Large and prolonged in vivo response of pancreatic secretion to phenylethylamide and phenylethylester derivatives of Boc-[Nle-Nle]CCK(26–33) in the rat

Supramaximal doses of cholecystokinin (CCK) induce in vitro submaximal biological responses (i.e., smaller by 50% than the response to a maximal dose of CCK), desensitization and residual stimulation, and in vivo secretory inhibition and edematous pancreatitis. It has been reported previously that supramaximal doses of Boc-[Nle²⁸-Nle³¹]CCK(27–32)/-phenylethylester (JMV180) do not produce these effects. The aim of this study was to analyze the in vivo response of pancreatic secretion of the rat to a wide dose range of Boc-[Nle²⁸-Nle³¹]CCK(26–33) (JMV118), an analog of CCK8 with the same activity spectrum as CCK8, to JMV180 and to Boc-[Nle²⁸-Nle³¹]CCK(27–32)-phenylethylamide (JMV170). The three peptides were administered as intravenous infusions and as bolus intravenous injections. In the case of infusions, the same maximal effect was observed with all three peptides. It was obtained with 22.5 pmol/kg · min of JMV118; JMV180 and JMV170 were about 700 times less potent. In the case of bolus injections, the maximal response to JMV118 was observed with 450 pmol/kg, and the response peaked 10–15 min after the injection. Higher doses of JMV118 induced a secretory peak that was smaller and delayed relative to the moment of injection. JMV180 and JMV170 were about 500 times less potent: the maximal response was observed with 218700 pmol/kg and peaked 10–15 min after the injection. Larger doses of JMV180 and JMV170 produced neither supramaximal inhibition nor a delayed peak response, but induced a sustained stimulation of pancreatic secretion that could last more than 3 h after the injection. These data indicate that single large doses of JMV180 and JMV170 can produce a large and long-lasting stimulation of pancreatic secretion in vivo, a goal that cannot be reached with JMV118 or CCK8.     

C-terminal peptides of calcitonin gene-related peptide act as agonists at the cholecystokinin receptor

We have previously described that [Tyr⁰]CGRP(28–37) acts as a receptor antagonist of rat CGRP in guinea pig pancreatic acini. We therefore examined other C-terminal peptides of CGRP for such activity. CGRP-acetyl(28–37) acetate did act as a rat CGRP antagonist. However, C-terminal CGRP peptides of 4 to 8 amino acid residues did not antagonize the actions of rat CGRP but stimulated amylase secretion. In pancreatic acini, a maximally effective concentration of rat CGRP (100 nM) caused a 2.1-fold increase in amylase secretion. When the C-terminal peptides of CGRP were tested in at 100 μM, CGRP(34–37) caused a 1.8-fold increase in amylase secretion, CGRP(33–37) a 2.8-fold increase, CGRP(32–37) a 9.2-fold increase, CGRP(31–37) a 4.1-fold increase, and CGRP(30–37) a 5.1-fold increase. Further studies with the most effective peptide, CGRP(32–37), demonstrated that it did not cause release of lactate dehydrogenase, and thus did not cause amylase release by cell damage. Unlike rat CGRP, CGRP(32–37) did not increase cellular cyclic AMP, but did stimulate outflux of ⁴⁵Ca. CGRP(32–37)-stimulated amylase release was not inhibited by the substance P receptor antagonist, spantide, by the bombesin receptor antagonist, [D-Phe⁶]bombesin(6–13) propylamide, or by the muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, but was inhibited by the CCK receptor antagonist L364,718. C-terminal peptides of CGRP inhibited binding of ¹²⁵I-BH-CCK-8, with the relative potencies of the peptides being the same as their relative potencies for stimulating amylase secretion. The present data demonstrate that C-terminal peptides of CGRP, although they have only 2 amino acid residues in common with CCK(26–33), act exclusively at CCK receptors on pancreatic acini to stimulate amylase secretion.     

