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A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the symptoms of palpitation, dyspnea, and tarry stool. Upper gastroduodenal endoscopy revealed submucosal lesions with vascular ectasia in the second part of the duodenum. Dynamic computed tomography (CT) detected a hypervascular lesion in the pancreatic head and the duodenum. Selective angiography showed proliferation of a vascular network and early filling of the portal vein at the early arterial phase. With a diagnosis of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM), we performed pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. At laparotomy, localized and meandering vessels were seen on the surface of the head of the pancreas. Histological examination showed dilated tortuous vessels accompanied by severed elastic fibers in the vessel media and blood clot formation. The incidence of pancreatic AVM remains extremely low, and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding is a frequent complication. To prevent recurrent bleeding and progressive portal hypertension, surgery may be the definitive management of symptomatic AVM.

To better understand the mechanism underlying the inhibition induced by cholecystokinin (CCK) of phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis, the effects of CCK treatment on the activities of enzyme involved in PC synthesis via CDP-choline pathway were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. CCK treatment of acini reduced CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in both cytosolic and particulate fraction. However, CCK treatment of acini did not alter the activities of choline kinase and phosphocholinetransferase in acini. When acini were labeled with [3H] myristic acid and chased, CCK8 (1 nM) reduced the synthesis of [3H] myristic acid labeled-PC to 27% of control after 60 min-chase period. This inhibition of PC synthesis induced by CCK was accompanied by a delayed disappearance of [3H] diacylglycerol (DAG), the radioactivity of which was 225% of control at 60 min. CCK also induced an increase in [3H] triacylglycerol and [3H] phosphatidic acid in acini. These results suggest that CCK inhibits PC synthesis by inducing the inhibition of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity. The inhibition by CCK of PC synthesis may contribute to the sustained accumulation of DAG in pancreatic acinar cells.

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and other pancreatic secretagogues on phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. When acini were incubated with [3H]choline in the presence of 1 nM CCK-octapeptide (CCK8) for 60 min, the incorporations of [3H]choline into both water-soluble choline metabolites and PC in acini were reduced by CCK8 to 74 and 41% of control, respectively. Pulse-chase study revealed that CCK8 reduced both the disappearance of phosphocholine and the synthesis of PC. Other Ca(2+)-mobilizing secretagogues such as carbamylcholine, bombesin, and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 also reduced PC synthesis to the same extent as did CCK8. When combined with 1 nM CCK8, A23187 or carbamylcholine did not further inhibit PC synthesis. Furthermore, W-7 or W-5, a calmodulin antagonist, reversed the inhibition by CCK8 of PC synthesis, suggesting that a Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent pathway may be involved in CCK-induced inhibition of PC synthesis in acini. By contrast, neither cAMP-dependent secretagogues such as secretin and dibutyryl cAMP nor a phorbol ester had any effect on PC synthesis in acini. Staurosporine or H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, did not affect the inhibition by CCK of PC synthesis. The analysis of enzyme activity involved in PC synthesis via CDP-choline pathway showed that CCK treatment of acini reduced CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in both cytosolic and particulate fraction, a finding consistent with the delayed disappearance of phosphocholine induced by CCK in pulse-chase study. By contrast, CCK treatment of acini did not alter the activities of choline kinase and phosphocholine transferase in acini. The extent of inhibition by CCK of cytidylyltransferase activity became much larger when subcellular fractions of acini were prepared in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors. In addition, W-7 reversed the inhibitory effect of CCK treatment on cytidylyltransferase activity in acini. When acini were labeled with [3H]myristic acid and chased, CCK8 (1 nM) reduced the synthesis of [3H]myristic acid-labeled PC to 27% of control after a 60-min chase period. This inhibition of PC synthesis induced by CCK was accompanied by a delayed disappearance of [3H]diacylglycerol, the radioactivity of which was 225% of control at 60 min. These results indicate that CCK inhibits PC synthesis by inducing both the reduction of choline uptake into acini and the inhibition of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity. Furthermore, the results suggest the possibility that the activation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent kinase in response to CCK may phosphorylate cytidylyltransferase thereby decreasing this enzyme activity in pancreatic acinar cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and other pancreatic secretagogues on phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. When acini were incubated with [3H] choline in the presence of 1 nM CCK-octapeptide (CCK8) for 60 min, the incorporations of [3H] choline to both water soluble choline metabolites and PC in acini were reduced by CCK8 to 74% and 41% of control, respectively. Pulse-chase study revealed that CCK reduced both the disappearance of phosphocholine and the synthesis of PC. Ca(2+)-mobilizing secretagogues such as carbamylcholine and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 also reduced PC synthesis to the same extent as CCK8. By contrast, neither cAMP-dependent secretagogues such as secretin and dibutyryl cAMP nor a phorbol ester had any effect on PC synthesis in acini. These results suggest that CCK inhibits PC synthesis by inducing both the reduction of choline uptake into acini and the inhibition of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity. This hormonal regulation of PC synthesis via CDP-choline pathway appears to be mediated by Ca(2+)-dependent pathway but not by cAMP- or protein kinase C-dependent pathway.

