Effects of secretagogues on [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate metabolism in the exocrine pancreas

Pharmacological profiles of the subtypes of muscarinic cholinoceptors that mediate aggregation of pigment in the melanophores of two species of catfish

Using selective antagonists, including pirenzepine, adiphenine, AF-DX 116, gallamine, and 4-DAMP, we attempted to characterize the muscarinic cholinoceptors on the melanophores of the translucent glass catfish Kryptopterus bicirrhis and the mailed catfish Corydoras paleatus. The M3 receptor-selective antagonist, 4-DAMP, potently inhibited the acetylcholine-induced aggregation of pigment in both species. It appeared, therefore, that the receptors that mediated the cholinergically evoked aggregation of melanosomes in these species were of the M3 muscarinic subtype.

Regulation of gap junctional coupling in isolated pancreatic acinar cell pairs by cholecystokinin-octapeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and a VIP-antagonist

Cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP) induces a time- and dose-dependent decrease of gap junctional conductance in isolated pairs of pancreatic acinar cells. In double whole-cell experiments, the time course could be described by the latency and the half-life time (t1/2) of cell-to-cell uncoupling. The latency shows a biphasic dependence on [CCK-OP] with a minimum of about 50 sec at 10(-9) M CCK-OP. In the presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), the biphasic relationship is shifted to lower CCK-OP concentrations. The increase of latency at high concentrations of CCK-OP (> 10(-9) M) was blocked by addition of a VIP-antagonist. t1/2 decreases monophasically with increasing [CCK-OP]. Addition of GTP gamma S to the pipette solution suppresses the [CCK-OP] dependence of the latency and potentiates the uncoupling phase. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of CCK binding to receptors of high and low affinity. Evidence is presented that secretion and cell-to-cell coupling are not related by an all-or-none process, but that for physiological CCK-OP concentrations, gap junctional uncoupling follows secretion.

Further characterization of 5-HT- and 5-HT3 receptor agonists'-stimulated phosphoinositol phosphates accumulation

The calcium requirement for serotonin (5-HT)- and the 5-HT3 receptor agonists, 2-Me-5-HT- and PBG-dependent breakdown of phosphatidyl inositol has been examined in the rat fronto-cingulate cortex. The omission of added Ca2+ from the Kreb's incubation medium reduced the [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation from pre-labelled phospholipids. Removal of Ca2+ by pre-incubation with EGTA (0.5 mM), as well as the addition of the calcium channel blocker, lanthanum (10 microM), abolished the 5-HT- and the 5-HT3 receptor agonists'-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) response. By contrast, the calcium ionophores, A 23187 and Ionomycin (both at 30 microM) stimulated PI hydrolysis, and this effect was additive to the increased PI turnover induced by 5-HT, 2-Me-5-HT and PBG. The increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by 5-HT and 2-Me-5-HT was significantly inhibited by phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) and phorbol myristate acetate, indicating that the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) may provide negative feedback to the PI response induced by 5-HT and 2-Me-5-HT-stimulated PI metabolism was reversed by the PKC inhibitors, staurosporine, calphostin C and chelerythrine (all at 10 microM), however, Pertussis toxin (0.5 and 1 microgram) had no effect on either 5-HT's or 2-Me-5-HT's increased stimulation of PI hydrolysis, suggesting that this response is not associated to a Gi GTP binding protein.

Mechanism of carbachol-stimulated diacylglycerol formation in rat parotid acinar cells

We studied the relationship between phosphoinositide hydrolysis, phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) formation in response to carbachol stimulation in rat parotid acinar cells. Previously, we demonstrated that DAG formation stimulated with 1 microM carbachol was biphasic: the first peak occurred at 5 min and the second one at 20 min. It was also demonstrated that the second peak was regulated in part by a calmodulin/protein kinase C-dependent mechanism. Based on the kinetic analysis of DAG formation and [32P]phosphoinositide breakdown, the first peak of carbachol (1 microM)-stimulated DAG accumulation was found to be related to the breakdown of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate ([32P]PIP) and [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ([32P]PIP2). The second peak was found to be related to [32P]PIP2 breakdown. Carbachol stimulated the release of [3H]phosphocholine into the medium, indicating that the predominant pathway for phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis was via phospholipase C. Moreover, carbachol stimulated the release of [3H]choline metabolites in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This agonist slightly stimulated the release of [3H]ethanolamine metabolites. A calmodulin/protein kinase C-dependent mechanism was also studied and was found to be involved in carbachol-stimulated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis; W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor and staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited the carbachol (1-microM)-induced release of [3H]choline metabolites at 20 min in a dose-dependent manner, but did not have inhibitory effects at 5 min. These results suggest that the first peak of DAG accumulation induced by carbachol is predominantly associated with the breakdown [32P]PIP and of [32P]PIP2 and that the second peak is predominantly associated with [32P]PIP2 breakdown and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis.