External pancreatic secretion in the rat: supramaximal inhibition induced by the cholecystokinin octapeptide [CCK(26-33)] and analogs altered on the 28-29 bond

Supramaximal doses of cholecystokinin induce in vitro submaximal biological responses, desensitization and residual stimulation. In vivo, supramaximal inhibition and oedematous pancreatitis have been reported. The aim of this study was to analyze the in vivo response of the pancreatic secretion of the rat to a wide range of doses of CCK8 and analogs prepared by alterations of the Met(28)-Gly(29) bond, a modification that may lead to potent agonists. We used Boc-[Nle28-Nle31]-CCK(26-33) (1) and derivatives of (1) with the 28-29 peptide bond replaced by CH2-NH (2), CO-CH2 (3), CH2-CH2 (4), NH-CO (5). On infusions, the ED50's (pmol/kg.min) for protein output were 4 for CCK8 and (1), 11 for (3), 40 for (2) and (4), and 860 for (5). The relative order of the in vivo potencies was near to the one determined in vitro on isolated rat acini. On bolus injections, the maximal response was observed with 300 pmol/kg of CCK8, and peaked 10-15 min after the injection. With higher doses of CCK8, the secretory peak was smaller, and was delayed relative to the moment of the injection. Supramaximal doses of CCK analogs induced the same pattern of response; however, the peak injection delay was in some cases smaller than after CCK8. Determination of the plasma CCK levels indicated that the time of peak effect after supramaximal doses of CCK8 was delayed relative to the time of effective maximal plasma CCK levels. This suggests a slow dissociation of CCK8 from one of its pancreatic binding sites in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A pseudopeptide that is a potent cholecystokinin agonist in the peripheral system is able to inhibit the dopamine-like effects of cholecystokinin in the striatum

There are no known specific effective cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists of both peripheral and central nervous systems. Here, we describe experiments which demonstrate that a synthetic pseudopeptide analogue of CCK-7 is a potent agonist in the peripheral system and behaves as a selective and highly potent inhibitor of the dopamine-like effects of CCK in the striatum. This compound, t-butyloxycarbonyl-Tyr (SO3H)-Nle psi (COCH2)Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2, is able to stimulate enzyme secretion from rat pancreatic acini, with high efficacy and potency. It is also very potent in inhibiting the binding of labeled CCK-8 to rat pancreatic acini (IC50 = 5 nM) and to guinea pig and mouse brain membranes (IC50 = 0.7 nM). However, this compound is able to antagonize the effects of intrastriatally injected t-butyloxycarbonyl-[Nle28,31] CCK-8 in mice, with high potency.     

CCK4 contains the full hormonal information of cholecystokinin in isolated pancreatic acini

In mouse and rat isolated pancreatic acini, the C-terminal tetrapeptide amide of CCK (CCK₄) fully mimicked the actions of the physiological octapeptide hormone (CCK₈) although CCK₄ was 10–100 thousand fold less potent than CCK₈. Parallelism was observed for stimulation of both amylase secretion (including the submaximal secretion observed at supramaximal concentrations of agonist), and stimulation of glucose transport. Furthermore, CCK₄ and CCK₈ were able to comletely inhibit the binding of radioiodinated CCK₃₃ to CCK receptors on acini. Therefore, the CCK₄ sequence appears to be the minimal functional unit which possesses all of the information required to elicit the actions of CCK on the pancreas. The additional 4 amino acids present in CCK₈ increase the affinity of the CCK molecule for pancreatic CCK receptors and thus enhance target organ specificity and sensitivity.     

Correlation between phospholipid breakdown, intracellular calcium mobilization and enzyme secretion in rat pancreatic acini treated with Boc-[Nle28, Nle31]-CCK-7 and JMV180, two cholecystokinin analogues.

In this work in vitro pharmacological profiles of two analogues of the C-terminal heptapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK) were evaluated. The analogue Boc-[Nle28, Nle31]-CCK-7, a stable analogue of CCK-8, has the same activity profile as CCK-8, and was found to be very potent in stimulating amylase secretion, phospholipid breakdown and [Ca2+]i mobilization from rat pancreatic acini. It can be used as a probe for studying CCK-actions. The CCK-analogue Boc-Tyr(SO3H)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-2-phenylethylester, (JMV180), which stimulates amylase secretion without inhibition at supramaximal concentrations, has different effects on phospholipid hydrolysis and [Ca2+]i mobilization, compared to CCK-8 and Boc-[Nle28, Nle31]-CCK-7. Compound JMV180 was unable to significantly promote phospholipid breakdown, and was only 50%-60% as efficacious as Boc-[Nle28, Nle31]-CCK-7 in promoting [Ca2+]i mobilization. These findings suggest that low affinity CCK-receptors might be responsible for the supra-maximal inhibition of amylase secretion, and are correlated with phospholipid breakdown and maximal [Ca2+]i mobilization.     

