatic secretion in rats

We investigated the possible role of endogenous secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) on oleic acid-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized rats. Intraduodenal infusion of oleic acid (pH 6.5) in three different doses (0.06, 0.25 and 1 mmole/hr) resulted in dose-related increases in pancreatic juice volume, bicarbonate and amylase outputs (r = 0.665, 0.736 and 0.517, respectively) (P less than 0.001). Plasma secretin and CCK concentrations also elevated significantly in response to oleic acid, in a dose-related manner (r = 0.721 and 0.546, respectively) (P less than 0.001). There were statistically significant correlations between plasma secretin concentrations and bicarbonate outputs, and between plasma CCK concentrations and amylase outputs in response to oleic acid (P less than 0.01). Potent CCK antagonist, CR 1409 (5 mg/kg.hr) administered intravenously suppressed completely increase in amylase output induced by oleic acid, and partially in juice volume and bicarbonate output. It is concluded that both endogenous secretin and CCK play important roles on oleic acid-induced pancreatic secretion in rats.

Effect of CCK antagonists CR 1409 and CR 1505 on rat pancreatic exocrine secretion in vivo.

The action of cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonists CR 1409 and CR 1505 on pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by exogenous and endogenous CCK was studied in vivo in anesthetized rats, and compared with proglumide. Intravenous administration of CR 1409 and CR 1505 in graded doses between 0.04 and 25 mg/kg/h resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition in pancreatic juice volume and amylase output stimulated by intravenous infusion of CCK-8 in a dose of 0.06 microgram/kg/h. CR 1409 is 1,000 times and CR 1505 is 267 times more potent than proglumide, based on the ED50 (effective dose for half-maximal inhibition) for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion. Intraduodenal administration of casein in a dose of 400 mg/h caused significant increases in plasma CCK concentration and pancreatic secretion of juice volume and outputs of amylase and trypsin. Both CR 1409 and CR 1505 in a dose of 5 mg/kg/h suppressed the increases in pancreatic juice volume and both amylase and trypsin outputs induced by casein given intraduodenally. These results indicate that CCK antagonists including CR 1409, CR 1505, and proglumide inhibit pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by not only exogenous, but also endogenous CCK in rats.

Effect of L-364,718 on GRP-stimulated pancreatic and gastric secretions and GI peptides in conscious dogs.

The effect of L-364,718, a cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, on exocrine pancreatic secretion, gastric secretion, and plasma levels of gastrointestinal (GI) peptides stimulated by gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) was examined in five conscious dogs. Intravenous infusion of graded doses of synthetic porcine GRP (18, 36, and 178 pmol/kg/h) caused significant and dose-dependent increases in pancreatic and gastric juice secretion and in plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide (PP), CCK, and gastrin. Intravenous injection of L-364,718 (20 nmol/kg) significantly inhibited GRP-stimulated pancreatic outputs of juice volume, protein, and amylase and plasma PP release. L-364,718, however, did not affect gastric juice volume and plasma levels of CCK and gastrin. The results suggest that endogenously released CCK is, at least in part, responsible for GRP-stimulated pancreatic protein and enzyme secretions and PP release in dogs. The results further suggest that GRP-stimulated pancreatic secretion might be, in part, a direct response of GRP to exocrine pancreas.

Meal-induced peptide tyrosine tyrosine inhibition of pancreatic secretion in the rat.