Comparative effects of epidermal growth factor and carbachol on phosphoinositide synthesis and breakdown in pancreatic acinar cells

Carbachol (CCh) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) elicited a concentration-dependent increase in [32P]phosphatidyl-inositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns-4P) formation in homogenates derived from agonist-stimulated rat pancreatic acini. The combination of CCh and EGF produced a response which was not synergistic or additive. EGF, unlike CCh, failed to cause [32P]PtdIns-4,5P2 breakdown, suggesting different mechanisms involved in the stimulation of [32P]PtdIns-4P formation induced by EGF and CCh. We conclude that PtdIns kinase represents a key component of the signaling pathways utilized by EGF and CCh in exocrine pancreas.

"Gastrin" and "CCK" receptors on histamine- and somatostatin-containing cells from rabbit fundic mucosa--I. Characterization by means of agonists

A previous study has suggested the presence of two distinct binding sites for gasrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) in isolated non-parietal cells from rabbit gastric mucosa: a receptor which binds CCK-8 and CCK-39 with a high affinity and a receptor which binds gastrin and CCK-8 with the same high affinity and CCK-39 with a lower affinity. To characterize these receptors, their ability to induce phosphoinositide breakdown was investigated. Gastrin (HG-17), CCK-39 and CCK-8 induced [3H]-inositol phosphate ([3H]InsP) accumulation from [3H]inositol prelabelled cells with a high potency (EC50: 0.3-2.7 nM) but CCK-8 exhibited a higher efficacy than HG-17 or CCK-39. HG-17, CCK-8 and CCK-39 induced a rapid accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]InsP1), [3H]inositol bisphosphate ([3H]InsP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate ([3H]InsP3) but CCK-8 caused a two times higher accumulation than HG-17 or CCK-39. Histamine- and somatostatin-containing cells appeared to be located in this non-parietal cells population. HG-17, CCK-8 and CCK-39 dose-dependently induced histamine release with the following order of potency: HG-17 = CCK-8 (EC50 approximately 0.2 nM) greater than CCK-39 (EC50 approximately 4 nM). In addition, HG-17 exhibited the highest efficacy. HG-17, CCK-8 and CCK-39 enhanced somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) release with the following order of potency: CCK-8 (EC50 approximately 0.1 nM) = CCK-39 greater than HG-17 (EC50 approximately 10 nM); CCK-8 and CCK-39 exhibited the highest efficacy. These results led us to the following conclusions: (i) existence of a "gastrin-type" and of a "CCK-type" receptor mediating phosphoinositide breakdown in these gastric non-parietal cells. CCK-8 interacts with both receptor-types with the same affinity; (ii) the release of histamine from histamine-containing cells could be induced following "gastrin-type" receptors activation; (iii) somatostatin release from D-cells present in this non-parietal cells population could be induced following "CCK-type" receptors activation.

Effects of phorbol ester and cholecystokinin on the intracellular distribution of protein kinase C in rabbit pancreatic acini

Treatment of rabbit pancreatic acini with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), resulted in a time- and dose-dependent decrease of soluble protein kinase C activity coinciding with an increase of protein kinase C activity in the particulate fraction. After 5 min, soluble protein kinase C activity had decreased to almost 10% of the corresponding control. Total extractable protein kinase C activity, however, remained unchanged, indicating that the decrease of soluble protein kinase C activity was not due to TPA-induced inactivation of the enzyme. The biologically inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, did not induce such a translocation of protein kinase C. The half-maximal concentration for TPA-induced translocation of protein kinase C was 40 nM, and was equal to that for TPA-induced amylase secretion from isolated acini. This suggests that translocation of protein kinase C to the particulate fraction is an important step in TPA-induced activation of protein kinase C and enzyme secretion. On the other hand, cholecystokinin, a secretagogue of the calcium-mobilizing type, whose secretory action is thought to be mediated, at least in part, by protein kinase C, did not change the subcellular distribution of protein kinase C. In the presence of R59022 6-(2-[(4-fluorophenyl)phenylmethylene]-1-piperidinyl ) ethyl-7-methyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase activity, cholecystokinin produced a small but significant translocation of protein kinase C, suggesting that the inability of the hormone to induce translocation is not due to a rapid conversion of the diacylglycerol formed into phosphatidic acid.

Effects of caerulein on the apical cytoskeleton of the pancreatic acinar cell

In this study experiments were performed to correlate the rate of digestive enzyme secretion to morphologic observations of the apical cytoskeleton using dispersed rat pancreatic acini with various concentrations of caerulein. Caerulein at concentrations of 10 pM to 0.1 nM stimulated increasing rates of secretion of amylase, a digestive enzyme. Greater concentrations of caerulein caused progressively less amylase secretion. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated several characteristics of the apical cytoskeleton in untreated acini that were altered with the "inhibitory" concentrations of caerulein. In control acini and acini stimulated with concentrations of caerulein up to 0.1 nM, the micrographs reveal an apical actin network extending into microvilli, an intermediate filament band, and electron-dense structures contained in both the actin filament network and the intermediate filament band. With concentrations of caerulein greater than 0.1 nM, these structures were progressively ablated. The findings with respect to the actin filament network were confirmed with light microscopic observations of dispersed acini stained with rhodamine-phalloidin. These results indicate that caerulein has marked morphologic effects on the pancreatic acinar cell cytoskeleton and that the cytoskeletal changes may modulate the secretory response.