Effects of growth hormone releasing factor on pancreatic secretion in vivo and in vitro

Growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), a 44-residue peptide originally isolated from human pancreatic tumors, shows structural similarities to the members of the secretin-vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) peptides. This study was designed to determine the effects of human GRF (hGRF-(1-44] on pancreatic secretion in vivo in conscious dogs and in vitro in dispersed rat pancreatic acini. GRF given i.v. in graded doses in dogs caused a small but significant stimulation of pancreatic HCO3- and protein outputs and potentiated secretin- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced pancreatic HCO3- but not protein secretion. When given together with somatostatin, GRF failed to reverse the inhibitory action of this peptide on HCO3- and protein responses to secretin plus CCK in dogs. Studies in vitro dispersed rat pancreatic acini showed that GRF added to the incubation medium of these acini caused an increase in basal amylase release and shifted to the left the amylase dose-response curve to caerulein and urecholine but failed to affect the amylase response to VIP. This study indicates that GRF in vivo stimulates basal and augments secretin- or CCK-induced pancreatic HCO3- secretion and that this is probably due to direct stimulatory action of the peptide on pancreatic secretory cells.     

Novel epoxysuccinyl peptides A selective inhibitor of cathepsin B, in vivo

New derivatives of E-64 (compound CA-030 and CA-074) were tested in vitro and in vivo for selective inhibition of cathepsin B. They exhibited 10000–30000 times greater inhibitory effects on purified rat cathepsin B than on cathepsin H and L; their initial K₁ values for cathepsin B were about 2–5 nM, like that of E-64-c, whereas their initial K₁ values for cathepsins H and L were about 40–200 μM. In in vivo conditions, such us intraperitoneal injection of compound CA-030 or CA-074 into rats, compound CA-074 is an especially potent selective inhibitor of cathepsin B, whereas compound CA-030 does not show selectivity for cathepsin B, although both compounds CA-030 and CA-074 show complete selectivity for cathepsin B in vitro.     

Two functionally distinct cholecystokinin receptors show different modes of action on Ca2+ mobilization and phospholipid hydrolysis in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Studies using a new cholecystokinin analog, JMV-180.

A new hepatapeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) analog, JMV-180 (Boc-Tyr(SO3-)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-2-phenylethylester), acts as an agonist at high affinity CCK receptors on rat pancreatic acini to stimulate amylase release but unlike cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) does not act on low affinity CCK receptors to inhibit amylase release (Galas, M. D., Lignon, M. F., Rodriguez, M., Mendre, C., Fulcrand, P., Laur, J., and Martinez, J. (1988) Am. J. Physiol. 254, G176-G188). To investigate the biochemical mechanisms initiated by CCK acting on each class of CCK receptor, the effects of JMV-180 and CCK8 on amylase release, Ca2+ mobilization, and phospholipid hydrolysis were studied in isolated rat pancreatic acini. When acini were loaded with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA, amylase release stimulated by both JMV-180 and CCK8 was reduced. Measurement of 45Ca2+ efflux and cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) by the fluorescence of fura-2-loaded acini in a stirred cuvette showed that JMV-180 induced a concentration-dependent increase but with a maximal response only two-thirds that induced by CCK8. When [Ca2+]i of individual fura-2-loaded acinar cells was measured by microspectrofluorometry, all concentrations of JMV-180 (1 nM-10 microM) induced repetitive transient [Ca2+]i spikes (Ca2+ oscillations). By contrast, stimulation with a high concentration of CCK8 (1 nM) caused a large increase in [CA2+]i followed by a small sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i. The measurement of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production by both [3H]inositol labeling and 1,4,5-IP3 radioreceptor assay showed that JMV-180 had only minimal effects at 10 microM in contrast to the large increase induced by high concentrations of CCK8 (more than 1 nM). JMV-180 blocked the effect of a high concentration of CCK8 on both [Ca2+]i and 1,4,5-IP3 productions but did not affect the response to carbamylcholine. JMV-180 caused a delayed monophasic stimulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) sustained to 60 min without the early increase in DAG observed in response to CCK8. Furthermore, JMV-180 stimulated the release of [3H]choline metabolites, primarily phosphorylated choline, from [3H]choline-labeled acini at low concentrations and to the same extent as CCK8. Since JMV-180 interacts not only with high affinity CCK receptors as an agonist but also with low affinity CCK receptors as a functional antagonist, the present results indicate that the occupancy of high affinity state receptors by CCK induces Ca2+ oscillations, DAG formation from phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, and amylase release with minimal phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Species differences between rat and mouse CCKA receptors determine the divergent acinar cell response to the cholecystokinin analog JMV-180

