Stimulated Amylase Release Research Articles

Evidence for the Involvement of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase in the Exocytosis of Amylase from Parotid Acinar Cells1

To determine the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the exocytosis of amylase from rat parotid acini, I studied the effects of various cAMP analogues on amylase release and protein phosphorylation in saponin-permeabilized parotid cells. The dose-dependent responses of amylase release and protein phosphorylation evoked by cAMP, dibutyryl-cAMP, and 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP were closely correlated. Furthermore, when the permeabilized cells were incubated with a combination of site-selective cAMP analogues, such as N6-benzoyl-cAMP plus 8-thiomethyl-cAMP (RII-directed) or N6-benzoyl-cAMP plus 8-aminohexylamino-cAMP (RI-directed), synergistic stimulation of amylase release was clearly observed. As reported previously [T. Takuma (1988) Biochem. J. 256, 867-871], however, the protein phosphorylation evoked by 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP was markedly inhibited by H-8 without a significant decrease in amylase release. These results suggest that cAMP-dependent protein kinase is involved in the regulation of amylase exocytosis, although the role of its catalytic subunit is still uncertain.

D-Ala1, Leu9-ψ-CH2NH-Leu0]Neuromedin C Antagonizes Neuromedin C-Stimulated Amylase Release by Acini Isolated from the Rat Pancreas

Two novel neuromedin C analogs [D-Ala1, Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C and [Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C, were synthesized by rapid solid phase methods and examined for their abilities to inhibit neuromedin C-stimulated amylase release by isolated rat pancreatic acini. Both analogs significantly inhibited maximally stimulated amylase release by neuromedin C in a dose-dependent manner with maximal inhibition seen at concentrations of 100 and 300 microM of [D-Ala1, Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C and [Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C, respectively. The IC50 (concentration required to half-maximally inhibit neuromedin C-stimulated amylase release) was 1.5 microM for [D-Ala1, Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C compared to a 13.4 microM IC50 for [Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C. The [D-Ala1, Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C analog produced a parallel rightward shift in the neuromedin C dose-response curve and Schild plots of the inhibition data gave a slope of 0.969 +/- 0.121 and a pA2 (apparent affinity for the acinar cell receptor in terms of neuromedin C receptor-stimulated amylase release) of 100 nM. While [D-Ala1, Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C significantly inhibited both neuromedin B- and gastrin releasing peptide-stimulated amylase release, the analog did not inhibit amylase release in response to either cholecystokinin octapeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, carbamylcholine, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, forskolin, or 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. The results demonstrate that [D-Ala1, Leu9-psi-CH2NH-Leu10]neuromedin C is a potent, specific, and competitive antagonist for neuromedin C and peptides of the gastrin releasing peptide family and may serve as a useful molecule for exploring the physiological role of these peptides.

Regulated phosphorylation of secretory granule membrane proteins of the rat parotid gland

An antiserum raised against purified rat parotid secretory granule membrane proteins has been used to identify organelle-specific protein phosphorylation events following stimulation of intact cells from the rat parotid gland. After lobules were prelabeled with [32P]orthophosphate and exposed to secretagogues, phosphoproteins were immunoprecipitated with the granule membrane protein antiserum, separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and visualized by autoradiography. Parallel studies of stimulated amylase release were performed. Isoproterenol treatment of parotid lobules resulted in an increase in the phosphate content of immunoprecipitable 60- and 72-kDa proteins that correlated with amylase release in a time-dependent manner. Forskolin addition mimicked these effects, but only the isoproterenol effects were reversed by propranolol treatment. To confirm the specificity of the antiserum to the secretory granule membrane fraction, subcellular isolation techniques were employed following in situ phosphorylation. The 60- and 72-kDa phosphoproteins were immunoprecipitated from both a particulate fraction and a purified secretory granule fraction. Furthermore, the extraction properties of both species suggest that they are integral membrane proteins. These findings support the possibility that stimulus-regulated secretion may involve phosphorylation of integral membrane proteins of the exocrine secretory granule.

