Coupling of guanine nucleotide inhibitory protein to somatostatin receptors on rat pancreatic acinar membranes

To investigate whether somatostatin receptors couple to guanine nucleotide inhibitory protein, Ni, on rat pancreatic acinar membranes, the effects of guanine nucleotide analogs or pretreatment of acini with islet activating protein (IAP), pertussis toxin on labeled somatostatin binding were examined. Guanine nucleotides reduced labeled somatostatin binding to acinar membranes up to 80%, with rank order of potency being guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) greater than GTP greater than GDP greater than GMP. Scatchard analysis of the labeled somatostatin binding revealed that the decrease in somatostatin binding caused by Gpp(NH)p was due to the decrease in the maximum binding capacity without a significant change in the binding affinity. The inhibitory effect of Gpp(NH)p was partially abolished in the absence of Mg2+ and Na+ also reduced labeled somatostatin binding. Furthermore, inhibitory effects of 100mM Na+ and Gpp(NH)p were additive in reducing labeled somatostatin binding. A half maximal inhibitory concentration of Gpp(NH)p was decreased to 10(-7)M in the presence of 100mM Na+ and 5mM Mg2+ as compared to 10(-6)M in the presence of 5mM Mg2+ alone. Results therefore suggest that Gpp(NH)p requires Mg2+ for Ni activation and Na+ increases sensitivity of Ni to guanine nucleotide analogs. When pancreatic acini were treated for 4 hours with varying concentrations of IAP, which has been shown to uncouple Ni-mediated communication between inhibitory receptors and adenylate cyclase catalytic unit, subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to the acinar membranes was decreased in a dose dependent manner. These results indicate that somatostatin receptors on pancreatic acinar membranes couple to guanine nucleotide inhibitory protein, Ni and thus somatostatin probably functions in the pancreas to regulate intracellular signal transduction via Ni.     

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.     

Role of a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein in exocrine pancreatic secretion--effects of cholera toxin and pertussis toxin on cholecystokinin action

We have recently shown that F- can mimic the actions of cholecystokinin (CCK) on amylase release, Ca2+ mobilization and inositol phosphate generation in pancreatic acinar cells. We have concluded, therefore, that pancreatic CCK receptors may be coupled to the activation of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis by a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (N protein), which seems to be sensitive to F-. In the present study, in order to further characterize this N protein coupled to pancreatic CCK receptors, we have examined the effects of bacterial toxins, pertussis toxin (PT) and cholera toxin (CT) on both CCK- and NaF-induced cellular responses in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Neither PT or CT pretreatment of acini affected both CCK- and NaF-stimulated increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration monitored by quin2. Furthermore, pretreatments of acini with PT and CT didn't alter the effects of CCK on inositol phosphate generation in acini. Similarly, NaF-induced inositol phosphate generation was not changed by these toxin treatments. However, pretreatment procedures employed in this study were considered to catalyze complete ADP-ribosylation of alpha-subunit of the stimulatory (Ns) and inhibitory (Ni) N protein. These results, therefore, strongly suggest that a N protein coupling pancreatic CCK receptors to the breakdown of polyphosphoinositide may be distinct from Ns or Ni like protein.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Regulation of phospholipid hydrolysis in streptolysin-O-permeabilized rat pancreatic acini.

To investigate the mechanism of phospholipid hydrolysis in pancreatic acinar cells, the effects of Ca2+, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and cholecystokinin (CCK) on both polyphosphoinositide (PI) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis were studied in rat pancreatic acini permeabilized with the bacterial toxin, streptolysin-O. When acini were prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol, permeabilized, and then incubated with various concentrations of free Ca2+ for 15 min, Ca2+ stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate release at a concentration of 100 nM and was maximally effective at 100 microM. Both GTP gamma S and CCK enhanced Ca(2+)-induced [3H]inositol phosphate release, although these agents had no effect in the absence of Ca2+. At a physiological concentration of Ca2+ (100 nM), CCK stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate release which was further enhanced by GTP gamma S. When acini were similarly prelabeled with [3H]choline before permeabilization, [3H]choline phosphate release was also stimulated by free Ca2+ over the concentration range from 100 nM to 10 microM. In contrast to PI hydrolysis, however, neither GTP gamma S, CCK, or GTP gamma S plus CCK had an additional effect on [3H]choline phosphate release stimulated by 100 nM-100 microM free Ca2+. Furthermore, Ca(2+)-induced [3H]choline phosphate release appeared to be due to the redistribution from cell to the medium rather than to an increase in choline phosphate production. Therefore, choline phosphate release following prelabeling with [3H]choline is not useful as an indicator of PC hydrolysis in permeabilized acini.     