The cholecystokinin (CCK) analog JMV-180 acts as a partial agonist in rats and a full agonist in mice. Whether this functional variability is due to species differences in CCK receptor structure or to alterations in the cellular environment is unknown. To address this question, an adenoviral construct encoding the rat CCK(A) receptor (AdCCK(A)R) was used to express the rat receptor in acini from CCK(A) receptor-deficient mice (CCK(A)R -/-). Infection of CCK(A)R -/- acini in vitro with pAdCCK(A)R led to a time-dependent increase in (125)I-CCK(8) binding. The affinity for JMV-180 of the adenovirally transferred rat and the endogenous mouse CCK(A) receptors was not different. In native mouse acini, JMV-180 acted as a full agonist (both stimulation and inhibition of amylase release). In contrast, in mouse acini expressing pAdCCK(A)R JMV-180 acted as a partial agonist (only stimulation of amylase release). In addition, the pattern of protein synthesis induced by JMV-180 in CCK(A)R -/- mouse acini infected with AdCCK(A)R resembled the pattern observed in wild-type rats (lack of inhibition) rather than the respective pattern in wild-type mice (inhibition). These data suggest that species differences in the CCK(A) receptor of rats and mice account for the observed divergence in the acinar cell response to JMV-180.     

Cholecystokinin antagonists

The three classes of CCK antagonists illustrate the various factors governing affinity of the antagonists for the CCK receptor. The major influence in determining potency of the cyclic nucleotide derivatives, amino acid derivatives and C-terminal fragments of CCK, are hydrophobic forces. In contrast, structural requirements are the major influences in determining potency of the N-terminal fragments of CCK-26-33. The most potent CCK antagonist in each of the three classes is illustrated in Fig. 11. CBZ-CCK-27-32-NH2 is 30 times more potent than N-CBZ-cystine, which is, in turn, slightly more potent than Bt2 cGMP. All these CCK antagonists, however, are relatively weak. For example, CBZ-CCK-27-32-NH2 inhibits binding of 125I-CCK by 50% at a concentration of approximately 5 microM. In contrast, the agonist CCK-26-33 inhibits binding of 125I-CCK by 50% at a concentration of approximately 1 nM. The antagonists remain useful for analyzing those responses that are caused by CCK, though the relatively low potencies of the antagonists may limit their usefulness as antagonists of CCK in vivo systems. This limitation, however, may be only theoretical. For example, proglumide, which requires an in vitro concentration of 0.3 mM to cause half-maximal inhibition of binding of 125I-CCK, can inhibit the actions of CCK and gastrin in animals (Hutchison and Dockray 1980; Stubbs and Stabile 1985) and of gastrin in man (Lamers and Jansen 1983). Nevertheless, the identification of CCK antagonists with greater potency than those hitherto described will facilitate studies of the actions of CCK.     

Control of pepsin secretion by regulatory peptides in the rat stomach: comparison with acid secretion.