Cholinergic and adrenergic control of enzyme secretion in isolated rat pancreas

While cholinergic nervous control of pancreatic enzyme secretion is well documented, data concerning adrenergic regulation of the exocrine pancreas are contradictory. In the present study we attempted to elucidate the direct action of adrenergic stimulation on pancreatic enzyme secretion. Rat pancreatic segments were set up in an organ bath and superfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) stimulated amylase release from the segments. This stimulation was subject to inhibition with atropine up to 80%. Atropine-resistant enzyme discharge in response to EFS could be blocked by propranolol. Cholinergic agonist urecholine-induced amylase release was completely blocked by atropine. Noradrenaline (NA) exhibited a biphasic effect on amylase release. It inhibited the urecholine-induced amylase release in lower concentrations (10(-8)-10(-7) M), while it stimulated basal enzyme secretion in higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-4) M). The inhibitory effect was mimicked by phenylephrine and completely prevented by prazosin. Isoprenaline concentration dependently enhanced, while clonidine and guanfacine did not affect amylase discharge. In conclusion, in rat pancreatic acinar tissue it seems likely that acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter. Adrenergic action can be dual, inhibitory via alpha 1-adrenoceptors or stimulatory via beta-adrenoceptors on amylase secretion.

Two functionally distinct cholecystokinin receptors show different modes of action on Ca2+ mobilization and phospholipid hydrolysis in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Studies using a new cholecystokinin analog, JMV-180.

A new hepatapeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) analog, JMV-180 (Boc-Tyr(SO3-)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-2-phenylethylester), acts as an agonist at high affinity CCK receptors on rat pancreatic acini to stimulate amylase release but unlike cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) does not act on low affinity CCK receptors to inhibit amylase release (Galas, M. D., Lignon, M. F., Rodriguez, M., Mendre, C., Fulcrand, P., Laur, J., and Martinez, J. (1988) Am. J. Physiol. 254, G176-G188). To investigate the biochemical mechanisms initiated by CCK acting on each class of CCK receptor, the effects of JMV-180 and CCK8 on amylase release, Ca2+ mobilization, and phospholipid hydrolysis were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. When acini were loaded with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA, amylase release stimulated by both JMV-180 and CCK8 was reduced. Measurement of 45Ca2+ efflux and cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) by the fluorescence of fura-2-loaded acini in a stirred cuvette showed that JMV-180 induced a concentration-dependent increase but with a maximal response only two-thirds that induced by CCK8. When [Ca2+]i of individual fura-2-loaded acinar cells was measured by microspectrofluorometry, all concentrations of JMV-180 (1 nM-10 microM) induced repetitive transient [Ca2+]i spikes (Ca2+ oscillations). By contrast, stimulation with a high concentration of CCK8 (1 nM) caused a large increase in [CA2+]i followed by a small sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i. The measurement of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production by both [3H]inositol labeling and 1,4,5-IP3 radioreceptor assay showed that JMV-180 had only minimal effects at 10 microM in contrast to the large increase induced by high concentrations of CCK8 (more than 1 nM). JMV-180 blocked the effect of a high concentration of CCK8 on both [Ca2+]i and 1,4,5-IP3 productions but did not affect the response to carbamylcholine. JMV-180 caused a delayed monophasic stimulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) sustained to 60 min without the early increase in DAG observed in response to CCK8. Furthermore, JMV-180 stimulated the release of [3H]choline metabolites, primarily phosphorylated choline, from [3H]choline-labeled acini at low concentrations and to the same extent as CCK8. Since JMV-180 interacts not only with high affinity CCK receptors as an agonist but also with low affinity CCK receptors as a functional antagonist, the present results indicate that the occupancy of high affinity state receptors by CCK induces Ca2+ oscillations, DAG formation from phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, and amylase release with minimal phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of L-364, 718 on Pancreatic Exocrine and Endocrine Secretion in the Rat

We examined the inhibitory effect of L-364,718, a nonpeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist, on CCK stimulation of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretion in both the isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreata of rats. In the isolated acini, L-364,718 inhibited CCK octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release and binding of 125I-CCK-8 in a dose-dependent manner without appreciable effects on the basal amylase secretion. L-364,718 also inhibited amylase release in response to caerulein and gastrin I, but had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other secretagogues or by agents bypassing receptors. Similarly, binding of N-methylscopolamine to pancreatic acini was not inhibited by L-364,718. In the isolated perfused pancreata, L-364,718 inhibited CCK-8-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion and insulin release. The inhibitory effects of L-364,718 were more potent for insulin release than for exocrine secretion and persisted even after the removal of L-364,718 infusion. These results clearly demonstrate that L-364,718 is a specific, potent, and prolonged antagonist of CCK's stimulatory actions on pancreatic acinar and B cells.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP;Amylin) influences the endocrine but not the exocrine rat pancreas

