SH-groups on the surface of pancreas cells involved in secretin stimulation and glucose-mediated secretion

Acute oxidative stress modulates secretion and repetitive Ca2+ spiking in rat exocrine pancreas

The effects of the oxidant tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-buOOH) on carbachol-stimulated pancreatic secretion in the vascularly perfused rat pancreas have been studied in parallel with [Ca2+]i signalling and amylase output in perifused rat pancreatic acinar cells. Perfusion of the pancreas with t-buOOH (0.1-1 mM) caused a rapid and irreversible inhibition of carbachol-stimulated (3x10-7 M) amylase and fluid secretion. Pre-perfusion of the pancreas with vitamin C and dithiothreitol or a cocktail of GSH and GSH-precursor amino acids provided only marginal protection against the deleterious effects of t-buOOH, even though GSH levels were elevated significantly. In perifused pancreatic acini, repetitive [Ca2+]i spikes evoked by carbachol (3x10-7 M) were sustained for 40 min. t-buOOH (1 mM) acutely increased the amplitude and duration of Ca2+ spikes, then attenuated Ca2+ spiking and subsequently caused a marked and sustained rise in [Ca2+]i. t-buOOH-induced alterations in carbachol-stimulated [Ca2+]i signalling and amylase release in perifused pancreatic acini were prevented by vitamin C. Although vitamin C restored impaired Ca2+ signalling and maintained amylase output in pancreatic acini, it seems likely that oxidative stress inhibits fluid secretion irreversibly in the intact pancreas, resulting in a loss of amylase output. Thus, perturbations in [Ca2+]i signalling may not fully explain the secretory block caused by oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis.

Normal Ca2+ signalling in glutathione-depleted and dithiothreitol-treated HeLa cells

We have investigated whether reducing agents and substances that interfere with glutathione metabolism would affect the histamine-induced rises in internal Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in indo-1-loaded HeLa cells. Individual cells responded to 1 microM histamine with either baseline or sinusoidal Ca2+ oscillations, a single Ca2+ peak or a maintained elevation of the [Ca2+]i. Only a few cells did not respond. The sulphydryl reducing agent dithiothreitol (5 mM) did not affect these responses to histamine. A 24-h preincubation with 1 mM DL-buthionine (SR)-sulphoximine, which reduces the cellular glutathione content to less than 20% of its control value, affected neither these histamine responses, nor the [Ca2+]i rises after application of 2 microM thapsigargin. We conclude that oxidation of critical sulphydryl groups is not required for the normal response to histamine and also that glutathione plays no role in agonist-induced Ca2+ signalling in HeLa cells.

Cytosolic Ca2+ spikes evoked by the thiol reagent thimerosal in both intact and internally perfused single pancreatic acinar cells

Cytosolic calcium signals evoked by the sulphydryl-group-oxidising agent, thimerosal, have been investigated in acutely isolated pancreatic acinar cells. Two techniques were employed for the assessment of the cytosolic free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i): measurement of calcium-dependent chloride and non-specific cation currents (whole-cell patch-clamp recording) and microfluorimetry (fura-2). Thimerosal (0.5-100 microM) evoked repetitive spikes in both chloride and cation currents as seen by patch-clamp recording, and in [Ca2+]i as seen by microfluorimetry, with a latency of 1-3 min. The response increased in magnitude over time and was not reversed on removal of thimerosal. The thimerosal-induced spikes were reversibly blocked by 2 mM dithiothreitol and by 20 mM caffeine. Inclusion of heparin (200 micrograms/ml) in the pipette solution blocked the thimerosal-induced spikes. The calcium spikes continued after the removal of extracellular calcium; however, low concentrations of thimerosal (0.5-5 microM) were unable to initiate a current response in the absence of external calcium. High concentrations of thimerosal (50-100 microM) could initiate spikes without extracellular calcium. Thimerosal, at concentrations that failed to produce an independent effect, potentiated the acetylcholine-evoked oscillations in [Ca2+]i. We conclude that thimerosal is able to mobilise calcium from an intracellular store; the blockade by heparin may indicate that thimerosal exerts an action on the inositol trisphosphate pathway. The dependence on extracellular calcium for initiation, but not for continuation of the thimerosal-induced calcium spikes suggests that thimerosal may have the additional effect of inhibiting the plasma membrane calcium ATPase.