In the present studies we examined the distribution, release, and biological actions of peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) in the rat. The concentration and distribution of PYY was highest in the ileum and colon as determined by both radioimmunoassay of rat tissue extracts and immunocytochemistry. An ultrastructural comparison of rat and dog colonic PYY cells revealed a bipolar distribution of peptide-containing secretory granules in both species. Serum PYY and pancreatic exocrine secretory responses were monitored after presentation of a meal to meal-trained rats (n = 12). A significant increase in PYY concentrations was not observed until 120 min after meal presentation, a delayed response similar to that previously observed in the dog. PYY responses were also observed in rats after perfusion of the intestine at the level of the duodenum and ileum with an 80 mOsm micellar solution of sodium oleate. Duodenal instillations of the fatty acids resulted in a maximum PYY response after 120 min, whereas rats subject to ileal perfusion of fat exhibited maximum PYY release within the first hour. In other experiments, infusion of exogenous PYY at 100 pmol.kg-1.h-1, which reproduced plasma PYY levels observed after a meal and perfusion of the gut with fat, significantly inhibited CCK-stimulated bile pancreatic volume (P less than 0.02), protein (P less than 0.01), and amylase (P less than 0.01) output. These studies demonstrate a bipolar distribution of PYY-containing secretory granules in cells of the jejunal, ileal, and colonic mucosa, and show that PYY is released in response to a meal in amounts sufficient to inhibit cholecystokinin-stimulated pancreatic secretion. Evidence is presented that PYY may mediate the delayed inhibition of pancreatic secretion that is observed in the rat after ingestion of a meal.

Inhibition of Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion in the Rat by Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide: Involvement of Circulating Somatostatin*

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a 37-amino acid peptide, has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of pancreatic exocrine secretion when administered exogenously The present study was performed to determine if this inhibitory effect is due to the direct actions of exogenous CGRP on the exocrine pancreas or to the effects of another inhibitor released by CGRP. To this end, we first confirmed the inhibitory effects of the peptide on exocrine function by infusing the peptide into conscious rats previously prepared with bile-pancreatic fistulas and measuring cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase and protein outputs. CGRP produced a dose-dependent inhibition of both protein and amylase outputs in vivo. In marked contrast, CGRP in vitro had no direct inhibitory effect on amylase output from either the isolated buffer-perfused pancreas or dispersed acinar cells. Thus, the inhibitory effects of exogenous CGRP on pancreatic exocrine function appear to be indirect. In an attempt to determine the mediator of the inhibitory effects of CGRP, we assessed the ability of similar doses of CGRP to stimulate the release of a potential endogenous inhibitor of pancreatic exocrine function, circulating somatostatin. In conscious rats, iv CGRP dose-dependently increased circulating plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactivity from 35 +/- 5 to 86 +/- 7 fmol/ml. To determine if these increments in circulating somatostatin were sufficient to impair exocrine function, the isolated pancreas was exposed in vitro to a similar concentration of somatostatin. Somatostatin perfusion resulted in a significant inhibition of pancreatic amylase output (73%). Overall, these results support the hypothesis that 1) the inhibitory effect of exogenous CGRP on pancreatic exocrine function is indirect; 2) exogenous CGRP stimulates the release of endogenous somatostatin into the systemic circulation; and 3) the concentration of circulating somatostatin is sufficient to mediate the effect of exogenous CGRP on the exocrine pancreas.

Characterization of a new CCK antagonist, L364,718: in vitro and in vivo studies

In this study we examined a novel, orally effective, nonpeptidal cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist, 3S(-)-N-(2,3-dihydro-1-methyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-3-yl) -1H-indole-2-carboxamide (L364,718) on CCK-induced amylase release. We used isolated rat pancreatic acini and incubated them with CCK-8 with or without various CCK receptor antagonists. L364,718 (3-100 nM), proglumide (1-10 mM), and the proglumide derivative CR1409 (1-30 microM) each caused a progressive rightward shift in the CCK-8 dose-response curve without a change in maximal amylase secretion. Plotting the data according to the method of Schild indicated competitive inhibition. The Kis for L364,718, CR1409, and proglumide were 0.25 nM, 0.15 microM, and 0.5 mM, respectively. Thus L364,718 was 600-fold more potent than CR1409 and 2,000,000-fold more potent than proglumide in inhibiting CCK-8-induced amylase release. Inhibition of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK-8 binding to acini by these receptor antagonists had a similar rank potency. L364,718 was tested against other pancreatic exocrine secretagogues and was effective against agonists that only act through the CCK receptor. In rats, diversion of pancreatic juice from the duodenum stimulated pancreatic amylase output and elevated plasma CCK levels. The stimulated amylase secretion was blocked by intravenous administration of L364,718. Furthermore, extracted plasma CCK from rats with diversion of pancreatic juice from the duodenum stimulated amylase release from pancreatic acini, and this stimulation was blocked by addition of L364,718.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of Neurotensin on Pancreatic and Gastric Secretion and Growth in Rats

