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.     

Action of a new cholinergic agonist, aclatonium napadisilate, on isolated rat pancreatic acini.

The effect of aclatonium napadisilate, a newly synthesized choline ester, on pancreatic exocrine function was compared with that of the muscarinic agonist carbamylcholine in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Both compounds increased amylase release and 45Ca2+ efflux in a dose-dependent fashion, and similarly decreased the binding of [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine to isolated rat pancreatic acini. While aclatonium napadisilate was 20-30 times less potent than carbamylcholine in stimulations of amylase release and 45Ca2+ efflux, the potency of aclatonium napadisilate in inhibiting [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine binding was nearly the same as that of carbamylcholine. These results indicate that aclatonium napadisilate stimulates pancreatic exocrine secretion via muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ mobilization, and its intrinsic activity is less than carbamylcholine in the isolated rat pancreatic acini. Since aclatonium napadisilate is known to increase motility and peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulatory effects of aclatonium napadisilate, shown in the present study, on digestive enzyme secretion from the pancreas may provide additional benefit of aclatonium napadisilate in the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders.     

Inhibitory effect of somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995, on exocrine secretion from isolated rat pancreatic acini]

In vitro effect of somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995 (SMS), on pancreatic exocrine secretion was investigated using isolated rat pancreatic acini. SMS had no effect on basal, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)- or secretin-stimulated amylase release. SMS inhibited pancreatic amylase release in response to simultaneous stimulation with secretin and CCK-8 in a dose-dependent manner. Significant inhibition was observed with 10 nM SMS and maximal inhibition with 0.1-1 microM SMS. Amylase release in response to the combination of 100 pM CCK-8, 1 nM secretin and 0.1-1 microM SMS was similar to that to 100 pM CCK-8 alone. Secretin significantly increased acinar cell cAMP content. SMS partially inhibited an increase in cAMP content induced by secretin. The present study has demonstrated, therefore, that SMS directly inhibits the potentiating effect of secretin on exocrine secretion in part by inhibiting an increase in secretin-induced cAMP accumulation in rat pancreatic acinar cells.     

Inhibitory effect of a new proglumide derivative, loxiglumide, on CCK action in isolated rat pancreatic acini

The effect of a new proglumide derivative, loxiglumide (DL-4-(3,4-dichloro-benzoyl-amino)-5-(N-3-methoxy-propyl-pentylamino+ ++)-5-oxo-pentanic acid; CR 1505), on binding of 125I-CCK-8 and amylase release stimulated by CCK-8 was investigated in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Loxiglumide inhibited CCK-8-stimulated amylase release and binding of 125I-CCK-8 to rat pancreatic acini in a dose-dependent manner. Loxiglumide caused a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase release without altering the maximal response. Schild plots showed a slope of 0.82 and pA2 value of 7.05. The inhibitory effect of loxiglumide on amylase release was reversible. Loxiglumide significantly inhibited amylase release in response to CCK-8, caerulein and gastrin-I. However, loxiglumide had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogues (bombesin, carbamylcholine, secretion and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) or by agents bypassing receptors (A23187 and TPA). These results indicate that loxiglumide acts as a potent, competitive and specific CCK antagonist on the pancreatic acini.     

Dibutyltin dichloride modifies amylase release from isolated rat pancreatic acini

INTRODUCTION: Dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) is widely used as a stabilizer for polyvinylchloride plastics and is of particular toxicologic interest. AIM: To examine the effects of DBTC on pancreatic exocrine function in isolated rat pancreatic acini. METHODOLOGY: Isolated rat pancreatic acini were incubated with various secretagogues in the presence or absence of DBTC. We investigated the effects of DBTC on amylase release, receptor binding, and protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme activity. RESULTS: DBTC reduced cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated and carbamylcholine-stimulated amylase release and the binding of [(125)I]CCK-8 to isolated rat pancreatic acini. Conversely, DBTC potentiated secretin-stimulated amylase release, although it slightly inhibited [(125)I]secretin binding to its receptors. In addition, DBTC potentiated amylase release stimulated by vasoactive intestinal peptide, 8-bromoadenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (8Br-cAMP) or calcium ionophore A23187, whereas it had no influence on amylase release stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor calphostin C abolished the DBTC-induced potentiation of amylase release stimulated by 8Br-cAMP or A23187. Moreover, DBTC caused a significant translocation of PKC enzyme activity from cytosol to membrane fraction. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that DBTC reduces CCK-8- and carbamylcholine-stimulated amylase release by inhibiting their receptor bindings to pancreatic acini, whereas it potentiates cAMP-mediated amylase release by activating PKC in isolated rat pancreatic acini.     