The effects of alloxanate, nicotinic acid and imidazole on secretory processes and the activities of adenylate cyclase and 3',5'-AMP phosphodiesterase in cat pancreas

1 Nicotinic acid and alloxanate inhibited water and electrolyte secretion in a dose-dependent fashion when added to the perfusate of the isolated saline-perfused pancreas of the cat stimulated by a supramaximal dose of secretin.2 There were no changes in the concentration of sodium or potassium secreted into the juice, but the anions exhibited changes which were related to flow rate. As the flow rate declined the chloride concentration increased with a reciprocal decrease in bicarbonate concentration.3 Nicotinic acid and alloxanate inhibited enzyme secretion stimulated by carbachol.4 Imidazole inhibited pancreatic electrolyte secretion, but stimulated amylase secretion. Atropine (0.14 muM) reduced the secretion of amylase but did not abolish the effect.5 Adenylate cyclase prepared from cat pancreas, was stimulated by the octapeptide of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin, secretin and sodium fluoride.6 Alloxanate strongly inhibited both basal and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Nicotinic acid and imidazole stimulated basal adenylate cyclase activity but had little effect on secretin-stimulated activity.7 Alloxanate, nicotinic acid and imidazole were all without effect on phosphodiesterase when tested in the presence of micromolar concentrations of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP). At higher cyclic AMP concentrations (2 mM) alloxanate and nicotinic acid were without effect, whereas imidazole had a slight stimulatory effect at 10 mM which was more marked at 50 mM.8 Alloxanate (10 mM) strongly inhibited both basal and secretin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.9 It is concluded that the effects of nicotinic acid, alloxanate and imidazole on pancreatic secretion are not mediated entirely through their effects on the adenylate cyclase or phosphodiesterase enzyme systems.

Effects of dextran-linked chloromercuribenzoic acid on insulin release from microdissected pancreatic islets

Insulin release in response to dextran-linked p-chloromercuribenzoic acid was studied in microdissected pancreatic islets of non-inbred ob/ob-mice. No contamination of the dextran-linked mercurial with free chloromercuribenzoic acid was detected before or after the incubation with islets. In comparison with free mercurial, of the same thiol-blocking activity, the dextran-linked compound had a weak insulin-releasing action with a different dose vs. response relationship. The dextran-linked mercurial had no demonstrable effect on the islet content of cyclic AMP. The results support the hypothesis that free organic mercurials mainly stimulate insulin release by blocking thiol ground that are embedded within the beta-cell plasma membranes beneath their surfaces.

Adenylate cyclase from rat-liver plasma membrane: inhibition by mersalyl and other mercurial derivatives

The adenylate cyclase activity from a rat liver plasma membrane preparation was inhibited by low concentrations (1-10 muM) of the mercurial diuretic mersalyl. Complete inhibition was obtained with 0.1 mM mersalyl. Similar effects were observed whether the adenylate cyclase preparation was assayed in the presence of 10 muM GTP, 0.1 muM glucagon, 10 mM NaF or without any addition. The effect of mersalyl was not due to inhibition of the regenerating system present in the incubation medium, since the effect of mersalyl was preserved and even enhanced in its absence. The inhibition brought about by mersalyl was due to both a decrease of the maximal velocity of the reaction and of the affinity of the enzyme for the substrate. It was immediate, and irreversible spontaneously, but it was reversed by the simultaneous additions of 2-mercaptoethanol, in a dose-dependent fashion. Other -SH reagents were found to have an effect equal to, or lower than, that of mersalyl. Mersalyl had no effect upon Mg2+-ATPase, although it inhibited the (Na+-K+) activated ATPase. Since mersalyl is known to be a 'non-penetrant' reagent, it is postulated that a catalytically important, mercurial-sensitive, part of adenylate cyclase is at the surface of the plasma membrane. This view is supported by the following facts: (a) mersalyl acted with a similar dose-response curve upon an intact as well as a detergent-dispersed cyclase preparation while no effect was observed upon a solubilized Mg2+-ATPase preparation; (b) a covalent p-chloromercuribenzoate-Sephadex preparation (but not its supernatant) inhibited the cyclase from intact membranes. It is proposed that mercurial derivatives, by their relative specificity of action (no effect on Mg2+-ATPase), can serve as useful probes in the elucidation of the multicomponent structure of the cyclase system.