Plasma levels of neurotensin are increased by ingestion of fat, making this peptide a candidate for mediation of pancreatic adaptation to dietary fat. We examined the effects of doses of neurotensin on pancreatic secretion and growth to determine whether doses stimulating secretion also increased pancreatic growth and lipase content in rats. Because neurotensin inhibits gastric secretion in other species, we also measured its effects on gastric secretion and growth. In conscious rats, neurotensin (33, 100, and 300 micrograms kg-1 subcutaneously in gelatin) produced dose-related increases in pancreatic amylase output and decreases in basal gastric secretion. Duration of acid inhibition by neurotensin was longer than stimulation of amylase secretion. Chronic administration of the same doses of neurotensin to groups of rats every 8 h for 5 days produced small but statistically significant trophic effects on the pancreas. The highest dose of neurotensin significantly increased pancreatic weight (16%) and content of DNA (12%), protein (17%), and chymotrypsinogen (60%) but did not affect amylase or lipase content. There were no effects of neurotensin on any measurement of oxyntic or pyloric gland area growth. We conclude that although neurotensin stimulates both pancreatic secretion and growth, it is not the mediator of fat-induced pancreatic adaptation.

New canine model of chronic pancreatitis due to chronic ischemia with incomplete pancreatic duct obstruction.

A new experimental model of chronic pancreatitis was produced by a combination of chronic ischemia and incomplete obstruction of the pancreatic duct. Ischemia was induced by ligation and separation of branches flowing into the left pancreatic lobe from the splenic artery. Incomplete ductal obstruction was achieved by ligation and separation of the minor pancreatic duct and placement of a polyethylene tube in the major pancreatic duct. Macroscopic examination at 6 months after model preparation showed that the pancreas was hard, with severe inflammatory change. In the secretin test, the flow rate of pancreatic juice, amylase output and bicarbonate concentration were significantly reduced as compared with the controls. Pancreatography revealed dilatation and meandering of the major pancreatic duct and poor visualization of its secondary and tertiary bifurcations. The histopathological findings consisted of a decrease in the pancreatic parenchyma, replacement of fat, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, extensive fibrosis and tubular complexes. This model most closely resembles human chronic pancreatitis, and is a very useful instrument.

Regulation of pancreatic exocrine function: a role for cell-to-cell communication?

The effect of heptanol, an alkanol which decreases gap junctional permeability, was investigated in the perfused rat pancreas. Under basal conditions, heptanol (3.5 mM) caused a three- to fourfold increase of pancreatic juice, protein, and amylase outputs. The effect on enzyme secretion was fully reversible upon removal of the alkanol and was not secondary to the release of acetylcholine from nerve endings, since it was not prevented by addition of atropine (10(-6) M) to the perfusate. By contrast, another alkanol, hexanol (3 mM), which does not decrease coupling between acinar cells in spite of anesthetic properties analogous to those of heptanol, did not alter pancreatic secretion. The effect of heptanol was not mediated by a significant stimulation of cyclic AMP, nor did the alkanol increase the secretion of lactic dehydrogenase, a cytosolic marker. Analysis of the numerical density of freeze-fractured and immunolabeled gap junctions between acinar cells did not show differences between heptanol-perfused and control pancreases. In addition, heptanol did not alter carbachol (10(-6) M and 10(-5) M)-evoked amylase release. Since heptanol blocks cell coupling, apparently without interfering with the main intracellular pathways triggering enzyme release, we suggest that downregulation of direct cell-to-cell communications increases pancreatic exocrine secretion. Thus, cell coupling is probably involved in the regulation of the secretory activity of acinar cells.

