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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.

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.

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.

On the assumption that a rise in the pancreatic type isoamylases may not necessarily indicate underlying pancreatitis, genetic studies of human serum and urinary amylase isoenzymes have been performed with the use of electrophoresis. Although the preponderant increase in the two principal pancreatic isoamylases Amylase-1 and 2 has been accepted to be a specific index of pancreatic involvement, 1.68% of normal persons had Amylase-2 with an elevated amylase activity (named "Dominant Amylase-2") up to the same levels as the major isoenzymes. Results of pancreozymin-secretin test and other laboratory findings of these persons with Dominant Amylase-2 were all within normal ranges. Pedigree studies confirmed an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance for this variant. The important of serial determination and pedigree investigations has been shown to distinguish normal persons having Dominant Amylase-2 from patients with pancreatitis without elevated amylase activity. The existence of an inherited trait of pancreatitis-like isoamylase pattern in healthy individuals must be born in mind before coming to a conclusion when amylase isoenzymes are used for clinical medicine, though preponderance of the pancreatic type isoenzymes in serum and urine has been revealed to be a characteristic finding in pancreatitis. Knowledge of amylase genetic polymorphism provides a scientific basis for amylase isoenzyme interpretation.

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.

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.

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.

Sonographic criteria of endometrial tissue were obtained following serial observations in normally ovulating women, and a prospective identification of a specific phase was made in those with regular menstrual cycles. This may be the first report of endometrial tissue characterization. Clinical management of infertility and monitoring of follicular growth will thus be facilitated.

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.

We have characterized inter- and intrasubunit disulfide bonds of insulin receptors using reductant-treated rat liver and brain membranes. In autoradiograms of 125I-insulin cross-linked to both membranes pretreated with dithiothreitol, the intensity of affinity-labeled bands of the alpha beta-heterodimer and alpha-subunit was increased. Interestingly, labeled 120 and 110 kDa bands considered to be the alpha-subunit in partially reduced liver and brain membranes moved to 130 and 120 kDa bands under further reduced conditions, respectively. Double electrophoresis of each partially reduced band in the presence of reductants clearly demonstrates that the alpha-subunit of insulin receptors contains intrasubunit disulfide bonds.

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.

On the basis of echographic characteristics, there were 3 different layers involved in the normal uterus. The innermost layer was considered to represent the endometrium, which varied its thickness gradually and offered the massive echogenic area in the late secretory phase. Since such alterations in the tissues were seen in every case of the longitudinal study, this approach is clinically significant to determine endometrial dating as well as the confirmation of the progestational effect of the endometrial tissue. We suggest that this approach should aid the physician in determining factors related to infertility and menstrual disorders.

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)