The effect of synthetic rat amylin (10,100,1000 pmol/l) on glucose (10 mmol/) and arginine (10 mmol/l) -stimulated islet hormone release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas and on amylase release from isolated pancreatic acini was investigated. Amylin stimulated the insulin release during the first (+76%) and the second secretion period (+42%) at 1 nmol/l. The first phase of the glucagon release was inhibited concentration dependently by amylin and completely suppressed during the second phase. Amylin diminished the somatostatin release in a concentration dependent manner. This effect was more pronounced at the first than the second secretion period (1 nmol amylin: 1.phase: −60%, 2.phase: −22%). Amylin was without any effect on basal and CCK stimulated amylase release from isolated rat pancreatic acini. Our data suggest amylin, a secretory product of pancreatic B-cells, as a peptide with strong paracrine effects within the Langerhans islet. Therefore, amylin might be involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.

Intracellular Mechanism Responsible for Reduced Enzyme Secretion from Camostate-Induced Hypertrophied Pancreas

Chornic exogenous administration of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) to rats led to a reduced sensitivity of pancreatic acinar cells to both CCK8 and carbachol stimulation without changes in affinity or number of CCK or muscarinic receptors. In addition, repeated feeding of camostate, a synthetic protease inhibitor which stimulates endogenous CCK release, desensitized the response of the acini to caerulein. This study investigates whether an altered postreceptor signal transduction mechanism is responsible for the reduced amylase secretion. Four days of camostate treatment significantly increased pancreatic weight, protein and amylase, but not DNA content, indicating organ hypertrophy, CCK8 and carbachol stimulated amylase release from acini, isolated from camostate-treated rats, was significantly reduced without shifting the dose response curve compared to controls. There was no difference in total phosphoinositide turnover between the groups. In addition, CCK8 and carbachol stimulated 45Ca efflux and calcium ionophore stimulated amylase release were similar in both groups. These results indicate that the release of calcium from intracellular stores and the utilization of intracellular calcium to drive amylase secretion is not affected in the hypertrophied pancreas. In contrast, incubation of acini from camostate-treated rats with TPA (a phorbol ester which directly stimulates protein kinase C) showed a 48% reduction in amylase secretion. This suggests that a regulatory mechanism is present at the level of protein kinase C or beyond, which is responsible for the decrease in amylase release in the hypertrophied pancreas.

Carbachol desensitizes pancreatic enzyme secretion by downregulation of receptors

First incubating guinea pig pancreatic acini with carbachol reduced the subsequent stimulation of amylase release caused by carbachol, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), and bombesin but not that caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, A23187, or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Carbachol also reduced the subsequent binding of N-[3H]methylscopolamine, 125I-CCK-8, and 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin. Pancreatic acini possess a high-affinity class of cholinergic receptors and a low-affinity cholinergic receptors appears to produce the reduction in carbachol-stimulated amylase release and binding of N-[3H]methylscopolamine. First incubating acini with carbachol caused a complete loss of high-affinity cholinergic receptors with no change in the number or affinity of low-affinity cholinergic receptors. Carbachol occupation of low-affinity cholinergic receptors appears to produce the reduction in CCK-8- and bombesin-stimulated amylase release and in binding of 125I-CCK-8 and 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin. Acini possess two classes of CCK receptors. One class has a high affinity for CCK-8; the other class has a low affinity for CCK-8. First incubating acini with carbachol caused a 60% decrease in the number of high-affinity CCK receptors with no change in the number of low-affinity receptors or the affinities of either class of receptors for CCK-8. Acini possess a single class of bombesin receptors, and first incubating acini with carbachol caused a 40% decrease in the number of bombesin receptors with no change in their affinity for bombesin. 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate reproduced the action of carbachol on binding of N-[3H]methylscopolamine and 125I-CCK-8 but not on binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin, suggesting that carbachol activation of protein kinase C may in some way mediate the effect of carbachol on receptors for carbachol and those for CCK but not that on receptors for bombesin.