Previous studies of the control of pepsin secretion by neurohumoral agents showed some discrepancies between in vitro (isolated cells) and in vivo experiments. In the present work, the effects on pepsin secretion of CCK, pentagastrin, secretin, VIP, neurotensin, histamine, and methacholine were reinvestigated in conscious gastric fistula rats, in comparison to acid secretion. ED50's and doses inducing maximal responses were measured to directly compare the potency and efficacy of these substances. Methacholine was the most efficient (maximal response = 4.5 x basal level, ED50 = 1.3 mumol/kg.h) and CCK the most potent (ED50 = 1.9 nmol/kg.h) stimulant, whereas secretin was a potent (ED50 regulators of pepsin secretion in the rat. Pentagastrin and histamine did not stimulate pepsin output, as found by others with isolated chief cells in vitro. Neurotensin and large doses of VIP marginally inhibited pepsin secretion.     

CCK-resistance in Zucker obese versus lean rats

Obese Zucker rats are less sensitive to the satiety effect of CCK than lean litter mates. The present studies further characterised this CCK resistance. Subcutaneous injection of the CCK agonist caerulein dose-dependently decreased food intake in Zucker obese and lean rats whereas the CCK-B agonist gastrin-17 did not. Caerulein at 4 μg/kg, which resulted in CCK plasma bioactivity slightly above postprandial levels, decreased food intake in lean rats but not in obese rats. The decrease in food intake was also more marked at higher caerulein doses (20–100 μg/kg) in lean versus obese rats. In lean animals the satiety effects of the “near physiological” 4 μg/kg caerulein dose was abolished after blockade of vagal afferents with capsaicin, whereas the effects of higher caerulein doses were not. CCK-stimulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acini and binding capacity of ¹²⁵I- labelled CCK-8 were decreased in obese versus lean rats. The CCK-A antagonist loxiglumide at 20 mg/kg, a dose which abolished the action of all caerulein doses on food intake, failed to alter the food intake either in obese or in lean rats when given without an agonist. The results suggest that the satiety effects of “near physiological” doses of caerulein in lean rats are mediated by vagal afferents whereas pharmacological doses act via non-vagal mechanisms. The differences in CCK's satiety effect between lean and obese rats may be due to differences in CCK-receptor binding and action at peripheral vagal sites. However, the failure of the CCK-A antagonist to increase food intake questions whether any of the effects of exogenous CCK are of physiological relevance.     

Evidence of a direct TRH effect on the rat exocrine pancreas.

In the present study, the effect of TRH on amylase secretion was determined both in vivo, by cannulating the pancreatic duct of rats, as well as in vitro, by using isolated lobules and dissociated acini. The results show that TRH inhibited both basal and stimulated in vivo amylase secretion. Nevertheless, the in vitro experiments failed to show a TRH-related inhibitory effect when TRH was used alone, although the hormone did blunt the secretion elicited by CCK8 and bethanechol from isolated lobules and dissociated acini. Results suggest that TRH can inhibit stimulated amylase secretion in rats through a direct effect on acinar cells.     

A synthetic peptide derivative that is a cholecystokinin receptor antagonist

So far, there are no known peptidic effective receptor antagonists of both peripheral and central effects of cholecystokinin (CCK). Here, we describe a synthetic peptide derivative of CCK, t-butyloxycarbonyl-Tyr(SO3-)-Met-Gly-D-Trp-Nle-Asp 2-phenylethyl ester 1 (where Nle is norleucine), which is a potent CCK receptor antagonist. In rat and guinea pig dispersed pancreatic acini, this peptide derivative did not alter amylase secretion, but was able to antagonize the stimulation caused by cholecystokinin-related agonists. It caused a parallel rightward shift in the dose-response curve for the stimulation of amylase secretion with half-maximal inhibition of CCK-8-stimulated amylase release at a concentration of about 0.1 microM. Compound 1 was able to inhibit the binding of labeled CCK-9 (the C-terminal nonapeptide of CCK) to rat and guinea pig pancreatic acini (IC50 = 5 X 10(-8) M) as well as to guinea pig cerebral cortical membranes (IC50 = 5 X 10(-7) M). These results indicate that Compound 1 is a potent competitive CCK receptor antagonist.     