Dissimilar effects of the protein kinase C inhibitors, staurosporine and H-7, on cholecystokinin-induced enzyme secretion from rabbit pancreatic acini

The effects of two putative inhibitors of protein kinase C activity, staurosporine and H-7, on partially purified protein kinase C and amylase secretion from isolated rabbit pancreatic acini were investigated. Staurosporine dose-dependently inhibited amylase release stimulated by an optimal concentration of cholecystokinin C-terminal octapeptide. At a concentration of 100 nM, the drug inhibited the secretory response to the secretagogue by approximately 50%. At the same concentration, staurosporine inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-stimulated enzyme secretion by 90%. Moreover, the potentiating effect of this phorbol ester on cholecystokinin-induced amylase release was completely abolished in the presence of staurosporine. Interestingly, amylase release was decreased to the level observed with the combination of cholecystokinin and staurosporine. In contrast, H-7, potentiated rather than inhibited cholecystokinin-stimulated enzyme secretion, whereas the secretory response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate was not affected by the drug. Both staurosporine and H-7, however, inhibited protein kinase C purified from exocrine pancreatic tissue. Kinetic analysis revealed that both compounds inhibited protein kinase C competitively with respect to ATP. The Ki value for staurosporine was 0.55 nM and for H-7 13.5 microM. Our results obtained with staurosporine are in line with a stimulatory role of protein kinase C in cholecystokinin-induced enzyme secretion from the exocrine pancreas. The results obtained with H-7 emphasize that care has to be taken in interpreting the biological effects of this drug.

The molecular basis of enzyme secretion

Acinar cells are one of the best studied models of exocytotic secretion. A number of different hormones and neurotransmitters interact with specific membrane receptors, and it is commonly held that pancreatic secretagogues stimulate enzyme release via the elevation of either cytosolic free Ca2+ or cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The discovery of the pivotal role played by phospholipid metabolism in the chain of events leading to secretion, together with the introduction of sensitive techniques to monitor cytosolic free Ca2+, has generated a series of studies that have challenged this classical model. Thus, several observations in pancreatic acini as well as other cell types have argued against the notion that a generalized increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ represents a sufficient and necessary stimulus for exocytosis in nonexcitable cells. Furthermore, the demonstration that a single agonist activates multiple transduction pathways has served to refute the schematic view that receptor agonists activate only one second messenger system. The aim of this article is to review the recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of signal transduction, with particular emphasis on the inositol lipid pathway, and to integrate this information into a new working model of enzyme secretion from acinar cells.

The diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor, R59022, potentiates cholecystokinin-induced enzyme secretion from rabbit pancreatic acini

The putative inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase activity, 6-(2-[(4-fluorophenyl)phenylmethylene]-1-piperidinyl)-ethyl-7-meth yl-5H- thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (R59022), markedly potentiated cholecystokinin-C-terminal-octapeptide(CCK-8-)stimulated enzyme secretion from isolated rabbit pancreatic acini. Maximal potentiation occurred when acini were stimulated in the presence of 5-10 microM R59022. Potentiation depended both on the concentration of R59022 and CCK-8. No potentiation was observed when acini were half-maximally stimulated, whereas the secretory response to maximal and supramaximal concentrations of secretagogue was increased by 50-60%. R59022 alone had no effect on basal enzyme secretion and the drug did not potentiate the secretory response to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or to the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Moreover, no increase in basal secretion was observed when acini were incubated in the presence of both R59022 and forskolin. These observations strongly suggest that receptor-mediated activation of the inositol phospholipid pathway is required for R59022-induced potentiation. R59022 inhibited the CCK-8-stimulated incorporation of 32Pi into phosphatidic acid dose dependently, without affecting the CCK-8-stimulated hydrolysis of 32P-labelled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. This is consistent with an inhibitory effect of R59022 on acinar cell diacylglycerol kinase activity. The potentiating effect of R59022 was mimicked by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate added simultaneously with CCK-8. Therefore, it is concluded that in the presence of 5-10 microM R59022 the receptor-mediated increase in acinar cell diacylglycerol content is enhanced leading to enhanced activation of protein kinase C and to potentiation of the secretory response. The fact that the secretory response to maximal and supramaximal concentrations of CCK-8 is potentiated by R59022 suggests that at these concentrations of secretagogue the diacylglycerol/protein kinase C branch of the signal-transduction route is rate-limiting.