A single oral dose of synthetic trypsin inhibitor (TI, 20 mg/100 g) was given to rats by orogastric tube 6, 12, 18, or 24 hr before the removal of the pancreas and the preparation of isolated perfused pancreas. TI treatment induced no significant changes in body weight and total amount of DNA content in the pancreas, but pancreatic wet weight, total pancreatic protein and amylase, and the concentration of total protein and amylase relative to DNA were significantly decreased at 6 or 12 hr posttreatment, with a partial return toward control values at 18-24 hr after TI treatment. In isolated perfused pancreas, basal amylase output was similar in the control and in all 4 groups of TI-pretreated rats, while basal rate of flow of pancreatic juice was significantly increased at 12-24 hr posttreatment. Caerulein (0.1 ng/ml; 64 pM) stimulated pancreatic juice flow was greatly increased in rats pretreated with TI 12-24 hr earlier. In contrast, caerulein-stimulated amylase output was significantly lower in TI-pretreated groups compared with the control. However, when amylase output was related to the total content in the pancreas, the secretory responsiveness for amylase release was significantly higher in rats at 6-18 hr posttreatment compared with the control. The present study indicates that a single oral administration of TI modulates biological response to caerulein in the isolated perfused pancreas. The enhanced responsiveness of amylase release to subsequent stimulation is seen in early periods, while that of pancreatic juice flow is observed in late periods.

Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretory dynamics were studied in the isolated perfused pancreata of rats fed a normal diet or a diet supplemented with the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose (150 mg/100 g food). After 10 days, the body weight of acarbose-treated rats was slightly lower than that of the control rats despite a larger food intake. Pancreatic amylase levels were significantly decreased, trypsinogen levels were significantly increased, and lipase levels were unaltered in the treated group compared with the controls. Basal and caerulein-stimulated flow rates of pancreatic juice as well as basal amylase output were similar in both groups, whereas caerulein-stimulated amylase output was significantly lower in the acarbose-treated group. Secretory responsiveness of amylase in the treated group was, however, about twice as high as that in the control group when related to pancreatic amylase content. Insulin release in response to either glucose or cerulein was similar in both groups. These findings indicate that treatment with acarbose may alter pancreatic enzyme content without changing the secretory responsiveness of either the exocrine or endocrine pancreas.

Several investigations in vivo and in vitro have shown that gastro-intestinal hormones stimulate insulin secretion. However, the reports on the insulinotropic activity of pancreozymin are contradictory. The conflicting results are probably due to the fact that pure native preparation of this hormone has not been obtained in "physiologic" doses. In the present study this problem has been investigated by exposing rat pancreas to caerulein in vitro. Caerulein, an active decapeptide isolated from the skin of the Australian amphibia Hyla caerulea, resembles pancreozymin in chemical structure, including C-terminus. This active polypeptide of nonmammalian origin has been shown to possess all the biological activities of pancreozymin. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the significance of the interactions of exocrine and endocrine pancreas using perfused rat pancreas in vitro. Biphasic insulin release was demonstrated with caerulein at concentrations higher than 1 ng/ml. Insulin response of the first phase was proportional to the dose up to 1 microgram/ml. The second phase of insulin release was, however, almost constant, regardless of the concentrations of caerulein. Release of glucagon was stimulated by the same concentrations of caerulein which stimulated insulin release. Maximal response of the pancreatic amylase and pancretic juice output were observed with 1 ng/ml of caerulein. With higher doses, significantly less secretory responses were observed. The dissociation of the response to caerulein between endocrine and exocrine pancreas was found.

Pretreatment of pancreatic acini with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or secretin for 120 min reduced subsequent [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding to membranes prepared from these acini, with a maximally reduced binding being 79.2% or 77.4% of control, respectively. In addition, exogenously added cyclic AMP derivatives or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor mimicked the effect of VIP or secretin. Scatchard analysis of [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding demonstrated that the decrease in the labeled somatostatin binding induced by VIP or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) pretreatment was due to the decrease in the maximum binding capacity without a significant change in the binding affinity. The effect of simultaneous pretreatment of acini with VIP and carbamylcholine (carbachol) on subsequent labeled somatostatin binding appeared to be almost equal to the calculated additive value for each peptide. Results obtained, therefore, indicate that the binding of somatostatin to its receptors in the pancreas may be regulated via two functionally distinct pathways.