Amplification of the bradykinin response in rat uterus by pCMB-Dextran T 10

pCMB-Dextran T 10,a large, non-penetrating SH-blocking reagent caused a reversible amplification of bradykinin sensituvity in the isolated rat uterus. High concentrations of this compound (1 x 10-3 M) can evoke spontaneous uterus contraction. pCMB-Dextran T 10 did not alter the biological activity of bradykinin. It is assumed that superficial membrane SH-groups are involved in the uterus contraction mechanism.

p-CMB-dextran T 10. A useful tool in evaluating the functional importance of superficial SH-groups in rat adipocytes

A large SH-blocking reagent p-CMB-dextran T 10 (MW about 10,000) was applied to isolated rat adipocytes. This compound possesses the same reactivity towards SH-groups as uncoupled p-CMB. P-CMB-Dextran T 10 did not influence the basal glucose uptake in contrast to uncoupled p-CMB. The results are discussed with respect to the usefulness of p-CMB-dextran T 10 in evaluating the role of superficial SH-groups in various membrane functions.

The secretion of alkali metal ions by the perfused cat pancreas as influenced by the composition and osmolality of the external environment and by inhibitors of metabolism and Na+, K+-ATPase activity

1. The secretion of sodium, potassium and lithium has been studied in the isolated cat pancreas, perfused with bicarbonate buffered saline solutions of varying composition and osmolality, and stimulated maximally with secretin.2. Under isosmolal conditions, when perfusate sodium chloride was replaced by sucrose, sodium secretion and potassium secretion were directly related to perfusate sodium concentration, [Na](p).3. When osmolality was varied by increasing or decreasing perfusate sodium chloride concentration, the secretion of sodium and of potassium were maximal at [Na](p) of about 120 and 80 mM respectively.4. At a given [Na](p), sodium secretion was greater under hypo-osmolal conditions than under isosmolal conditions.5. When potassium concentration was varied over the range 0-130 mM under isosmolal conditions, by adjusting perfusate NaCl concentration, the secretion of potassium and of sodium were maximal at [K](p) of about 50 and 10 mM respectively. Water flux was maximal at a [K](p) of 10-15 mM. The concentration of potassium in the secretion was almost identical with that in the perfusate over the whole concentration range.6. Replacement of perfusate sodium by lithium reduced the volume of secretion, though a small secretion was maintained even in the complete absence of sodium. The concentration of lithium in the secretion was generally slightly greater than that in the perfusate.7. Omission of potassium from the perfusate reduced secretion by about 65%. Rubidium was a complete substitute for potassium; caesium was not.8. Energy for secretion is derived largely from oxidative phosphorylation. Secretion was reduced by more than 90% under anaerobic conditions and in the presence of dinitrophenol or cyanide. Removal of glucose from the perfusate reduced secretion by more than 50% within 30 min; lactate was a complete substitute for glucose.9. Ouabain, ethacrinic acid and frusimide, known inhibitors of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity, all inhibited pancreatic electrolyte secretion.10. The observations are interpreted with reference to the nature of active transport processes involved in pancreatic electrolyte secretion.