Phosphorylation of low molecular mass cytosolic proteins by protein kinase C and protein kinase A in the rabbit exocrine pancreas

Subcellular fractionation of rabbit pancreatic acini was performed to study the distribution of endogenous substrates for protein kinase C. Substrates for protein kinase C were found to be predominantly low molecular mass proteins of cytosolic origin. At least three of these soluble substrates, with molecular masses of 17-19 kDa, were relatively heavily phosphorylated by endogenous as well as purified pancreatic protein kinase C. In the same molecular mass range, 16-18 kDa, soluble proteins were also phosphorylated by protein kinase A. Moreover, addition of cyclic AMP under conditions that activated protein kinase C gave a more than additive labelling of these low molecular mass proteins. The latter observation may be of interest in view of the potentiating effect cyclic-AMP-activated protein kinase A has on amylase secretion stimulated by secretagogues which increase free cytosolic Ca2+ and activate protein kinase C.

G regulatory proteins and muscarinic receptor signal transduction in mucous acini of rat submandibular gland

The involvement of G regulatory proteins in muscarinic receptor signal transduction was examined in electrically permeabilized rat submandibular acinar cells. The guanine nucleotide analog, GTP gamma S, caused the dose dependent hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to release IP3. This response was insensitive to pertussis toxin treatment and was duplicated by NaF but not by GDP beta S. Enhanced IP3 synthesis was observed with a combination of GTP gamma S and carbachol. Exogenous IP3, as well as carbachol and GTP gamma S, provoked the release of sequestered 45Ca2+ from non-mitochondrial stores. In intact cells, carbachol significantly reduced the level of cyclic AMP induced by the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, to 69% of its normal value. Pertussis toxin abolished this inhibitory action of carbachol on cyclic nucleotide levels. These results suggest that muscarinic receptors are coupled to two separate G regulatory proteins in submandibular mucous acini-the pertussis toxin-insensitive Gp of the phosphoinositide transduction pathway associated with elevated cytosolic calcium levels, and the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi inhibitory protein of the adenylate cyclase complex.

G protein in stimulation of PI hydrolysis by CCK in isolated rat pancreatic acinar cells

To clarify the possible role of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) in the signal transducing system activated by cholecystokinin (CCK), actions of CCK on rat pancreatic acini were compared with those of fluoride, a well-known activator of stimulatory (Gs) or inhibitory (Gi) G protein. When acini were incubated with increasing concentrations of either CCK-octapeptide (CCK8) or NaF, a maximal stimulation of amylase release from acini occurred at 100 pM CCK8 or 10 mM NaF, respectively; this secretory rate decreased as CCK8 or NaF concentration was increased. NaF caused an increased in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration from the internal Ca2+ store and stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates in acini, as observed with CCK. However, NaF-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization had a lag period before detectable stimulation and was potentiated by AlCl3. These stimulatory effects of NaF appeared to be independent of cellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). Pretreatment with cholera toxin or pertussis toxin did not affect CCK8- or NaF-induced inositol phosphate accumulation or Ca2+ mobilization. 5'-Guanylimidodiphosphate activated the generation of inositol phosphates in the [3H]inositol-labeled pancreatic acinar cell membrane preparation, with half-maximal and maximal stimulation at 1 and 10 microM, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of submaximal CCK concentrations on inositol phosphate accumulation in membranes were markedly potentiated in the presence of 100 microM GTP, which alone was ineffective. Combined findings of the present study strongly suggest that pancreatic CCK receptors are probably coupled to the activation of polyphosphoinositide (PI) breakdown by a G protein, which appears to be fluoride sensitive but is other than Gs- or Gi-like protein.

Effects of phosphoinositides on calcium movements in human platelet membrane vesicles

In a mixed endoplasmic and surface-type membrane vesicle preparation from human platelets the polyphosphoinositides PIP and PIP2, similarly to IP3, were found to induce a rapid calcium release reaction. At physiological (resting) cytoplasmic calcium concentrations (0.1-0.3 microM) the PIP2 and IP3 concentrations producing half-maximum calcium release were similar (0.7 microM) and both agents could mobilize about 30-40% of the intravesicular calcium. However, the phosphodiesteric degradation of PIP2 in the membrane vesicles was found to be negligible and the ion- and drug-sensitivities of the calcium release reactions were different. The IP3-induced calcium release was selectively inhibited by micromolar calcium concentrations and by cinnarizine, while the PIP2-induced release was blocked by magnesium ions and neomycin. The calcium release evoked by either agent was inhibited by low concentrations of lanthanum but, in contrast to the ATP-dependent calcium pump, it was insensitive to vanadate, quercetin and to the lowering of the incubation temperature. When added simultaneously or in a rapid succession, maximum effective IP3 and PIP2 concentrations produced an additive calcium release reaction. Based on these data we suggest that IP3 and PIP2, respectively, induce rapid transmembrane calcium movements involving different transport pathways and/or membrane calcium pools, which are not related to the active calcium transport systems.