Comparative effects of CCK-8 on feeding, sham feeding, and exocrine pancreatic secretion in rats

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is thought to be a hormonal regulator of exocrine pancreatic secretion and is postulated to be a satiety hormone. We compared the dose-response effects of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) on feeding, sham feeding, and pancreatic secretion to gauge whether the feeding effect might be physiological. Pancreatic responses to intravenous CCK-8 (40, 200, 1,000, or 4,000 pmol . kg-1 . h-1) in fasted unanesthetized rats were compared with effects of CCK-8 (0, 200, 1,000, or 4,000 pmol . kg-1 . h-1) on ingestion of liquid diet in fasted rats with gastric cannulas either closed (normal feeding) or open (sham feeding). Maximal pancreatic amylase output occurred at 200 pmol . kg-1 . h-1 of CCK-8; output declined at higher doses. Food intake was significantly inhibited only at 1,000 and 4,000 pmol . kg-1 . h-1 of CCK-8; the effect was similar when gastric cannulas were closed and open. These results, together with available data on the low postprandial levels of plasma CCK, suggest that circulating levels of CCK normally present after food intake are not sufficient to produce satiety. Furthermore, suppression of feeding by CCK does not appear to be mediated solely by a mechanism that senses gastric distension, because CCK-8 had similar effects in the presence and absence of gastric distension. Whether CCK interacts with other neural or humoral factors to produce satiety by a hormonal mechanism remains to be determined.

Action of Intravenous Ethanol and Atropine on the Secretion of Gastric Acid, Pancreatic Enzymes, and Bile Acids and the Motility of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in Nonalcoholic Humans

To investigate the influence of the cholinergic nerves on the action of i.v. ethanol on interdigestive gastric acid, pancreatic enzyme, and bile acid output, seven healthy volunteers were studied. On each of 4 different days, they swallowed a multilumen intestinal tube system that allowed the measurement of intraluminal pressures and the collection of gastric and duodenal juice. The subjects received an i.v. infusion of either ethanol (600 mg/kg for 30 min followed by 3 mg/kg/min), atropine (5 mu/kg/h), a combination of both drugs, or NaCl. Whereas ethanol did not significantly influence motility, atropine induced motoric quiescence. Ethanol significantly (p less than 0.05) stimulated gastric acid output, by 55%, whereas atropine inhibited it by 91%. When ethanol and atropine were given together, gastric acid output was significantly higher than during atropine use alone. Both ethanol and atropine inhibited pancreatic amylase output--by 47% and by 82%, respectively. The degree of inhibition was 80% when ethanol and atropine were given simultaneously. Atropine but not ethanol significantly reduced bile acid output. The finding that atropine did not completely reverse the stimulating effect of i.v. ethanol on gastric acid secretion suggests that ethanol stimulates gastric acid secretion not only by a cholinergic but also by a noncholinergic mechanism. The observation that atropine did not reverse the inhibiting effect of ethanol suggests, but does not prove, that the effect of ethanol on the pancreas is predominantly mediated by cholinergic nerves.

Influence of pH change on redox state and CCK-induced secretion in isolated perfused rat pancreas.

The isolated perfused rat pancreas was used to examine the influence of the acid-base status of the perfusing solution on the redox states of cytochromes and secretory responses. Lowering the pH in a perfusing solution (pHe) from 7.3 to 6.8 induced simultaneous oxidation of cytochromes aa3, b, and c + c1, and further lowering to 6.0 induced larger oxidation of the cytochromes. Raising the pHe from 7.3 to 8.0 induced reduction of the cytochromes. Continuous stimulation with synthetic C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-8) at 100 pM induced the maximum secretory responses (pancreatic juice flow, protein output, and amylase output) during perfusion with the standard solution. The responses were not inhibited at pHe 6.8 but were inhibited significantly at pHe 6.0 or 8.0. The responses induced by stimulation with 20 pM CCK-8 were completely inhibited when pHe was lowered to 6.0 and CaCl2 was removed from the perfusing solution.