Effect of ethanol on pancreatic exocrine secretion in rats.

The effect of ethanol on pancreatic exocrine secretion was studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Ethanol caused a dose-dependent stimulation of amylase release, and a twofold increase of amylase release was observed with 600 mM ethanol. Ethanol inhibited cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)- and carbamylcholine-stimulated amylase release and similarly inhibited binding of [125I]CCK-8 and [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine to isolated rat pancreatic acini in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of ethanol was fully reversible with respect to CCK-8-induced amylase release. On the other hand, ethanol potentiated secretin- and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated amylase release. Ethanol induced a small but significant increase in Ca2+ efflux, whereas CCK-8 induced an immediate and large increase, but ethanol significantly inhibited CCK-8-stimulated Ca2+ efflux. The present study clearly demonstrates the dual effects of ethanol on pancreatic exocrine function: stimulation and inhibition. We suggest that mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ may be involved in the mechanism of ethanol's action on isolated rat pancreatic acini.     

Effect of thyroxine on the maturation of cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors in pancreatic acini of neonatal rats.

Neonatal rat pancreata are not responsive to stimulation by cholecystokinin (CCK) and this has been shown to be due partly to low binding of CCK to pancreatic acinar cells of rats at this age. The effect of thyroxine on the maturation of CCK receptor binding and enzyme secretion is studied. One-day-old rat pups were injected daily with thyroxine (0.1 microgram/g of body weight) for 3 days and killed on day 5. Control littermates were injected with normal saline at the same volume and schedule as the thyroxine group. The pancreatic weight and amylase activity were significantly higher in pups from the thyroxine group. Amylase release after stimulation with various concentrations of CCK was also higher in the thyroxine group. The maximal binding to [125I]BH-CCK-8 was significantly higher in dispersed acini from the thyroxine group when compared to the control group (5.2 vs. 2.0%). Analysis of binding data showed that the higher binding was due to a higher maximal binding capacity in the thyroxine group (1.1 +/- 0.41 vs. 5.2 +/- 1.4 fmol/mg of protein). Thyroxine, therefore, induces a precocious maturation of the secretory function of the pancreatic acini, specifically by modulating the maximal binding capacity of the high-affinity binding sites.     

Influence of adrenalectomy on pancreatic enzyme secretion

Both adrenalectomy and chemically induced diabetes mellitus cause a marked decrease of pancreatic amylase synthesis in rats. Diabetes is further associated with alterations of cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated enzyme secretion. Using isolated pancreatic acini prepared from adrenalectomized male rats, we investigated the effects of adrenalectomy on pancreatic enzyme secretion. CCK8-stimulated amylase secretion showed a typical biphasic dose-response curve in acini from both adrenalectomized and sham-operated animals with similar basal secretions, similar sensitivities to various CCK8 concentrations, but a statistically significant elevation of maximal amylase secretion after adrenalectomy. Receptor-binding studies with 125I-BH-CCK8 revealed an increase of binding to the high-affinity part of the CCK receptor in adrenalectomized rats. While carbachol-stimulated secretion showed no changes in maximal secretion rates, it did show a decrease in sensitivity in adrenalectomized animals with a statistically significant shift to the right of the dose-response curves. Competitive inhibition curves with 3H-N-methylscopolamine and carbachol as the competitive receptor agonist showed no differences in receptor binding between controls and adrenalectomized rats. We propose that complex alterations in hormone/neurotransmitter-stimulated pancreatic enzyme secretion are found in glucocorticoid depletion, explainable via a postreceptor defect in carbachol-stimulated secretion. The functional and binding data with regard to CCK are more difficult to explain.     

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.     