Pharmacologic profile of TS-941, a new benzodiazepine derivative cholecystokinin-receptor antagonist, in in vitro isolated rat pancreatic acini

We investigated the pharmacologic characteristics of a newly developed benzodiazepine derivative (S)-(-)-N-[2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1-[(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl] -1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-3-yl]-2-indolecarboxamide (TS-941), a cholecystokinin type A (CCK-A)-receptor antagonist, in the isolated rat pancreatic acini and compared with those of well-known CCK-A-receptor antagonists, devazepide and loxiglumide. TS-941 inhibited CCK-8-stimulated amylase release concentration dependently, as did devazepide and loxiglumide, with a half-maximal inhibition (IC50) at 78.6 +/- 10.3 nM. TS-941 was approximately 23 times less potent than devazepide (IC50, 3.4 +/- 0.3 nM), but was 50 times more potent than loxiglumide (IC50, 3,966 +/- 544 nM) in inhibiting 100 pM CCK-8-stimulated amylase release from rat pancreatic acini. TS-941 had a fivefold lower selectivity than devazepide for pancreatic CCK (CCK-A) over brain CCK (CCK-B) receptors but fourfold greater than loxiglumide when IC50 values for inhibition of [125I]CCK-8 binding in isolated acini and cerebral cortex were compared. The antagonism produced by TS-941 was specific for CCK in that the effects of other receptor secretagogues or agents bypassing receptors were not altered. TS-941 caused a parallel rightward shift of the entire dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase release without altering the maximal increase, as did devazepide and loxiglumide. TS-941, whether added at the beginning or 20 min after the CCK-8 stimulation, inhibited amylase release. TS-941 caused a concentration-dependent residual inhibition of the action of CCK-8. The acini, once incubated with a high concentration of TS-941 (10 microM; 127 times IC50) for 30 min, was 10-fold less sensitive to CCK-8 than the acini preincubated without TS-941, whereas the sensitivity and the responsiveness to CCK-8 stimulation of those incubated with a low concentration of TS-941 (1.0 microM) were similar to the control acini. These results indicate that TS-941 is a potent, competitive, and selective CCK-A receptor antagonist for the pancreas.     

Tryptophan modulates exocrine secretory function in rat pancreatic acini

We investigated the effect of tryptophan (Trp) on exocrine secretory function, using isolated rat pancreatic acini. Trp inhibited cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase secretion, causing a downward shift in the dose-response curve. The inhibitory effect of Trp was dose-dependent and was observed only on the sustained secretion, there being no effect on the initial phase of amylase secretion. Trp (10 mM) also inhibited amylase secretion in response to carbachol and bombesin, as well as fluoride, a potent activator of guanine-nucleotide binding proteins. Since Ca²⁺ influx is necessary for sustained secretion, we examined the effect of Trp on Ca²⁺ influx and efflux. Trp increased the CCK-8-stimulated Ca²⁺ influx rate without affecting Ca²⁺ efflux, suggesting that Trp elevates intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. Increasing intracellular Ca²⁺ levels with A23187 resulted in the inhibition of CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion. These results indicate that Trp inhibits CCK-stimulated sustained amylase secretion, in part by increasing Ca²⁺ influx into acinar cells.     