The mode of inhibition of a new complex oligosaccharide that inhibits the alpha-glucoside hydrolase activity of pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylase was studied. Kinetic analysis revealed a non-competitive type of inhibition with a Ki of 1.47 +/- 0.03 micrograms when tested against human pancreatic alpha-amylase and 3.89 +/- 0.08 micrograms against human salivary alpha-amylase. The inhibitory action of alpha-glucoside hydrolase inhibitor (alpha-GHI) on pancreatic amylase was observed over a wide range of pH (6.0--7.9), whereas the inhibition of salivary amylase was optimal at pH 6.5. Column chromatographic investigations suggested the possible formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex because the mixture of alpha-GHI and pancreatic alpha-amylase was eluted as a single component through a Sephadex G200 column. However, this enzyme-inhibitor complex was easily separated into each component and the enzyme activity was fully recovered after electrophoresis.

Brain and pancreas cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors differ markedly in their selectivity for CCK analogs. To determine the size and subunit structure of the brain CCK receptor and compare it to that of the pancreas, 125I-CCK33 was covalently cross-linked with ultraviolet light to its receptor on mouse brain particles and purified pancreatic plasma membranes. When CCK was crosslinked to brain membranes, a single consistent major labeled protein band of Mr = 55,000 was observed in both the presence and the absence of DTT. These data with brain receptors contrast to results with pancreatic receptors where two bands of Mr = 120,000 and 80,000 are labeled in the absence and presence of DTT, respectively. These studies indicate, therefore, that the brain and pancreas CCK receptors are structurally and functionally distinct.

Our previous study concerning guanine nucleotides regulation of labeled somatostatin binding has suggested that somatostatin receptors on pancreatic acinar cell membranes probably couple with the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Ni). In order to clarify the possible role of Ni in mediating signal transduction of somatostatin in the pancreas, we further examined the effect of pretreatment with islet activating protein (IAP) on the inhibition of VIP-stimulated cellular cyclic AMP content by somatostatin in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Increasing concentrations of somatostatin decreased VIP-stimulated cellular content of cyclic AMP in the acini, with a maximal inhibition at 10(-8) M somatostatin. When pancreatic acini were pretreated with varying concentrations of IAP for 4 hours, the somatostatin-induced inhibition of cyclic AMP content was attenuated in a dose dependent manner by IAP pretreatment. Incubation of pancreatic acinar membrane with preactivated IAP and [32P] NAD resulted in labeling of a Mr = 41,000 protein band, consistent with alpha-subunit of Ni in many other cell types previously reported. On the other hand, a Mr = 41,000 protein band on SDS gel was reduced in a dose dependent fashion by IAP pretreatment, when acini were pretreated with increasing concentrations of IAP. These results suggest that only the Mr = 41,000 protein is a specific substrate in pancreatic acinar membranes for IAP-induced ADP-ribosylation. Furthermore, the reduction of 32P incorporation to Mr = 41,000 protein by IAP pretreatment occurred in parallel to decreases in somatostatin-induced inhibition of cellular cyclic AMP contents in pancreatic acini.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To determine the size and subunit structure of the pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor, 125I-CCK33 was covalently cross-linked to its receptor on mouse pancreatic acinar plasma membranes utilizing the bifunctional cross-linker disuccinimidyl suberate. When CCK was cross-linked at pH 7.4 to either purified plasma membranes or to isolated pancreatic acini and then followed by preparation of plasma membranes, the major labeled protein band revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was Mr = 120,000 in the absence of reducing agent and Mr = 80,000 in the presence of reducing agent. A similar banding pattern was also observed when different cross-linkers, ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) or dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate), were employed. At pH 6.0, where CCK binding to its receptors is optimal, the labeling pattern was similar to that seen at 7.4, although the two bands were more heavily labeled. Both the binding of CCK to its receptors on plasma membranes and the appearance of the two cross-linked proteins on gels were inhibited in a parallel manner by increasing concentrations of unlabeled CCK8; similar results were observed with dibutyryl cyclic GMP, a competitive inhibitor of CCK binding and action. The data indicate, therefore, that the CCK receptor possesses subunit structure whereby an Mr = 76,000 binding subunit is linked to an Mr = 40,000 nonbinding subunit by a disulfide bond.

The uptake of 125I-insulin by rat pancreas was studied in vivo. Following fixation and light microscope autoradiography, saturable uptake of 125I-insulin was quantitatively demonstrated on acinar and duct cells but not on blood vessels and islets of Langerhans. Electron microscopy revealed the localization of 125I-insulin to the basolateral cell membranes of acinar and duct cells.