Effect of L364718, a new CCK antagonist, on amylase secretion in isolated rat pancreatic acini

We examined the effect of L364718, a new cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, on amylase release stimulated by CCK or different secretagogues in isolated rat pancreatic acini. L364718 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve of CCK8. Schild plots showed a slope of 1.05 +/- 0.15 and a pA2 value of 10.01 +/- 0.31. L364718 inhibited maximally stimulated amylase release by CCK in a dose-dependent manner, with half maximal inhibition (ID50) at 1.7 nM and complete inhibition at 30 nM. Asperlicin, a prototype compound of L364718, also caused dose-dependent inhibition, but L364718 was approximately 400 times more potent than asperlicin (ID50 = 761 nM). L364718 significantly inhibited amylase release in response to CCK33 and CCK8 but had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogues or agents by passing receptors. The results indicate that L364718 acts as an extremely potent, competitive, and specific antagonist of CCK's action on pancreatic acini.     

Effect of hydrocortisone on the maturation of cholecystokinin (CCK) binding and CCK stimulated amylase release in pancreatic acini of neonatal rats

Neonatal rat pancreata are not responsive to stimulation by cholecystokinin (CCK) and this has been shown to be due primarily to low binding of CCK to pancreatic acinar cells of rats of this age group. To see if hydrocortisone has any effect on the maturation of CCK binding and enzyme secretion, day-old rat pups were injected three times intraperintoneally with hydrocortisone at a dose of 5 mg/100 g body weight per dose and sacrificed 48 h after the first injection. Control age-matched pups were injected with 0.9% saline at the same volume and schedule as the hydrocortisone injected pups. The pancreatic weight, protein, and DNA contents were found to be significantly lower in the pups from the hydrocortisone-treated group than in the pups from the control group. The protein content per unit weight of DNA, however, was not different between the two. The maximal output of amylase under stimulation by 3 X 10(-10) M CCK was significantly higher in the dispersed acini prepared from the hydrocortisone-treated group as compared to dispersed acini prepared from the control (575 +/- 50 vs. 390 +/- 40% when expressed as a percentage of basal release). The maximal binding to 125I-BH-CCK was also significantly higher in the dispersed acini from the hydrocortisone group when compared to the dispersed acini from the control group (2.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.4%). Hydrocortisone, therefore, induces the precocious maturation of the secretory apparatus of the pancreatic acini, specifically the increase in capacity to bind and the greater responsiveness of the acini to CCK.     

Studies on human pancreatic acini: action of secretagogues on amylase release and cellular cyclic AMP accumulation

A technique for preparing a suspension of dispersed functional acini from human pancreas has been developed. The changes in pancreatic enzyme secretion and accumulation of cellular cyclic AMP caused by various secretagogues have been studied. Ca2+-mobilizing agents stimulated amylase release from human pancreatic acini. The relative potencies with which secretagogues increased amylase release were as follows: gastrin-releasing peptide's potency (Ec50, 0.1 +/- 0.01 nM) was greater than bombesin 14's (Ec50, 0.2 +/- 0.01 nM), which was greater than litorin's (Ec50, 0.6 +/- 0.18 nM), which was greater than bombesin 9's (Ec50, 6 +/- 0.1 nM). For CCK-peptides, the relative potencies were as follows: CCK-39's potency (Ec50, 0.28 +/- 0.15 microM) was equal to cerulein's (Ec50, 0.3 +/- 0.07 microM). Both of these potencies were greater than CCK-8's (Ec50, 1.6 +/- 0.1 microM), which was greater than that of CCK-4. Carbamyl choline was poorly potent (Ec50 greater than 1 mM). The 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was active from 0.1 nM to 0.1 microM. Neither secretin nor VIP increased amylase release from human pancreatic acini but they did cause an accumulation of cellular cyclic AMP, secretin (Ec50, 0.5 +/- 0.2 nM) being more potent than VIP.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of proglumide on pancreatic acinar cell function

Proglumide, a putative gastrin receptor antagonist, inhibited cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated amylase release and [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake by isolated mouse pancreatic acini. Inhibition was reversible and competitive in nature with a KI of 0.7 mM. Proglumide also competitively inhibited the binding of 125I-CCK to its receptor in pancreas and brain; the KI for this interaction was 1.0 mM. In contrast, proglumide did not inhibit carbachol-stimulated amylase release, insulin-stimulated glucose transport and protein synthesis, or the binding of insulin to its receptors. Proglumide at 10 mM did, however, reduce both basal [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake and [3H]-leucine incorporation into protein. We conclude that proglumide is a competitive and specific, albeit weak antagonist of CCK receptors. Higher concentrations of the drug may have other more nonspecific effects.     