Mode of inhibitory action of cholecystokinin in amylase release from isolated rat pancreatic acini--inhibition of secretory process post to protein kinase C-calcium ion systems

The incubation of isolated rat pancreatic acini with low doses (1 x 10(-11)-1 x 10(-10) M) of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK8) induced amylase release. This CCK8-induced amylase release has been shown to be mediated through the protein kinase C activation and the Ca2+ mobilization which are linked to the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides. However, the incubation of the acini with high doses (1 x 10(-9)-1 x 10(-7) M) of CCK8 reduced amylase release to the level less than that induced by the maximally effective dose (1 x 10(-10) M) of this secretagogue. Under the same conditions, the high doses of this secretagogue did not inhibit the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides. The stimulatory action of the maximally effective dose of CCK8 in amylase release was mimicked by the simultaneous addition of protein kinase C-activating 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and Ca2+ ionophore A23187. A high dose (1 x 10(-7) M) of CCK8 reduced the amylase release induced by the combination of TPA and A23187. These results suggest that the high doses of CCK8 inhibit the secretory process post to the protein kinase C-Ca2+ systems and thereby reduce the amylase release induced by the maximally effective dose of CCK8 in rat pancreatic acini.

Effect of AA861, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, on amylase secretion from rat pancreatic acini

We have examined the effects of 2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(12-hydroxy-5,10-dodecadiynyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (AA861), a selective inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, on the action of cholecystokinin (CCK) and other secretagogues in the stimulation of amylase secretion from dispersed rat pancreatic acini. AA861 inhibited amylase secretion caused by CCK, carbamylcholine (carbachol), bombesin or calcium ionophore A23187 but failed to affect amylase secretion by vasoactive intestinal peptide or 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate. Inhibition by AA861 of CCK or carbachol-induced amylase secretion was confined to the relatively lower concentrations of these secretagogues. AA861 did not inhibit receptor binding of CCK or alter the cellular calcium mobilization induced by CCK. In kinetic studies, AA861 was effective only on amylase secretion from pancreatic acini incubated with CCK for more than 5 min. Indomethacin, a known inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, did not affect the amylase secretion caused by all secretagogues used. These results indicate that the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonate metabolism may be involved in the actions of calcium-dependent secretagogues of amylase secretion in rat dispersed pancreatic acini, especially for sustaining stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK.

Cholinergic stimulation of inositol phosphate formation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells: distinct nicotinic and muscarinic mechanisms

The ability of cholinergic agonists to activate phospholipase C in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined by assaying the production of inositol phosphates in cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol. We found that both nicotinic and muscarinic agonists increased the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates (mainly inositol monophosphate) and that the effects mediated by the two types of receptors were independent of each other. The production of inositol phosphates by nicotinic stimulation required extracellular Ca2+ and was maximal at 0.2 mM Ca2+. Increasing extracellular Ca2+ from 0.22 to 2.2 mM increased the sensitivity of inositol phosphates formation to stimulation by submaximal concentrations of 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium iodide (DMPP) but did not enhance the response to muscarine. Elevated K+ also stimulated Ca2+-dependent [3H]inositol phosphate production, presumably by a non-receptor-mediated mechanism. The Ca2+ channel antagonists D600 and nifedipine inhibited the effects of DMPP and elevated K+ to a greater extent than that of muscarine. Ca2+ (0.3-10 microM) directly stimulated the release of inositol phosphates from digitonin-permeabilized cells that had been prelabeled with [3H]inositol. Thus, cholinergic stimulation of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells results in the activation of phospholipase C by distinct muscarinic and nicotinic mechanisms. Nicotinic receptor stimulation and elevated K+ probably increased the accumulation of inositol phosphates through Ca2+ influx and a rise in cytosolic Ca2+. Because Ba2+ caused catecholamine secretion but did not enhance the formation of inositol phosphates, phospholipase C activation is not required for exocytosis. However, diglyceride and myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate produced during cholinergic stimulation of chromaffin cells may modulate secretion and other cellular processes by activating protein kinase C and/or releasing Ca2+ from intracellular stores.

Phorbol ester inhibits cholecystokinin octapeptide-induced amylase secretion and calcium mobilization, but is without effect on secretagogue-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in rabbit pancreatic acini

The effect of prolonged protein kinase C activation on cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-induced amylase secretion from rabbit pancreatic acini was studied by means of the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The phorbol ester itself increased basal amylase secretion but inhibited completely the secretory response to relatively low concentrations of CCK-8. The inhibitory action of TPA on CCK-8-induced amylase secretion was paralleled by inhibition of CCK-8-induced calcium mobilization but not by inhibition of CCK-8-induced breakdown of 32P-labelled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The results presented suggest that protein kinase C, or one of its phosphorylated products, inhibits the CCK-8-stimulated pathway leading to secretion at a level beyond the secretagogue-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Inhibition of the initial, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated and extracellular calcium-independent, increase in free cytosolic calcium concentration, together with the findings of others, suggests that the efficacy of this inositol-phosphate to release calcium is reduced.