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

The present experiments were undertaken to investigate the effect of alteration in on extracellular calcium concentration and of somatostatin on cholecystokinin-(CCK)- and caerulein-induced insulin and glucagon release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas. In control studies using perfusate containing 2.5 mM CaCl2 and 50 mg/dl glucose, CCK and caerulein caused insulin and glucagon release in a dose-related fashion. During perfusion with calcium free medium, insulin release was markedly inhibited. Subsequent introduction of 2.5 mM CaCl2 to the medium restored insulin response toward control levels. Extracellular calcium depletion, however, had no effect on CCK- or caerulein-induced glucagon release. The output of glucagon in the absence of calcium was comparable to that seen in the control experiments. On the other hand, somatostatin abolished the increase in glucagon secretion, but not the increase in insulin secretion, when perfused simultaneously with CCK or caerulein. However, pretreatment for 10 min with somatostatin blocked even insulin secretion. However, pretreatment for 10 min with somatostatin blocked even insulin secretion. The effects of somatostatin on hormonal discharge are suggested to be related to an alteration in the handling of or response to calcium. Recently, somatostatin has also been shown to inhibit calcium uptake by islets. Thus, the present results indicate a differential sensitivity of CCK- and caerulein-stimulated alpha and beta cell to extracellular calcium depletion and to the effect of somatostatin.

Guanine nucleotides and pertussis toxin were used to investigate whether somatostatin receptors interact with the guanine nucleotide inhibitory protein (Ni) on pancreatic acinar membranes in the rat. Guanine nucleotides reduced 125I-[Tyr1]somatostatin binding to acinar membranes up to 80%, with rank order of potency being 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] greater than GTP greater than GDP greater than GMP. Scatchard analysis 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+. When pancreatic acini were treated with 1 microgram/ml pertussis toxin for 4 h, subsequent 125I-[Tyr1]somatostatin binding to acinar membranes was reduced. Gpp(NH)p further decreased somatostatin binding to islet-activating protein (IAP)-treated acinar membranes. Pertussis toxin treatment also abolished the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated increase in cellular content of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in the acini. Furthermore, exposure of acini to IAP caused ADP ribosylation of a membrane protein with Mr = 41,000 in parallel to the inhibition of cAMP accumulation in acini. The present results suggest, therefore, that 1) somatostatin probably functions in the pancreas to regulate adenylate cyclase enzyme system via Ni, 2) the extent of modification of Ni is correlated with the ability of somatostatin to inhibit cAMP accumulation in acini, and 3) guanine nucleotides also inhibit somatostatin binding to its receptor.

The secretion of insulin, glucagon, pancreatic juice, and amylase in response to a 20-min iv infusion of synthetic caerulein were studied simultaneously in the anesthetized rat. Caerulein, a chemical analogue of cholecystokinin, was used in doses of 1-1000 ng/kg.min. The maximum stimulatory effect of caerulein on pancreatic juice volume and amylase output was obtained with doses of 10 ng/kg.min. With increasing doses, the effect decreased progressively. On the other hand, the release of insulin and glucagon was stimulated only by supramaximal doses of caerulein, which had little or no effect on pancreatic exocrine secretions. These results raised the question of whether, under physiological conditions, cholecystokinin regulates the secretory activity of the endocrine pancreas.

The effects of pretreatment with pancreatic secretagogues and subsequently activated cellular events on [125I-Tyr1] somatostatin binding to acinar membranes were studied. Pretreatment of pancreatic acini with bombesin at increasing concentrations for 120 min reduced labeled somatostatin binding to the acinar membranes in a dose-dependent fashion with a maximal reduction of binding at 10(-8)M bombesin (44.3 +/- 1.8% of control). The maximal inhibition of labeled somatostatin binding by pretreatment with bombesin was almost comparable to that with COOH-terminal octapeptide cholecystokinin (CCK8) or carbamylcholine (carbachol). Furthermore, pretreatment of acini with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) as well as secretin resulted in a small, but significant decrease of subsequent labeled somatostatin binding. In addition, adenosine 3', 5' cyclic nucleotide derivatives or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor mimicked the effect of VIP or secretin. The effect of simultaneous pretreatment of acini with VIP and carbachol on subsequent labeled somatostatin binding appeared to be almost equal to the calculated additive value for each peptide. These results suggest that the binding of somatostatin to its receptors in the pancreatic acini may be regulated via two functionally distinct pathways.