Effects of a new proglumide analogue CR 1392 on pancreatic exocrine secretion in the rat

The effects of proglumide analogue. CR 1392, on pancreatic exocrine secretion were studied in the isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreata of rats. In the isolated acini, CR 1392 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for amylase secretion stimulated by cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8). CR 1392 inhibited maximally stimulated amylase release by CCK-8 (100 pM) in a concentration-dependent manner, with a half maximal inhibition (ID50) at 8.0 +/- 0.6 microM. CR 1409, another proglumide analogue, also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition (ID50: 3.2 +/- 0.4 microM). Although CR 1409 was about 2.5-fold more potent than CR 1392 in inhibiting the stimulated amylase release, 1 mM CR 1409 caused 107.4 +/- 0.9% increase in amylase release, suggesting acinar cell damage. CR 1392 (1 mM) also caused 19.9 +/- 2.3% increase in amylase release, but was less toxic than CR 1409. The antagonism produced by CR 1392 was selective for CCK and had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogues or by agents bypassing receptors. CR 1392 added 20 min after the CCK-8 stimulation rapidly abolished pancreatic exocrine secretion in both isolated acini and isolated perfused pancreas. Although the inhibitory effect of CR 1392 was fully reversible in the isolated acini, the pancreata perfused with 100 microM CR 1392 for 20 min did not respond to the subsequent stimulation with CCK-8 for more than 20 min. These results indicate that CR 1392 is a potent, competitive, specific and long acting antagonist of CCK in rat pancreas.     

Modulation of cytosolic free calcium levels by extracellular phosphate and lanthanum.

The effects of extracellular phosphate and lanthanum on cytosolic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) levels were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. In the presence of 1.28 mM Ca2+ and 1.0 mM phosphate, the mean resting [Ca2+]i level was 120 nM. Omission of phosphate from incubation medium significantly lowered this value to 94 nM. The gastrointestinal hormone cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) rapidly enhanced both [Ca2+]i levels and 45Ca2+ efflux, irrespective of the presence or absence of phosphate. Lanthanum (0.1 mM), a compound known to block transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes, attenuated both actions of CCK-8, but only in the absence of extracellular phosphate. There was a concomitant decrease in amylase secretion induced by 0.1 nM CCK-8 but not by 10 nM CCK-8, without a significant change in cellular ATP levels. The inhibitory actions of lanthanum on CCK-8-stimulated [Ca2+]i levels were very rapid and were mimicked only by prolonged incubation of acini in Ca2+-free medium supplemented with EGTA. Omission of phosphate from incubation medium also lowered basal [Ca2+]i levels in IM-9 lymphocytes. These findings suggest that extracellular phosphate may modulate resting [Ca2+]i levels in pancreatic acini and other cell types and that mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ may partly depend on the availability of a lanthanum-sensitive pool of cell-surface Ca2+ that is not readily removed by EGTA.     

Characterization of a new diphenylpyrazolidinone cholecystokinin antagonist in vitro isolated rat pancreatic acini

Summary The effects of a newly developed diphenylpyrazolidinone cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist LY219,057 were examined in the isolated rat pancreatic acini and compared with those of devazepide (previously designated L364,718 or MK-329). LY219,057 caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of 100 pM CCK octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release, with a half-maximal inhibition (ID₅₀) at 287.5±28.4 nM and was 200 times less potent than devazepide (ID₅₀=1.4±0.2 nM). The antagonism was competitive in nature because LY219,057 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion without altering the maximal increase. LY219,057 significantly inhibited amylase release in response to CCK-8 and cerulein but had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogs or agent bypassing receptors. LY219,057, whether added at the beginning or 20 min after the CCK-8 stimulation, inhibited amylase release. This compound caused a residual inhibition of the action of CCK-8. Acini preincubated with 1.0 μM LY219,057 for 30 min at 37°C were threefold less sensitive to CCK-8 than the acini preincubated without LY219,057. Thee results indicate that LY219,057 acts as a potent, competitive, and specific CCK receptor antagonist of the action of CCK on the exocrine pancreas.     