DIFFERENT ACTIONS OF INTRAVENOUS ETHANOL ON BASAL (= INTERDIGESTIVE) SECRETION OF GASTRIC ACID, PANCREATIC ENZYMES AND BILE ACIDS AND GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY IN MAN

The action of an intravenous infusion of ethanol (10% v/v; given in a dose of 300 mg kg-1 body weight for 30 min followed by 3 mg kg-1 min-1 for 2 hr) on the basal (= interdigestive) gastrointestinal motor activity and the basal gastric acid, pancreatic amylase and bile acid secretion was determined in 6 healthy human volunteers. Ethanol did not affect the duration of the interdigestive motor complex and the output of bile acids into the duodenum. Ethanol significantly (P less than 0.05) stimulated the gastric acid output by about 2.2-fold and inhibited the pancreatic amylase output by about 43% as compared to control experiments in which an intravenous infusion of 0.15 M NaCl was given. Ethanol did not alter the mean plasma levels of gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide as compared to prestimulatory values and to control experiments. In conclusion, these results show that intravenous ethanol given in a moderate dose stimulates gastric acid output and inhibits pancreatic amylase output in fasting non-alcoholic human beings. The mechanism(s) of these different actions of ethanol is unknown since release of gastrin or pancreatic polypeptide by ethanol does not account for the observed effects of intravenous ethanol.

Effects of substance P on fluid and amylase secretion in exocrine pancreas of rat and mouse

The effects of substance P on fluid and amylase secretion were examined in the exocrine pancreas of the rat and the mouse in vivo and in vitro. In the anaesthetised rat, a single intravenous injection of substance P caused an atropine resistant increase in both the basal and caerulein stimulated flow of pancreatic juice and amylase output, but reduced the secretin stimulated pancreatic juice flow. In vitro experiments using superfused mouse pancreatic fragments supported the in vivo result showing that substance P enhanced caerulein stimulated amylase output.

Interdigestive gastrointestinal motility and secretion of gastric acid and pancreatic enzymes in young cigarette smokers.

The basal (interdigestive) gastrointestinal motor activity and the interdigestive gastric acid and pancreatic amylase secretion were determined in 10 young smokers (mean age 23 years) and 7 nonsmokers (mean age 26 years). There was no significant difference in the length of the interdigestive motor complex between smokers and nonsmokers, but the speed of transmission of the activity front (phase III) in the upper intestine was significantly (p less than 0.05) greater in smokers than in nonsmokers. No significant overall changes in the interdigestive gastric acid and pancreatic amylase outputs were observed between the two groups studied.

Inhibitory influence of amino acids on secretagogues induced exocrine secretion in isolated perfused rat pancreas.

Influence of amino acids upon pancreatic exocrine secretion has been investigated in the isolated perfused pancreas of rats. Arg produced significant and dose-related inhibition of pancreatic juice flow, protein output and amylase output evoked by CCK-PZ (1.25 pM). The secretory response evoked by CCK-PZ was inhibited by other amino acids (Ala, Asp, Asn, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Val, in each 20 mM). A similar inhibitory pattern was observed using 10 mixed amino acids of 2 mM each (Pro, Phe, Thr, Met, Lys, Asp, Leu, Trp, Val, Gly). Gly at a concentration of 20 mM produced significant inhibition of exocrine secretion evoked by ACh (50 nM) or GRP (36 pM). The inhibitory response induced by amino acids could not be repeated by using exogenous insulin (1 microM) and glucagon (280 nM). The inhibitory response was also not changed by increased extracellular Ca (5 or 10 mM). However, Gly (20 mM) produced inhibition of exocrine secretion evoked by Ca reintroduction into a pancreas which was pretreated with A 23187. It was suggested that the inhibitory effects of some amino acids on exocrine secretion are mainly caused by suppression of Ca influx in a stimulus-secretion coupling process.

Aging-associated pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in the unanesthetized rat.

Observations in individuals have suggested that pancreatic functions may be diminished with aging. In order to explore this possibility, we measured pancreatic fluid, protein and amylase output as a function of aging in the rat. Surgical preparations of the rats included external drainage of pancreatic secretions without obstructing normal bile flow and complete diversion of gastric acid out of the duodenum to prevent endogenous secretin release. Pancreatic secretions were collected in the basal state in unanesthetized animals 24 h after surgery. Protein and amylase output were highest at 3 months of age and decreased to less than 20% of maximal values by 27 months of age. For example, amylase output decreased from 4,354 to 105 U/h/kg and protein output fell from 33.5 to 1.7 mg/h/kg between 3 and 27 months of age. Our findings indicate that aging in the rat is associated with diminished pancreatic exocrine functions. Further careful assessment of pancreatic functions in aging individuals is advisable.