Muscarinic, alpha 1-adrenergic and peptidergic agonists stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis and regulate mucin secretion in rat submandibular gland cells

Three classes of agonists associated with Ca2+-mobilization--alpha 1-adrenergic (methoxamine), muscarinic (carbachol) and peptidergic (substance P, SP)--significantly stimulated the secretion of mucin from enzymatically-dispersed rat submandibular gland acinar cells. The same three secretagogues also caused the hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids, resulting in elevated cellular levels of inositol phosphates, particularly inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). Exogenous IP3 elicited the dose-dependent release of mucin in dispersed cells suggesting that agonist-generated endogenous IP3 may provoke a secretory response. IP3 and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in combination, stimulated an additive secretion of mucin in the model. The potential use of these two agents as specific probes of the IP3- and diacylglycerol-associated legs of the polyphosphoinositide (PPI) breakdown pathway is indicated. Although all three agonists shared a common action in stimulating PPI hydrolysis, their effects on the beta-adrenergic mucosecretory response were inconsistent. A brief preincubation of cells with carbachol or SP significantly reduced the subsequent isoproterenol (IPR)-provoked secretion of mucin, whereas methoxamine plus IPR stimulated an additive response. The mechanisms underlying these opposite effects are not known. Failure of IP3 or TPA to modify IPR responses suggests that modulation of the beta response may operate at a locus before the generation of diacylglycerol and IP3, possibly at the level of signal transduction. The study indicates a role for Ca2+-mobilizing agonists in controlling submandibular mucin secretion and provides evidence that receptor-linked phosphoinositide hydrolysis is an early stage in their stimulus-secretion coupling mechanism.

Rapid formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in rat pancreatic acini stimulated by carbamylcholine

Cholinergic stimulation of inositol phosphate formation was studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini, prelabelled with myo-[2-3H]inositol. Carbamylcholine increased incorporation of radioactivity into Ins(1,4,5)P3 and InsP4 within 5 s. Increases in [3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3 were delayed with marked stimulation occurring between 10 s and 1 min. Inositol polyphosphate formation was less sensitive to carbamylcholine concentration than was stimulation of amylase release. At a low (0.3 microM) carbamylcholine concentration, no increase in inositol polyphosphate formation was detected, whereas stimulation of amylase release, which was not dependent on extracellular calcium, was observed. Ins(1,4,5)P3 was shown to release actively accumulated 45Ca2+ from isolated rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes to a similar extent as that released from rough endoplasmic reticulum following cholinergic stimulation of pancreatic acini (Richardson, A.E. et al. (1984) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 12, 1066-1067). The data is consistent with Ins(1,4,5)P3 being produced rapidly enough to release sufficient calcium from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to cause an observed increases in cytoplasmic free Ca2+.

Pertussis toxin stimulates cholecystokinin-induced cyclic AMP formation but is without effect on secretagogue-induced calcium mobilization in exocrine pancreas

The role of a pertussis toxin sensitive GTP-binding protein in mediating between cholecystokinin receptors and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase as well as in preventing cholecystokinin from increasing cellular cyclic AMP has been investigated using dispersed acini from rabbit pancreas. Pertussis toxin pretreatment (500 ng/ml, 2 h) did not affect cholecystokinin(octapeptide) (CCK-8)-induced increases in cytosolic free Ca2+ as judged from changes in fluorescence obtained from quin2-loaded acini. Although pretreatment with pertussis toxin was also without effect on resting acinar cell cyclic AMP levels, adenylate cyclase activity was increased, since inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity by isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) resulted in an additional increase in cyclic AMP levels in toxin-treated acini, indicating that acinar cell adenylate cyclase activity is under some tonic inhibitory control by the pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi) of the adenylate cyclase system. CCK-8 gave an increase in cyclic AMP levels in both control (1.6-fold) and toxin-treated (2.3-fold) acini, leading to cyclic AMP levels in the toxin-treated acini 2-times as high as those in control acini. In the presence of IBMX, the cyclic AMP response to CCK-8 was again markedly enhanced in acini pretreated with the toxin (3.2- vs. 1.8-fold), resulting in cAMP levels in the toxin-treated acini 3.7-times those in the absence of IBMX, 2.5-times those in control acini in the presence of IBMX and 7.0-times those in control acini in the absence of IBMX. Neither the pretreatment with pertussis toxin, nor the presence of IBMX alone, nor the combination had an effect on basal amylase secretion. However, all three treatments potentiated the stimulatory effect of CCK-8 on amylase secretion and the amount of potentiation was proportional to the cyclic AMP levels reached. Our findings suggest that in the intact pancreatic acinar cell Gi inhibition of the catalytic subunit of the adenylate cyclase may largely be responsible for preventing cholecystokinin from increasing cellular cyclic AMP. They moreover show that cyclic AMP is a modulatory agent in rabbit pancreatic enzyme secretion, not able to stimulate secretion itself, but potentiating effects mediated by the phosphatidylinositol-calcium pathway.

Intracellular Ca2+ in pancreatic acinar cells: regulation and role in stimulation of enzyme secretion

Evidence for a primary role for intracellular Ca2+ in the stimulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion is reviewed. Measurements of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration have allowed direct demonstration of its importance in triggering enzyme secretion and defined the concentration range over which membrane Ca2+ pumps must work to regulate intracellular Ca2+. Current evidence suggests a key role for the Ca2+, Mg-ATPase of rough endoplasmic reticulum in regulating intracellular Ca2+ and accumulating a Ca2+ store which is released by the action of inositol-1,4,5 trisphosphate following stimulation of secretion.