Loxiglumide

D,l-4-(3,4-dichlorobenzoylamino)-5-(N-3-methoxypropyl-pentylamino)-5-oxopentanoic acid (CR 1505; loxiglumide) is a newly developed analog of proglumide. We examined the inhibitory effects of loxiglumide on pancreatic exocrine function in the isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreata of rats. Loxiglumide inhibited cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release and, similarly, binding of[ ¹²⁵ I]CCK-8 to isolated rat pancreatic acini. Loxiglumide was about 3000 times more potent than the reference substance proglumide, but was about 1000 times less potent than L-364,718, another new CCK antagonist having benzodiazepine ring, in inhibiting CCK-8-stimulated amylase release. The inhibitory effect of loxiglumide displayed competitive kinetics and was specific for CCK in that the effects of other receptor secretagogues or agents bypassing receptors were not altered. The inhibitory effect of loxiglumide was fully reversible in isolated acini. However, the pancreata perfused with 10 M loxiglumide for 20 min did not respond to CCK-8 for more than 20 min even after the removal of loxiglumide infusion. In contrast, an immediate increase in pancreatic exocrine secretion was observed after proglumide removal. Loxiglumide appeared to be bound to the receptors on acinar cells in a slowly dissociating state. These results indicate that loxiglumide acts as a potent, competitive, and specific CCK antagonist on the exocrine pancreas and, because of its prolonged inhibitory action, may be useful as a therapeutic agent in pancreatic disease.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (Intractable Diseases of the Pancreas).     

Effects of verapamil on amylase release from rat pancreatic acini and its relation to calcium fluxes

The effects of verapamil on amylase release and Ca2+ fluxes from rat pancreatic acini have been studied. Verapamil at concentrations above 10 microM dose-dependently inhibited amylase release stimulated by carbachol, but enhanced the amylase release stimulated by cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin. Verapamil had no significant effect on calcium uptake induced by carbachol or CCK, but significantly inhibited Ca+2 efflux caused by carbachol and slightly increased that caused by CCK. In a Ca2+-free, EDTA-containing medium, the increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ caused by carbachol was significantly inhibited by verapamil. Verapamil alone up to 400 microM had no effect on the release of lactic dehydrogenase. In conclusion, the effect of verapamil on amylase release from rat pancreatic acini differs depending on the type of secretagogue used to stimulate amylase release. This effect is not related to blockage of Ca2+ uptake, indicating another mechanism of verapamil on pancreatic acini.     

Effects of C-terminal fragments of cholecystokinin on exocrine and endocrine secretion from isolated perfused rat pancreas

The ability of various C-terminal fragments of cholecystokinin (CCK) to increase pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretion was examined in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) induced biphasic dose-response curves for stimulation of pancreatic juice and amylase secretion. Maximal pancreatic juice and amylase output were obtained with 100 pM CCK-8. Concentrations of CCK-8 that caused pancreatic exocrine secretion also increased insulin release in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose. The tetrapeptide of CCK also simultaneously stimulated both exocrine and endocrine secretion, but was about 100,000 times less potent than CCK-8. By contrast both deca- and tetradecapeptide of CCK at a concentration of 100 pM stimulated secretion of pancreatic juice and amylase, and elicited insulin release comparably to CCK-8. The complete CCK-8 sequence was required as deamidated CCK-8 was without effects on exocrine and endocrine pancreatic secretion at a concentration of 100 pM. The present observations suggest that the structural requirements for CCK-induced insulin secretion are the same as those for CCK-induced exocrine secretions, and that the amino acids in position 5-8 and the amidated residue on the C-terminus are required for physiological activity of CCK on both the exocrine and endocrine pancreas. It is concluded that C-terminal fragments of CCK with eight or more amino acid residues are potent potentiators of insulin release as well as pancreatic exocrine stimulants.     

Metalloendopeptidase inhibitors and stimulus-secretion coupling in the mouse exocrine pancreas.