Pancreatic juice flow and amylase output, and the concentrations of immunoreactive secretin in portal and peripheral blood were simultaneously determined in anesthetized rats in response to intraduodenal instillation of 1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-n-pentane (PHP), a phenyl carbinol derivative induced from one of the constituents of Curcuma. PHP stimulated both pancreatic juice flow and amylase output and increased portal and jugular plasma secretin levels in a dose-related fashion. During intraduodenal instillation of PHP the pH in the second portion of the duodenum remained consistently above 6.3. Infusion of cyclic somatostatin at a dose of 5 microgram/kg/h significantly suppressed the PHP-induced secretin release, though pancreatic flow rate and amylase output were only slightly and insignificantly suppressed. These observations suggest that PHP release secretin by an acid independent mechanism but also stimulates the exocrine pancreas by a mechanism independent of secretin.

The relationship between the severity of diabetes mellitus and pancreatic exocrine function was investigated in rats made diabetic by injecting 3 different doses of streptozotocin (30, 45 or 60 mg/kg body weight). The expected correlation was obtained between the dose of streptozotocin and degree of elevation of blood glucose and decrease in pancreatic insulin content. Pancreatic amylase content of the diabetic rats was less than that of control rats and was in parallel with less values in pancreatic insulin content. On the other hand, trypsinogen content of diabetic rats was greater than that of control. Basal and caerulein-stimulated flow rates of pancreatic juice and protein output were similar in the control and in all 3 groups of diabetic rats. In contrast, there was a graded response of amylase and trypsinogen, depending upon the content of each enzyme in the pancreas. Both basal and caerulein-stimulated amylase outputs from diabetic rat pancreas were significantly reduced in parallel with the severity of diabetic state, but were similar to those from the control rats when related to the total pancreatic content. The present findings indicate that pancreatic exocrine dysfunction in diabetes mellitus is closely related to the severity of the disease, but the secretory dynamics in the perfused pancreas are not altered.

To clarify the precise mechanism by which unrelated peptides, cholecystokinin or carbamylcholine, modulate the somatostatin binding, the effect of a phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or a synthetic diacylglycerol analog, 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) on [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding to pancreatic acinar cell membranes was examined. Pretreatment of pancreatic acini for 120 min at 37 degrees C with 100 ng/ml TPA maximally reduced subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to acinar membranes. The inhibitory effect of TPA on the somatostatin binding was dependent on the dose used, or the time and temperature of pretreatment. These effects of TPA were almost mimicked by the treatment of acini with OAG. Scatchard analysis of [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding demonstrated that the decrease in the labeled somatostatin binding induced by TPA or OAG pretreatment was due to the decrease in the maximum binding capacity without a significant change in the binding affinity. A specifically labeled single band of the Mr = 90 K obtained with a photoaffinity cross-linking study indicates that the somatostatin binding sites are the same somatostatin receptor as previously described. Moreover, the intensity of the Mr = 90 K band was dramatically decreased when acini were treated with increasing concentrations of TPA, a finding consistent with TPA-induced decrease in binding capacity. Such an inhibitory effect of TPA was abolished when pretreatment of acini with TPA was performed in the presence of Ca2+ chelating compounds such as EDTA and EGTA. Interestingly, the combined treatment of TPA and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 caused synergistic inhibition of the subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to acinar membranes, although Ca2+ ionophore itself almost failed to affect the somatostatin binding. These results suggest, therefore, that TPA or OAG can modulate somatostatin binding to its receptors on rat pancreatic acinar cell membranes, presumably through activation of Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) and the activated protein kinase C and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization presumably act to modulate pancreatic acinar somatostatin receptors synergistically.

Exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function were studied simultaneously in the isolated perfused pancreas from rats fed a normal or an acarbose-containing diet (150 mg/100 g food) for 20 days. Body weight gain of acarbose-treated rats was slightly lower than that of control rats, despite a larger food intake. Basal and caerulein-stimulated flow rates of pancreatic juice from acarbose-treated rat pancreases were similar to those from controls, suggesting that the treated rat pancreas has normal sensitivity and responsiveness to caerulein. On the other hand, amylase output in response to caerulein was significantly decreased in acarbose-treated rat pancreases, though basal output was normal. The addition of acarbose to the diet for 20 days had no effect on the speed of the insulin response to glucose and caerulein, but the magnitude of insulin secretion to glucose stimulation was reduced by 40% and the caerulein-induced additional output of insulin by 30% in the treated group as compared with the control group. The present investigation has demonstrated that inhibition of key enzymes for carbohydrate digestion decreases not only the secretory responsiveness of amylase from acinar cells to caerulein stimulation but also the sensitivity of the insulin-secretory mechanism of pancreatic B cells to glucose and non-glucose stimulation.