Biological activity of a bombesin-like peptide extracted from the intestine of the ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei

1. Ratfish ( Hydrolagus colliei) intestines were boiled in water to inactivate proteases and then treated with cold 4° trifluoroacetic acid to extract bombesin-like peptides. 2. The extract was fractionated in several steps using reverse-phase and ion exchange HPLC, and bombesin-like immunoreactive peptides were detected by radioimmunoassay using an antiserum specific for the bioactive C-terminal region of bombesin. 3. A highly purified bombesin-like peptide-containing fraction stimulated amylase release in a dose-responsive fashion from rat pancreatic acini; the dose-response curve was parallel to a bombesin standard, and the ratfish peptide stimulated the same maximal rate of amylase secretion as the bombesin standard. 4. A potent, highly selective bombesin receptor antagonist completely abolished the stimulation of amylase release caused by the ratfish peptide, demonstrating the specificity of the response. 5. Estimates of the bombesin-like peptide concentration of this fraction by radioimmunoassay and by bioassay were nearly identical, indicating that ratfish bombesin is very similar biologically and antigenically to frog skin bombesin.

An In Vitro Evaluation of Adrenergic Action on Rat Pancreatic Amylase Secretion: Lack of Stimulatory Effect.

To assess direct evidence of adrenergic stimulation in pancreatic amylase secretion, effects of catecholamines on amylase release and intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation were examined with rat dispersed pancreatic acini. We first carried out control studies with CCK-8 and carbamylcholine to evaluate the usefulness of the material for the examination of amylase secretion, and examined VIP-induced cyclic AMP accumulation to assess the agonist evoked intracellular response. As a result, significant effects of CCK-8, carbamylcholine and VIP were observed, which confirmed that dispersed pancreatic acini used in this study were useful in examining exocrine pancreatic secretion. However, catecholamines failed to stimulate amylase release from pancreatic acini, although a significant increase in intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation was observed. Thus the present study strongly suggests that direct involvement of catecholamine is unlikely in pancreatic amylase secretion, in contrast to results reported previously.

Purification and characterization of five variants of phospholipase A2 and complete primary structure of the main phospholipase A2 variant in Heloderma suspectum (Gila Monster) venom

1. Five increasingly anionic variants (Pa1-Pa5) of Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 were purified to homogeneity from the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster). The purification procedure was based on semi-preparative reverse-phase HPLC followed by anion-exchange HPLC and analytical reverse-phase HPLC. 2. Their Mr were 17,000-18,000, as deduced by SDS/PAGE. Specific activities tested by the capacity to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholines at pH 8.5 decreased as follows: Pa3 greater than Pa5 greater than Pa4 greater than Pa1 greater than Pa2. These activities showed the same optimum pH (9.0), were mainly of the phospholipase A2 type and were lost upon p-bromophenacyl bromide treatment. 3. All five phospholipases efficiently stimulated amylase release from dispersed rat pancreatic acini at pH 7.4, their potency decreasing as follows: Pa2 greater than Pa1 approximately equal to Pa4 greater than Pa3 approximately equal to Pa5. No deleterious effect was apparent based on the lack of lactate dehydrogenase release. 4. The five variants, Pa1-Pa5, differed significantly in amino acid composition and this, together with distinct antigenic properties of Pa2 and Pa5, establishes the subheterogeneity of this new type of phospholipase A2, despite the fact that the N-terminal amino acid sequence (31 residues) of Pa1-Pa5 was exactly the same. 5. The full sequence of the major variant, Pa5, showed that this 142-amino-acid protein exhibited greater similarity to the bee venom enzyme than to any class I or class II secretory phospholipase A2 from snake venom and mammalian pancreas. While Pa5 displayed the highly conserved region between Asp30 and Cys39 (the essential active site of all phospholipases A2), its salient original points included 10 half-cystine residues only, an incomplete N-terminal sequence, large changes in the putative calcium loop, several alterations after the active site and a C-terminal extension never seen in other phospholipases A2, with the only exception being bee venom.

Synthesis and biological activities of some cholecystokinin analogues substituted in position 29 by a β‐alanine

Syntheses of analogues of the C-terminal heptapeptide of cholecystokinin are described. These analogues were obtained by replacing glycine 29 by a beta-alanine. The C-terminal phenylalanine amide was in some cases substituted by 2-phenylethyl alcohol and/or residues of the C-terminal tetrapeptide by their D-enantiomers. These compounds were tested for their action on stimulation of amylase release from rat pancreatic acini and for their ability to inhibit binding of labeled CCK to rat pancreatic acini and guinea pig brain membranes. Some of these derivatives behaved as CCK receptor antagonists.