Inhibitors of metalloendopeptidases interfere with events involving Ca2(+)-dependent membrane fusion in a number of cell types. The divalent ion chelating agent 1,10-phenanthroline inhibited pancreatic amylase secretion stimulated by carbachol, cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8), or bombesin, but detailed studies indicated that this is unlikely to be a result of inhibition of metalloendopeptidase activity. The binding of [3H]N-methylscopolamine to pancreatic acini was reduced by 1,10-phenanthroline and this would explain the marked inhibition of carbachol-induced amylase secretion by the chelating agent. CCK-8-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate was reduced by 1,10-phenanthroline while the binding of CCK-8 to acini was not affected. This inhibition of hydrolysis would explain the inhibition of CCK-8- and bombesin-induced amylase secretion. The metalloendopeptidase substrate carbobenzoxyglycylphenylalanylamide did not affect bombesin-stimulated amylase secretion. Amylase secretion evoked by treating pancreatic acini with the ionophore A23187 or dibutyryl-cyclic AMP was not reduced by 1,10-phenanthroline, indicating a lack of involvement of metalloendopeptidases in the process of exocytosis in this cell type.     

Effect of somatostatin on cholecystokinin-induced amylase release in rat pancreatic acini.

The effect of somatostatin on cholecystokinin-induced amylase release was investigated in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Acini were isolated by enzymatic digestion and incubated in a HEPES buffered Ringer's solution with testing reagents for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. The activity of released amylase, cAMP, and inositol phosphate formation were measured. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was also checked. Somatostatin 14 and octreotide, a somatostatin analog, inhibited CCK-stimulated amylase release in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of octreotide on CCK-induced amylase release was not shown when the acini were treated with 8-Br-cAMP, irrespective of the presence of IBMX. Forskolin potentiated CCK-induced amylase release and this effect was blocked by octreotide treatment; although CCK-8 (3 x 10(-11) M) failed to stimulate cAMP formation, octreotide significantly inhibited basal cAMP formation in the acini. The increase of [Ca2+]i in response to CCK was inhibited by octreotide. However, CCK-induced inositol phosphate formation was not changed by 10(-9) M octreotide. Octreotide had no effect on CCK-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, and tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors (NaF and Na2WO4) did not influence the effect of octreotide on CCK-induced amylase release. From these results, we conclude that octreotide inhibits CCK-induced amylase release by inhibiting basal cAMP formation and decreasing the [Ca2+]i stimulated by CCK.     

Effects of phospholipase A2 inhibitors on Ca2+ oscillations in pancreatic acinar cells

High-affinity cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors were reported to be coupled with phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-arachidonic acid (AA) pathways to mediate Ca2+ oscillations and amylase secretion in rat pancreatic acinar cells. To investigate which types of PLA2 were involved in PLA2-AA pathways, the effects of specific inhibitors for type II and type IV PLA2 on Ca2+ oscillations and amylase secretion were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. An inhibitor of type IV (cytosolic) PLA2, AACOCF3 inhibited Ca2+ oscillations elicited by CCK-8 (30 pM) and JMV-180 (100 nM). AACOCF3 inhibited amylase secretion stimulated by JMV-180 and low concentrations of CCK-8 (< or =30 pM). On the other hand, an inhibitor of type II (secretory, nonpancreatic) PLA2 had no effects on Ca2+ oscillations and amylase secretion stimulated by CCK-8 and JMV-180. These results suggest that high-affinity CCK receptors are coupled to cytosolic PLA2 to mediate Ca2+ oscillations and amylase secretion in rat pancreatic acinar cells.     

Effect of ursodeoxycholate on pancreatic exocrine secretion in vitro and in vivo study]

In the present study, we examined the effect of ursodeoxycholate (UDCA) and it's taurine conjugate (TUDC) on rat pancreatic exocrine secretion using dispersed pancreatic acini (in vitro) and conscious rats (in vivo). In in vitro study 300 microM UDCA significantly increased 10(-12)-10(-9) M CCK-8 stimulated amylase release and change of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, but TUDC did not have these effects. In in vivo study intraduodenal infusion of UDCA but not TUDC stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion. Intravenous infusion of secretin antibody decreased bicarbonate output, however, this increase was not prevented by CCK antagonist. Thus, it was suggested that UDCA has direct action on pancreatic acini and UDCA infused intraduodenally stimulates pancreatic secretion, possibly via the release of a secretin-like substance. The taurine conjugate has weak bioactivity on pancreatic exocrine secretion in both in vitro and in vivo.     