Asperlicin antagonizes stimulatory effects of cholecystokinin on isolated islets

Asperlicin, a product derived from the fungus Aspergillus alliaceus, antagonized the multiple stimulatory effects of cholecystokinin (CCK-8S) on isolated islets. At a level of 10 microM, asperlicin completely inhibited insulin release in response to 25 nM CCK-8S. Increasing the level of CCK-8S to 100 nM partially restored a secretory response, while an even greater insulin stimulatory effect was noted with 500 nM CCK-8S. The inhibitory effect of asperlicin on CCK-8S-induced release was reversible. Asperlicin exposure had no effect on glucose or glyceraldehyde-induced secretion. Asperlicin reduced, in parallel with secretion, the increase in 3H efflux from [3H]inositol prelabeled islets usually noted with CCK-8S addition. Asperlicin did not influence the small glucose-stimulated increase in 3H efflux. The results support the notion that asperlicin is a specific and potent antagonist of the multiple stimulatory effects of CCK-8S on islet tissue.

Effects of a cytosolic protein on the interaction of rat pancreatic zymogen granules in vitro

Photon correlation spectroscopy has been used to study the kinetics of aggregation of isolated rat pancreatic zymogen granules in vitro by monitoring time-dependent changes in mean particle size derived from the photon count autocorrelation function, g2(tau). Isolated granules were stable in isotonic sucrose (pH 5.4-7.0). At pH 6.0 they maintained a mean diameter of 1225 +/- 18 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.199 +/- 0.007. The mean granule diameter showed a limited decrease (approx. 20%) with increasing pH within the range 5.4-7.0, but the polydispersity index was unaltered. At pH greater than 7.0 granule instability was indicated by a rapid reduction in total photon counts. In solutions of monovalent cations ([M+] greater than 10 mM) and divalent cations ([M2+] greater than 0.5 mM) zymogen granules aggregated at a rate dependent upon both ion and granule concentration. These effects were consistent with the bimolecular nature of the interaction mechanism and were clearly distinguishable from the limited size changes associated with osmolarity. At concentrations of Na+ or K+ salts greater than 50 mM granule aggregation was accompanied by anion-dependent solubilisation. A soluble protein fraction separated from the pancreatic acinar cell cytosol by gel filtration reduced the mean diameter and polydispersity index of zymogen granules suspended in isotonic sucrose, inhibited cation-induced aggregation and stabilised granules to solubilisation induced by raising pH greater than 7.0 or exposure to high ionic strength media. The inhibitory effects of this protein were apparent at concentrations less than or equal to 10 micrograms X ml-1 (i.e. at inhibitor: granule protein ratios less than 1:20) and could not be mimicked by bovine serum albumin, the Ca2+-binding proteins calmodulin and troponin C (less than or equal to 100 micrograms X ml-1), nor the highly negatively charged polymer polyglutamate (less than or equal to 10 micrograms X ml-1). Inhibitory activity was also absent from fractions of rat liver cytosol prepared identically to pancreatic acinar cytosol. These observations are consistent with the presence in pancreatic acinar cells of a specific cytosolic granule stabilisation factor (or factors) that normally restricts zymogen granule interaction and may therefore play an important role in the regulation of granule mobility and exocytosis.

Externally applied adenosine-5'-triphosphate causes inositol triphosphate accumulation in cultured chick myotubes

In striated muscle, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) potentiates the responses to acetylcholine. The underlying biochemical events are unknown. Here we report that ATP, externally applied to chick myotubes, induces a rapid, dose-dependent accumulation of intracellular inositol triphosphate which is correlated with a decrease in phosphatidyl 4,5-bisphosphate. Adenosine-5'-diphosphate, adenosine-5'-monophosphate and adenosine are less potent while beta, gamma-imido ATP is equipotent motoneurons and/or skeletal muscle controls the activation of a polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase via a cell membrane P2-purinoceptor, thus modulating skeletal muscle responses to transmitter release.

Regulation of free cytosolic Ca2+ in the isolated guinea pig gastric chief cells

Stimulation with COOH-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK8) or carbachol resulted in a rapid increase in Quin-2 fluorescence of isolated guinea pig gastric chief cells, whereas histamine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin or forskolin had no effect. The minimum effective dose of CCK8 or carbachol to elicit the rise in Quin-2 fluorescence was almost similar to that for pepsinogen secretion. Removal of Ca2+ from extracellular medium or Ca2+ channel blockers did not affect CCK8- or carbachol-induced increase in Quin-2 fluorescence. Moreover, following addition of CCK8, carbachol was unable to stimulate a second increase in Quin-2 fluorescence. These results suggest that CCK8 and carbachol share common Ca2+ pools and an increase in free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration may mediate CCK8- or carbachol-induced pepsinogen secretion from gastric chief cells.