The isolation and chemical characterization of a novel vasoactive intestinal peptide-related peptide from a teleost fish, the cod, Gadus morhua

An octacosapeptide that shows sequence homology to porcine vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been isolated from a teleost fish, the cod, Gadus morhua. The full primary sequence is His-Ser-Asp-Ala-Val-Phe-Thr-Asp-As–Tyr-Ser-Arg-Phe-Arg-Lys-Gl–Met-Ala-Ala-Lys-Tyr-Leu-As–Ser-Val-Leu-Ala. This peptide contains four, or five substitutions, compared with dogfish and porcine VIP, respectively. The residues in positions 13, 26 and 28 are different in all three species. These substitutions seem to have little effect on bioactivity, since cod VIP was virtually equipotent with porcine VIP in stimulating amylase release from guinea-pig pancreatic acini. During the isolation procedure an N-terminally modified form of VIP (Des-His, or 2–28 cod VIP) was also isolated. The available data suggest the sequence of VIP is well conserved in vertebrates which is consistent with an important biological role.

Photodynamic action of rose bengal on isolated rat pancreatic acini: stimulation of amylase release

The halogenated fluorescein derivative, rose bengal, upon photon activation, elicits amylase secretion from isolated, perifused pancreatic acini. This effect is due to production of highly reactive singlet delta oxygen which can permeabilize the cell membrane and may also react chemically with secretagogue receptors, or other functional components of the membrane such as the G-proteins. The profile of photodynamically induced amylase secretion is anion-dependent: it becomes biphasic when the chloride ion is substituted by the glutamate ion, an effect attributed to the action of glutamate on the ionic transport systems of the zymogen granule membrane. Photodynamic action; Rose bengal; Pancreatic acini; Secretion; Amylase release; (Rat)

A new CCK analogue differentiates two functionally distinct CCK receptors in rat and mouse pancreatic acini

Analysis of the competitive inhibition of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) binding to isolated rat or mouse pancreatic acini showed that in both species CCK-8 interacts with two different affinity sites. A newly synthesized CCK analogue modified at the COOH-terminal phenylalanine residue totally inhibited 125I-CCK binding. This interaction occurred with sites of a single affinity in rat acini but with two different affinity sites in mouse acini. When acini were incubated with increasing concentrations of CCK-8, a biphasic stimulation of amylase release was observed. By use of rat acini, the analogs stimulated amylase release but caused no inhibition at supramaximal concentrations. By contrast, in mouse pancreatic acini, analogues showed a biphasic stimulation of amylase release similar to CCK-8. Both CCK-8 and the analogue stimulated [3H]leucine incorporation into protein at low concentrations in rat pancreatic acini. Higher concentrations of CCK-8 profoundly inhibited [3H]leucine incorporation, whereas the analogue had no inhibitory effect. Moreover, the analogue at higher concentrations blocked the inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation caused by CCK-8 but did not affect carbamylcholine-induced inhibition. In mouse acini, however, the CCK analogue inhibited [3H]leucine incorporation similar to the effect of CCK-8. The results support the concept that occupancy of distinct affinity sites or states of the CCK receptor is associated with specific biological actions. A model of the CCK receptor is proposed in which two interchangeable affinity states exist. By occupying all the receptors in only one state, the new CCK analogues serve as partial agonists of some and antagonists of other actions of CCK.

Synthesis and biological activity of some partially modified retro-inverso analogs of cholecystokinin

Syntheses of some partially modified retro-inverso analogues of the C-terminal octa- or heptapeptide of cholecystokinin are described. These analogues (in which the C-terminal carboxamide was deleted or not) were obtained by reverting one or several peptide bonds in the parent molecule. All these compounds were able to inhibit binding of labeled CCK-8 to rat pancreatic acini and guinea pig brain membranes and to stimulate amylase release from rat pancreatic acini with various potencies. Some of these derivatives reproduce only part of the biological response of CCK on amylase release.