Calcium fluxes caused by bile salts in rat pancreatic acini

The effect of bile salt on Ca2+ uptake, Ca2+ efflux, and cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat pancreatic acini has been studied. The dihydroxy bile salts, taurodeoxycholate (TDC) and taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC), were found to accelerate Ca2+ uptake. Dihydroxy bile salt and the trihydroxy bile salt taurocholate (TC) stimulated Ca2+ efflux from the acini. Verapamil increased the Ca2+ efflux induced by dihydroxy bile salts but did not influence the Ca2+ uptake. Under calcium-equilibrated conditions TDC and TCDC caused a quick net Ca2+ efflux, followed by an increase in Ca2+ uptake, whereas TC only caused a net Ca2+ efflux. TDC and TCDC, but not TC, increased the [Ca2+]i. This effect of TDC and TCDC was abolished in Ca2+-free EDTA-containing (0.2 mM) medium. The amylase release caused by bile salts was related in time with the Ca2+ fluxes. In conclusion, bile salts may change the Ca2+ homeostasis of pancreatic acini in different ways, depending on the type of bile salt. This change of Ca2+ homeostasis may play an important role in the bile salt-stimulated amylase release.     

Impaired pancreatic exocrine function in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis

Summary Background Substantial numbers of studies have revealed the close correlation between chronic pancreatitis and cirrhosis in human. However, the situation with regard to pancreatic enzyme secretion is less clear. Aim The aim of the study was to investigate pancreatic exocrine function in rat with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Methods Pancreatic exocrine function and morphology in Sprague-Dawley rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis were investigated. Pancreatic exocrine functions stimulated by cholecystokinin-8 and other secretagogs were assessed in isolated pancratic acini, and in vivo and morphological changes were studied by routine were assessed in isolated pancreatic acini, and in vivo and morphological changes were studied by routine histological examination and electron microscopy. Results The basal and cholecystokinin-8-stimulated amylase releases from acini and acinar amylase content were significantly lower in the cirrhotic rats than the control. None of the secretagogs induced the some amount of amylase release in cirrhotic as in control rats. Volume of the pancreatic juice and outputs of amylase and protein were significantly decreased under basal and cholecystokinin-8-stimulated conditions in vivo. Electron microscopy revealed most of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum accompanying less numbers of ribosomes to be dilated and some mitochondria to be swollen in cirrhotic rats. Conclusion Pancreatic exocrine functions are decreased in cirrhotic rats owing to alterations at the electron microscopic levels, reflecting an impaired acinar intracellular messenger system.     

Bioactivity of synthetic human cholecystokinin (CCK)-33 in vitro and in vivo.

The relative potencies of synthetic human cholecystokinin (h-CCK)-33, porcine CCK-33 (p-CCK-33) and CCK-8 were examined by measuring pancreatic secretion in the conscious rat (in vivo) and amylase release from rat pancreatic acini using a perifusion study (in vitro). The increments of protein output during an 1-hr infusion of 100 pmol/kg/hr of h-CCK-33, p-CCK-33 and CCK-8 were 27.0 +/- 2.9 mg/hr (M +/- SE), 19.3 +/- 2.8 and 14.0 +/- 1.8 mg/hr, respectively. H-CCK-33 and p-CCK-33 showed significantly higher responses of protein output than CCK-8 in a same molar ratio, in vivo. In vitro, the stimulation with 10(-10) M h-CCK-33, p-CCK-33 and CCK-8 led to a similar biphasic amylase release in a perifusion study. Twenty-five microM CR-1409, an antagonist for CCK receptor, completely inhibited the 10(-10) M h-CCK-33-stimulated amylase release. Although it was found that h-CCK-33 and p-CCK-33 were more potent than CCK-8 in vivo, 10(-10) M CCK-8, h-CCK-33 and p-CCK-33 were equipotent on rat pancreatic acini in vitro. It is suggested that the discrepancy in potencies of the large molecular form and small molecular form of CCK in vivo and in vitro may be attributed to the delay of degradation of the large molecular form of CCK in vivo.