CCK-stimulated changes in pancreatic acinar morphology are mediated by rho

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment of isolated pancreatic acini with high concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK) is known to induce rapid changes in the cellular morphology. The signalling pathways remain to be characterized. METHODS: Pancreatic acini were permeabilized by digitonin and incubated with various agents. The acinar morphology was investigated by microscopy. The activation of p125 focal adhesion kinase was determined by Western blot analysis. Amylase was measured photometrically. RESULTS: The functionality of the permeabilized acini was tested by measuring stimulated amylase release. 300 microM GTP gamma S was almost as efficient as CCK to stimulate amylase release, while 300 microM GDP beta S inhibited the CCK-stimulated amylase release. Stimulation of permeabilized acini with 0.1 microM CCK induced similar morphological changes as in unpermeabilized acini. Incubation of permeabilized acini with GTP gamma S mimicked the CCK-induced changes, whereas a preincubation with GDP beta S prevented the CCK effects on the acinar morphology. Inhibition of the small G protein rho, which activates p125 focal adhesion kinase, by Clostridium botulinum C3 transferase also prevented the CCK-stimulated morphological changes. Preincubation of intact acini with cell-permeable inhibitors of protein kinase C, MEK or p38MAPK, or with the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA/AM was without significant effect on the CCK-stimulated changes. CONCLUSION: The CCK-induced morphological changes seem to be mediated by G protein signalling via the small G protein rho and the associated activation of p125 focal adhesion kinase.     

GDP activates rabbit heart adenylate cyclase, but does not support stimulation by isoproterenol: a re-appraisal of the control mechanism

The effect of GDP on rabbit heart adenylate cyclase has been determined under conditions where only 0.08% to 0.26% of an added 100 microM was converted to GTP in the course of the assay. At concentrations of 100 microM, GDP stimulated basal cyclase activity to the same extent as GTP and guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S). Isoproterenol increased activity in the presence of GTP or guanylyl-imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), but not in the presence of GDP or GDP beta S. It is suggested that the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP is the "turn-off" mechanism for beta-receptor stimulation of cardiac adenylate cyclase, but not for stimulation by GTP alone. The effects of GDP and GDP beta S are readily removed by washing, implying that their binding to Ns (the guanine nucleotide binding protein) is weak. GDP beta S initially competes with Gpp(NH)p, reducing Gpp(NH)p-stimulated activity. As stimulation of cyclase activity by Gpp(NH)p develops, in the course of 30 min, Gpp(NH)p becomes no longer displaceable by GDP beta S. Isoproterenol does not release 3H-Gpp(NH)p or reduce Gpp(NH)p-stimulated activity, once the nucleotide has become tightly bound. Nor does isoproterenol change the relative affinities of GDP beta S and Gpp(NH)p when these analogs are given together. There is, therefore, no evidence that isoproterenol acts by releasing tightly bound GDP from Ns, or that it 'unlocks' the guanine nucleotide binding site in the myocardial sarcolemma. In this, the cardiac adenylate cyclase system differs from the avian erythrocyte system. The action of isoproterenol is best explained by an increased dissociation of alpha(GTP) and beta,gamma-subunits of the Ns protein.     

Development of pancreatic exocrine function including intestinal negative feedback regulation using oral trypsin inhibitor in rats]

To investigate the development of pancreatic exocrine function and intestinal negative feedback regulation with aging in rats, we measured pancreas weight, content of amylase and trypsinogen in the rat pancreas and plasma CCK concentrations, activity of amylase and trypsin in the small intestine at an hour after oral administration of trypsin inhibitor (TI), and also examined amylase secretory response to CCK-8 in the rat pancreatic acini at various ages in vitro. As a result, amylase content per pancreas weight increased with the age and amylase activity in the small intestine at al ages showed a significant increase in TI group compared to controls. Plasma CCK concentrations were elevated after administration of TI at all ages. Amylase release from pancreatic acini stimulated by CCK-8 responded poorly on days 7, then gradually increased with age, showing a biphasic dose response curve with maximal response of 10(-10) M of CCK-8 from 14-day-old to 66-day-old. The results indicated that the mechanism of pancreatic secretory response to TI already might exist at the stage of sucking rat and secretory response to CCK-8 in vitro showed a low response, and developed with age.