Enhancement of secretagogue-induced phosphoinositide turnover and amylase secretion by bile acids in isolated rat pancreatic acini

Small amounts (0.1-0.5 mM) of deoxycholate enhanced amylase secretion, which had been induced by submaximal doses of carbachol or cholecystokinin octapeptide, without affecting the maximal levels of these reactions from isolated rat pancreatic acini. Deoxycholate alone did not induce these reactions. The other bile acids such as cholate, chenodeoxycholate, ursodeoxycholate, and taurocholate were also active. Under the similar conditions, deoxycholate enhanced the secretagogue-induced diacylglycerol formation that was derived mainly from the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate. Deoxycholate did not enhance the secretagogue-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate or Ca2+ mobilization. Deoxycholate did not affect amylase secretion, which was induced by the simultaneous addition of protein kinase C-activating 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Since diacylglycerol and Ca2+ may be responsible for the secretagogue-induced amylase secretion, our results indicate that small amounts of bile acids increase the sensitivity to the secretagogue of diacylglycerol formation and subsequent activation of protein kinase C, and thereby enhance amylase secretion from pancreatic acini.

Secretin induces rapid increases in inositol trisphosphate, cytosolic Ca2+ and diacylglycerol as well as cyclic AMP in rat pancreatic acini

Previous studies have shown that the dose-response relationship for secretin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation is different from that for secretin-stimulated enzyme secretion in the rat exocrine pancreas. Here we show that secretin concentrations of 10(-10) M and higher stimulated a rise in cyclic AMP levels, with maximum effect on cyclic AMP accumulation being achieved already with 10(-8) M-secretin. However, at this concentration of secretin, enzyme secretion rates were approximately half-maximal. Unexpectedly, at concentrations of secretin greater than 10(-8) M there was evidence suggestive of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate hydrolysis with rapid increases in inositol trisphosphate, cytosolic free calcium and diacylglycerol content of rat pancreatic acini. Furthermore, there was a dose-response relationship among secretin concentration (in the range 10(-8) M-2 X 10(-6) M), increases in inositol trisphosphate and increases in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i). Contrary to what has been previously believed, these results clearly indicate that in rat pancreatic acini secretin not only stimulates cyclic AMP accumulation but also raises inositol trisphosphate, [Ca2+]i and diacylglycerol. Thus, two second messenger systems may play a role in the regulation of secretin-induced amylase release.

Isomers of inositol trisphosphate in exocrine pancreas

In rat pancreatic acinar cells, the Ca2+-mobilizing receptor-agonist, caerulein, at both maximal and submaximal concentrations, stimulated a rapid, transient, increase in [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [(1,4,5)IP3], followed by a slower, sustained, increase in [3H]inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate [(1,3,4)IP3]. Neither activation of protein kinase C by phorbol dibutyrate nor prevention of the caerulein-stimulated elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] significantly affected the pattern of formation of the two isomers of IP3. Although carbachol evoked an increase in cytosolic [Ca2+], it did not significantly stimulate [3H](1,4,5)IP3 accumulation, but did promote [3H](1,3,4)IP3 accumulation. Moreover, both carbachol and caerulein maintained hormone-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pools in a Ca2+-depleted state after [3H](1,4,5)IP3 had returned to basal concentrations. One interpretation of these findings is that total cellular concentrations of [3H](1,4,5)IP3 may not accurately reflect the concentration of this putative mediator in biologically relevant compartments.

A role for calcium in the breakdown of inositol phospholipids in intact and digitonin-permeabilized pancreatic islets

Glucose (20 mM) and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate (10 mM) both caused a pronounced stimulation of insulin release and of [3H]inositol phosphate production in rat pancreatic islets prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol. Secretory responses to these nutrients were markedly impaired by lowering the Ca2+ concentration of the incubation medium to 10(-4)M or less, whereas stimulated inositol phosphate production was sensitive to Ca2+ within the range 10(-6)-10(-4)M. Inositol phosphate formation in response to carbamoylcholine was also found to be dependent on the presence of 10(-5)M-Ca2+ or above. Raising the concentration of K+ in the medium resulted in a progressive, Ca2+-dependent stimulation of inositol phosphate production in islets, although no significant stimulation of insulin release was observed. In islets prelabelled with myo[3H]inositol, then permeabilized by exposure to digitonin, [3H]inositol phosphate production could be triggered by raising the Ca2+ concentration from 10(-7) to 10(-5)M. This effect was dependent on the concentration of ATP and the presence of Li+, and involved detectable increases in the levels of InsP3 and InsP2 as well as InsP. A potentiation of inositol phosphate production by carbamoylcholine was observed in permeabilized islets at lower Ca2+ concentrations, although nutrient stimuli were ineffective. No significant effects were observed with guanine nucleotides or with neomycin, although NADH produced a modest increase and adriamycin a small inhibition of inositol phosphate production in permeabilized islets. These results strongly suggest that Ca2+ ions play an important role in the stimulation of inositol lipid metabolism in islets in response to nutrient secretagogues, and that inositide breakdown may actually be triggered by Ca2+ entry into the islet cells.