The effects of both synthetic and pure natural porcine secretin on immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) release and on pancreatic exocrine secretion were studied in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. Synthetic porcine secretin stimulated a significant increase in pancreatic juice flow and amylase output at concentrations as low as 0.01 and 0.1 ng/ml, respectively. The maximal peak rate of both juice flow and amylase output was observed at 1 microgram/ml synthetic secretin. Synthetic secretin at concentrations up to 2 micrograms/ml and pure natural porcine secretin at a concentration of 1 clinical unit/ml had no effect on IRI secretion regardless of the glucose concentration (50, 100, or 150 mg/100 ml) in the perfusate. Both types of secretin, however, elicited a concentration-dependent increase in IRG secretion in the presence of 50 mg/100 ml glucose. The lowest synthetic secretin concentration causing a significant increase in IRG release was 0.1 ng/ml, and maximal stimulation was observed at 1 microgram/ml. These concentrations were similar to those eliciting minimal and maximal amylase release. Thus, synthetic and pure natural porcine secretin have been shown to not only stimulate pancreatic juice flow and amylase secretion but also to elicit IRG release from the isolated perfused rat pancreas.

125I-CCK was crosslinked with ultraviolet light to its receptor on pancreatic plasma membranes. The predominant labeled species following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis had a molecular weight of 120,000 in the absence, and 80,000 in the presence of the reducing agent dithiothreitol. The M = 120,000 labeled band could be extracted, reduced and converted to Mr = 80,000. Moreover, peptide mapping with Staph aureus V8 protease showed a similar pattern for the 120,000 and 80,000 dalton bands. The crosslinked receptor could be solubilized with Triton X-100, absorbed to wheat germ agglutinin and eluted with N-acetylglucosamine. The results indicate, therefore, that the CCK receptor is a glycoprotein with subunits coupled by disulfide bonds.

Somatostatin binding to its receptors on rat pancreatic acinar membranes was characterized with [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin. The COOH-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK8), when present at various concentrations in the reaction mixture for the binding study, reduced labeled somatostatin binding in a dose-dependent manner, whereas carbachol or Ca2+ ionophore did not affect the binding. By contrast, when pancreatic acini were first treated with carbachol and thereafter [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding to membranes prepared from these acini was examined, carbachol reduced subsequent somatostatin binding in a dose-dependent manner. Scatchard analysis of the labeled somatostatin binding revealed that carbachol pretreatment decreased the maximum binding capacity from 142 +/- 20 fmol/mg of membrane protein to 63.5 +/- 3.5 fmol/mg of membrane protein without significantly affecting the binding affinity. To test for the possibility that CCK8 also may affect labeled somatostatin binding through an intracellular process, pancreatic acini were first treated with CCK8 and then the membrane bound CCK8 was washed out. Subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to membranes from these acini was also decreased. When 1 mM EDTA was present in the pretreatment medium, the inhibitory effect of carbachol or CCK8 was partially abolished, suggesting that an intracellular process to modulate somatostatin binding is dependent on Ca2+. On the other hand, pretreatment of acini with Ca2+ ionophore almost failed to affect subsequent labeled somatostatin binding. Results therefore suggest that CCK8 can modulate labeled somatostatin binding to pancreatic acinar membranes not only acting through an intracellular process but also at membrane sites and carbachol- or CCK8-activated intracellular process to modulate somatostatin binding is dependent on Ca2+, but Ca2+ mobilization itself is not sufficient to affect subsequent somatostatin binding.

The effect of pure natural porcine cholecystokinin (CCK) and synthetic caerulein on endocrine and exocrine pancreatic secretion was investigated in the isolated perfused rat pancreas in the presence of physiological concentrations of glucose. CCK (0.25 mU/ml) or caerulein (0.01 ng/ml) potentiated the insulin secretion induced by 5.6 mM glucose; a significant increase in pancreatic exocrine secretion was also observed at these doses of CCK or caerulein. Further increases in the concentration of CCK (0.25 to 1 mU/ml) or caerulein (0.01 to 1 ng/ml) resulted in dose-dependent increases in both insulin and pancreatic exocrine secretion. The effectiveness of CCK and caerulein as insulinotropic agents depended on the glucose concentration; they were more effective at higher concentrations of glucose. Thus, CCK or caerulein significantly and coincidentally stimulated both insulin secretion and pancreatic exocrine function if 5.6 mM or more glucose is present, whereas in previous studies using 2.8 mM glucose, stimulation of insulin secretion was elicited only with concentrations of the peptides supramaximal for an effect on pancreatic exocrine secretion. CCK may contribute to the entero-insular axis.

