Studies on intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the rat exocrine pancreas. III. Effect of cobalt, lanthanum and antimycin A

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.

The influence of lanthanons on morphology and function of rat exocrine pancreas in vivo

The intravenously administered light lanthanon praseodymium selectively destroys the Golgi complex of rat exocrine pancreas. This effect impairs the normal secretion of proteolytic enzymes which manifests in a reduced output of amylase and trypsin from rat pancreas and a decrease of the basal level of amylase in serum after pilocarpine stimulation.

Ca++-dependent disassembly and reassembly of occluding junctions in guinea pig pancreatic acinar cells. Effect of drugs

Incubation of guinea pig pancreatic lobules in Ca++-free Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (KRB) containing 0.5 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (EGTA) results in the progressive fragmentation of the occluding zonulae (ZO) with formation of multiple discrete junctions (fasciae occludentes) localized in the lateral and lumenal plasmalemma. After 1--2 h of such incubation, most ZO appear completely disassembled. This results in the disappearance of the heterogeneity in density of intramembrane particles on the P-fracture faces of the basolateral and lumenal plasmalemma. If Ca++ ions are reintroduced into the incubation fluid at this point, continous zonulae reform around the apices of the cells; in contrast, the density of intramembrane particles (imp) at the lumenal plasmalemma remains the same as in the basolateral region, at least for 3 h after Ca++ reintroduction. When added to the incubation fluid, cycloheximide (at a dose known to inhibit protein synthesis greater than 95%) and cytochalasin B (at doses which disrupt microfilaments and modify the cell shape) had no effect on the organization of ZO, on their disassembly in Ca++-free, EGTA medium, or on their Ca++-dependent reformation. Likewise, the organization and disassembly of ZO were unaffected by colchicine; however, after treatment with the latter drug the reassembly was defective, with formation of strand networks on the lateral surface and incomplete segregation of the lumenal region. Antimycin A, on the other hand, when added to the Ca++-EGTA medium, induced a large proliferation of long, infrequently anastomosed junctional strands, usually arranged to form ribbons, festoons, and other bizarre arrays. The possible relationship of these in vitro findings to the in vivo biogenesis and turnover of occluding junctions is discussed. It is suggested that the impairment of reassembly of zonulae by colchicine might be correlated with the disorder induced by the drug on the general organization of pancreatic exocrine cells. Moreover, antimycin A could act by promoting the aggregation of a pool of free junctional strand components (or precursors) that might exist normally in pancreatic exocrine cells.

Amino acid transport in the rat exocrine pancreas. I. Transport of neutral amino acids and their utilization in protein synthesis

The transport and utilization of three neutral amino acids in protein synthesis was studied using isolated pancreatic lobules in vitro. The significance of the extracellular and intracellular amino acid pool in this process was analyzed removing the extracellular pool (labeled by inulin) by a cold-wash procedure. This was especially useful in short-term experiments. Double-labeling experiments indicated a predominant utilization of the intracellular amino acid pool during protein synthesis. The advantage of isolated pancreatic lobule preparations compared to tissue fragments or slices was emphasized by fine structural studies. Using freeze-etching techniques on the same preparations, differences in the distribution of membrane particles between luminal and lateral plasma membranes described earlier were confirmed, as well as the abundant occurrence of gap junctions on both membrane faces.

Amino acid transport in the rat exocrine pancreas. II. Inhibition by lanthanum and tetracaine

The two calcium antagonistic agents lanthanum and tetracaine cause severe disturbances in the secretory process of the exocrine pancreas, including inhibition of the rate of protein synthesis and exocytosis. The former effect resulted mainly from the inhibition of amino acid transport. Lanthanum in a concentration up to 1 mM inhibited transport of different species of amino acids in an unspecific way whereas tetracaine interfered specifically with the Na+ -dependent transport system for neutral amino acids (14C-alpha-amino-isobutyric acid). Na+ -dependent transport of neutral amino acids (3H-leucine) was not affected. Transport inhibition was correlated to the acitvity of the Na+, K+ -ATPase system which was measured in isolated plasma membrane fractions. At higher concentrations (5-10 mM) some uptake of lanthanum into the cells by limited endocytosis was observed. At lower concentrations lanthanum seemed to bind exclusively to certain components of the plasms membrane, mainly at the lateral and basal cell surface. Even at a concentration of 5-10 mM no binding to the apical surface occurred. Similarly no binding of lanthanum was observed to the limiting membrane of isolated zymogen granules, while mitochondria, contained in the same fraction showed considerable binding affinity. The action of lanthanum and tetracaine on membrane carrier systems did not affect the interior organization of the plasma membrane. Particle density and distribution in freeze-fracture replicas as well as the submembrane microfilamentous=microtubular system and the junctional elements remained unaffected.

Studies on intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the rat exocrine pancreas. V. Kinetic studies on accelerated transport following caerulein infusion in vivo

The previous finding that intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the rat exocrine pancreas is accelerated by in vivo stimulation with a pancreatic secretagogue has been further analyzed. Using a radioassay for discharge of newly synthesized proteins, the rate of release was compared in control and prestimulated lobules. In control preparations discharge occurred with an initial lag period of 30 minutes and a maximum after two hours of incubation. After in vivo infusion of 5 x 10(-8) g/hr. caerulein for 24 h in vitro discharge started after 10 minutes of in vitro incubation and attained a maximal rate after one hour. Using the same radioassay and several inhibitors of intracellular transport and granule discharge, it could be demonstrated that both processes were reduced to the same extent in controls and in lobules with accelerated transport. To obtain direct evidence for the degree of acceleration of the different transport steps between rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex and zymogen granules, the respective subcellular fractions of these organelles prepared and characterized ultrastructurally and biochemically. The rate of disappearance of newly formed proteins from rough microsomes and the appearance in smooth microsomes and zymogen granules were significantly increased after in vivo stimulation. The data substantiate an acceleration of the regular transport steps by the secretagogue. There was no indication that a high level of secretory activity leads to a rerouting of secretory proteins or to an omission of one of the regular steps in intracellular transport.