Effect of estradiol on pancreatic amylase and cholecystokinin binding in ovariectomized guinea pigs

The effect of estradiol (E 2) on amylase content and on basal and stimulated amylase release from the pancreatic acini was examined in relation to its effects on cholecystokinin (CCK)-receptor (R) levels. Guinea pigs were ovariectomized (OVX) and a week later administered either E 2 (10 μg/kg) (Treated, T) or vehicle (corn oil) (Control, C) 0.2 ml/day s.c. After 7 days of injections, animals were killed, pancreata weighed and basal and stimulated amylase release from pancreatic acini measured. Receptors for CCK were measured on pancreatic membranes. Chronic administration of E 2 resulted in a significant decrease in: (1) pancreatic weight (0.96 ± 0.04, T vs 1.142 ± 0.046 g, C); (2) total pancreatic DNA content (5.74 ± 0.37, T vs 6.81 ± 0.16 mgs, C); (3) total amylase content in pancreata (2081 ± 307, T vs 3795 ± 442 I.U., C); (4) absolute value of basal amylase release (6.57 ± 1.4, T vs 11.8 ± 1.9 I.U./incubate, C); and (5) absolute value of amylase release stimulated by increasing doses (0.01–1000 nM) of CCK in T vs C animals. On the other hand, the amylase release in response to >0.5 nM of CCK, expressed as a percentage of the total amylase content, was significantly increased in T vs C animals, which may be related to a significant rise in the concentration (fmol/mg protein) of CCK-receptors (629.8 ± 65.9, T vs 313.4 ± 92.7 fmol, C). Concentration of DNA/unit pancreatic weight and basal amylase release expressed as a percentage of total content, however, was similar in the C and T guinea pigs, while concentration of amylase and CCK-receptors/unit pancreatic weight remained significantly different in the two groups of animals. These results suggest that E 2 may have more than one effect on the pancreas in vivo, including a significant reduction in pancreatic growth and amylase concentration/cell and an up-regulation of CCK-receptors/cell.

Receptor occupation, calcium mobilization, and amylase release in pancreatic acini: effect of CCK-JMV-180

We examined the relationships between receptor occupation, calcium mobilization, and stimulated amylase release for cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) and for CCK-JMV-180, an analogue of the COOH-terminal heptapeptide of CCK having the structure Boc-Tyr(SO3)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-2-phenylethyl ester using dispersed acini from rat pancreas. CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180 each bind to two classes of CCK receptors: one class has a high affinity for CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180 and the other class has a low affinity for CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180. Mobilization of cellular calcium was assessed by measuring cytosolic calcium with a fluorescent indicator and by measuring outflux of radioactive calcium from preloaded cells. In terms of causing an increase in cytosolic calcium or an increase in calcium outflux, CCK-JMV-180 was 50-60% as efficacious as CCK-8. Analysis of the relationship between receptor occupation and calcium mobilization caused by CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180 in combination indicates that calcium mobilization is caused by occupation of low-affinity CCK receptors. Comparison of the dose-response curve for calcium mobilization and amylase release stimulated by CCK-8 or CCK-JMV-180 indicates that very low concentrations of each peptide stimulate amylase release without causing detectable calcium mobilization. At these very low concentrations, CCK-8 or CCK-JMV-180 do not cause potentiation of amylase release when combined with vasoactive intestinal peptide.

Effect of a new cholinergic agonist, aclatonium napadisilate, on exocrine and endocrine rat pancreas

The effect of aclatonium napadisilate, a choline sulfonate derivative, on exocrine and endocrine pancreatic functions was compared with that of carbamylcholine in both isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreas of rats. In the isolated acini, aclatonium napadisilate and carbamylcholine stimulated amylase release. While the relative efficacy of aclatonium napadisilate was the same as that of carbamylcholine, aclatonium napadisilate was about 20-fold less potent. In the isolated perfused pancreas, 0.1 microM or higher concentrations of aclatonium napadisilate elicited a significant insulin release in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose, whereas an appreciable increase in pancreatic exocrine secretion was obtained with a 10 times higher concentration (1.0 microM). In contrast, carbamylcholine did not stimulate insulin release at a dose (0.1 microM) that stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion. The insulin-releasing effect of aclatonium napadisilate depended on the glucose concentration. These stimulatory effects of aclatonium napadisilate on endocrine and exocrine pancreatic secretion were inhibited by the muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine but were not affected by the cholecystokinin receptor antagonist proglumide. These results indicate that aclatonium napadisilate stimulates both endocrine and exocrine pancreatic secretion via muscarinic receptors and that its action on B cells is more potent than on the exocrine pancreas.