Somatostatin binding and cross-linking to its receptors on rat cerebrocortical membranes were characterized with [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin-14 and [125I-Leu8, D-Trp22, Tyr25]somatostatin-28. When [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin-14 was cross-linked to its receptors with the photoreactive cross-linker, N-(5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxy)succinimide, the hormone was specifically associated with a Mr = 72,000 protein band in the presence or absence of reducing agents. Affinity labeling of the Mr = 72,000 protein band was decreased with increasing concentrations of unlabeled somatostatin-14 and nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analog, guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p). Pretreatment of cerebrocortical membranes with islet-activating protein resulted in a decrease in subsequent labeled somatostatin-14 binding and affinity-labeling of the protein and abolished an inhibitory effect of somatostatin-14 on vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated increase in adenylate cyclase activity. When the affinity-labeled protein was solubilized with Zwittergent 3-12 and adsorbed to wheat germ agglutinin-agarose, it was eluted by N-acetylglucosamine. [125I-Leu8, D-Trp22, Tyr25]somatostatin-28 cross-linking to cerebrocortical and pancreatic membranes with the same photoreactive agent revealed specifically labeled protein bands of a Mr = 74,000 in cerebrocortical membranes and a Mr = 94,000 in pancreatic membranes, respectively. These results suggest that: 1) somatostatin receptor on cerebrocortical membranes is a monomeric glycoprotein with a Mr = 70,000 binding subunit, coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, and 2) the Mr = 70,000 protein may be a common receptor for somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14 and is distinct from a common pancreatic type receptor.

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.

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.

The effects of highly purified natural porcine cholecystokinin (CCK) and synthetic caerulein on the rate of flow of pancreatic juice, the rate of output of amylase, and the rate of release of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) were simultaneously investigated in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The maximal flow rate of pancreatic juice was obtained with concentrations of CCK ranging from 0.5 to 10 mU/ml, whereas amylase output was maximal at CCK concentrations from 1 to 10 mU/ml. Caerulein at concentrations of 0.05-1 ng/ml induced a similar maximal flow rate and amylase secretion. Supramaximal stimulatory concentrations of these peptides resulted in lower rates of release of fluid and amylase than with the maximally effective concentrations. Stimulation of IRI and IRG release was elicited only with concentrations of peptides supramaximal for effects on the exocrine responses. The demonstration of very similar discrepancies between the doses of caerulein required to elicit maximal exocrine responses and those required to elicit endocrine responses provide strong evidence that the pattern of the effect of the porcine CCK is accounted for by CCK itself. Although caerulein had no influence on IRI response when superimposed on 100 or 150 mg/100 ml glucose stimulation, preperfusion of caerulein led to a significant enhancement of IRI response to a subsequent glucose stimulation in both phases. The augmentation effect was completely separate from the direct IRI-stimulating effect of caerulein, because the CCK-like peptide requires no glucose for insulinotropic action. Because the concentrations of the peptides necessary for stimulation of endocrine responses were inhibitory in their effects on exocrine responses, it may be inferred that it is unlikely that the endocrine effect is physiologically important, though the results of caerulein for augmenting glucose-stimulated IRI release suggests a possible role for CCK in carbohydrate metabolism.

The cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor in purified plasma membranes prepared from mouse pancreatic acini had a binding affinity of 1.8 nM, an acid pH optimum between 6.0 and 6.5, and an analog specificity of CCK8 greater than CCK33 greater than desulphated CCK8 greater than CCK4. Binding of CCK to its receptor was abolished by pretreatment of plasma membranes with trypsin. When [125I]CCK was cross-linked to its receptors with disuccinimidyl suberate, and the preparation solubilized and subjected to gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, the hormone was associated with Mr 80 000 protein in both the presence and absence of the reducing agent dithiothreitol.

We and others have suggested previously that the binding of somatostatin to its receptors in the pancreas is regulated by not only somatostatin analogs but also cholecystokinin analogs in proportion to their known biological potencies. To clarify the precise mechanism by which unrelated peptides modulate somatostatin binding, the effect of a phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), or a synthetic diacylglycerol analog, 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), on [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding to pancreatic acinar cell membranes was examined. Pretreatment of pancreatic acini for 120 min at 37 degrees C with 100 ng/ml TPA maximally reduced subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to acinar membranes. The inhibitory effect of TPA on the somatostatin binding was dependent on the dose used or the time and temperature of pretreatment. These effects of TPA were almost mimicked by the treatment of acini with OAG. Scatchard analysis of [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin binding demonstrated that the decrease in the labeled somatostatin binding induced by TPA or OAG pretreatment was due to the decrease in the maximum binding capacity without a significant change in the binding affinity. A specifically labeled single band of Mr = 90,000 obtained with a photoaffinity cross-linking study indicates that the somatostatin-binding sites are the same somatostatin receptor as previously described. Moreover, the intensity of the Mr = 90,000 band was dramatically decreased when acini were treated with increasing concentrations of TPA, a finding consistent with TPA-induced decrease in binding capacity. Such an inhibitory effect of TPA was abolished when pretreatment of acini with TPA was performed in the presence of Ca2+-chelating compounds such as EDTA and EGTA or phospholipid-interacting drugs such as chlorpromazine and tetracaine. Interestingly, the combined treatment of TPA and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 caused synergistic inhibition of the subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to acinar membranes, although Ca2+ ionophore itself almost failed to affect the somatostatin binding. These results suggest, therefore, that TPA or OAG can modulate somatostatin binding to its receptors on rat pancreatic acinar cell membranes, presumably through activation of Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C); and the activated protein kinase C and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization presumably act to modulate the pancreatic acinar somatostatin receptors synergistically.

Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function in the rat with islet cell tumors induced by streptozotocin and nicotinamide was studied in the in vitro isolated perfused pancreas. The tumor-bearing pancreas secreted significant amounts of insulin even at 2.8 mM glucose stimulation. Further, insulin response to 8.3 mM glucose stimulation was greater in the tumor-bearing pancreas than in the control. Not only endocrine, but also exocrine, disorders were found in the rat pancreas bearing islet cell tumors. In contrast to the increased response of insulin, amylase output in response to 0.1 ng/ml cerulein was significantly lower in the tumor-bearing than in the control pancreas, although there was no difference in pancreatic juice flows from both groups. These results suggest that enzyme secretory function of the pancreas with islet cell tumors may be suppressed in the presence of some interrelationship between the exocrine and endocrine portion of the pancreas with islet cell tumors.

Somatostatin binding to its receptors on rat pancreatic acinar membranes was characterized with [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin. Binding at 24 degrees C was rapid reaching a maximum after 60 min and was reversible upon the addition of 1 microM unlabeled ligand. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of binding sites, with a Kd of 0.32 +/- 0.03 nM and a binding capacity of 600 +/- 54 fmol/mg of protein. Specificity for the somatostatin was demonstrated with the inhibition of labeled hormone binding by somatostatin analogs in proportion to their biological activities. When [125I-Tyr1]somatostatin was cross-linked to its receptors with the photoreactive cross-linker n-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate, the hormone was associated with Mr = 90,000 protein. Similar mobilities of the radioactive band were observed in the presence and absence of dithiothreitol. In contrast to other unrelated peptides, cholecystokinin (CCK) and its analogs directly reduced [125I-Tyr1] somatostatin binding to isolated membranes. The effect of CCK was one-half-maximal at 3 nM and maximal at 100 nM. In the presence of 3 nM CCK8, the binding capacity for somatostatin was decreased to 237 +/- 39 fmol/mg of protein without a significant change in affinity. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP, a CCK receptor antagonist, blocked this action of CCK8 indicating that the CCK receptor mediated the decrease in [125-Tyr1]somatostatin binding. In contrast cerebral cortex membranes, which also possess a somatostatin receptor, were not regulated by CCK. These results indicate, therefore, that 1) purified pancreatic acinar plasma membranes contain specific receptors for somatostatin, 2) the receptor has an apparent Mr of about 90,000, and 3) the binding of somatostatin to its receptor on pancreatic plasma membranes is regulated by CCK analogs acting via the CCK receptor.

Labeled somatostatin binding to pancreatic acinar membranes was examined to investigate how pancreatic secretagogues regulate somatostatin receptors in the pancreas. Pretreatment of pancreatic acini at 37 degrees C for 120 min with not only pancreatic secretagogues, such as carbachol and bombesin, but also vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and secretin reduced subsequent labeled somatostatin binding to the acinar membranes in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of these secretagogues on labeled somatostatin binding were also time dependent. Both types of secretagogues maximally reduced subsequent somatostatin binding when acini were incubated with them for more than 120 min. However, the degree of the inhibition was greater with carbachol or bombesin than VIP or secretin; the former secretagogues reduced the binding to 40-45%, and the latter to 75-80% of a control, respectively. These pancreatic secretagogues had no inhibitory effect on somatostatin binding when added directly to the binding media. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of carbachol was attenuated by the presence of 1 mM EDTA in media for pretreatment, suggesting that intracellular pathways activated by pancreatic secretagogues may be responsible for somatostatin receptor modulation. Interestingly, when combined with VIP, pretreatment of acini with carbachol produced an additive inhibition of labeled somatostatin binding to the membranes. Results, therefore, suggest that somatostatin binding to its receptors in the pancreas may be regulated via two functionally distinct intracellular pathways.