Discovery of N-benzyl-2-[(4S)-4-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-6H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-6-yl]-N-isopropylacetamide,an orally active,gut-selective CCK1 receptor agonist for the potential treatment of obesity

We describe the design, synthesis, and structure–activity relationships of triazolobenzodiazepinone CCK1 receptor agonists. Analogs in this series demonstrate potent agonist activity as measured by in vitro and in vivo assays for CCK1 agonism. Our efforts resulted in the identification of compound 4a which significantly reduced food intake with minimal systemic exposure in rodents.     

Down-regulation and recycling of high affinity cholecystokinin receptors on pancreatic acinar cells

First incubating dispersed acini from rat pancreas with monensin, a cation ionophore that can inhibit recycling of receptors, inhibited binding of 125I-cholecystokinin 8 (125I-CCK-8) measured during a second incubation by as much as 50%. A maximal effect of monensin required 90 min of first incubation. Detectable inhibition of binding of 125I-CCK-8 occurred with 300 nM monensin, and inhibition increased progressively with concentrations of monensin up to 25 microM. Pancreatic acini possess two classes of receptors that bind 125I-CCK-8. One class has a high affinity (Kd = 461 pM) and a low capacity for CCK (512 fmol/mg DNA); the other class has a low affinity (Kd = 47 nM) and a high capacity for CCK (18 pmol/mg DNA). First incubating acini with monensin caused an 84% decrease in the number of high affinity CCK receptors with no change in the number of low affinity CCK receptors or the values of Kd for either class of receptors indicating that there is recycling of high affinity CCK receptors but not low affinity CCK receptors. First incubating acini with monensin did not alter CCK-stimulated amylase secretion indicating that in contrast to previous conclusions, occupation of low affinity CCK receptors mediates CCK-stimulated enzyme secretion. Moreover, the biphasic dose-response curve for CCK-stimulated enzyme secretion from monensin-treated acini suggests that pancreatic acini also possess a third, previously unrecognized class of very low affinity CCK receptors.     

Exogenous leptin inhibits the secretion of pancreatic juice via a duodenal CCK1-vagal-dependent mechanism in anaesthetized rats

Leptin originally described as product of the ob gene has been shown to be expressed in various tissues including the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we investigated the influence of leptin on the secretion of pancreatic juice in biliary-pancreatic duct cannulated anaesthetised rats and in dispersed rat pancreatic acini in vitro. Exogenous leptin was given in boluses intravenously with or without CCK-8 (12 pmol kg(-1) body weight) in the presence or absence pharmacological CCK(1) receptor blockade, cervical vagotomy, and capsaicin pre-treatment. Administration of leptin (0.1, 1 and 10 microg kg(-1) body weight) did not affect the volume of bile and pancreatic juice while the protein and trypsin outputs were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. In the rats, leptin inhibited CCK-8 stimulated protein and trypsin outputs stronger than the basal pancreatic secretion. The inhibition by leptin was abolished by the pharmacological CCK(1) receptor blockade, cervical vagotomy, and capsaicin pre-treatment. In contrast, leptin did not affect basal and CCK-8-stimulated amylase release from the dispersed rat pancreatic acini in vitro. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that leptin does not act directly on the rat pancreatic acinar cells but inhibits the secretion of pancreatic enzymes acting indirectly via a neurohormonal CCK-vagal-dependent mechanism.     

A new class of potent gastrin antagonists

The hexapeptide Z-Tyr(SO-3)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-NH2, from the natural sequence of C-terminal cholecystokinin was found to be a competitive antagonist of cholecystokinin receptors, in vitro. In the present study, we report that this peptide inhibits gastrin-induced acid secretion in vivo, (ED50 = 1.5 mumol . kg-1), without agonist activity. Desulfation of the tyrosine residue slightly altered this effect. The tripeptide Boc-Trp-Met-Asp-NH2 showed similar effects, but had lower potency (ED50 = 12 mumol . kg-1). From these preliminary results, it can be concluded that removal of the phenylalanine residue from the C-terminal sequence of CCK or gastrin, leads to an antagonist of the natural hormones and that C-terminal phenylalanine residue is important for agonist activity. As compared with proglumide, a well known gastrin receptor antagonist, these peptides were 20-200 times more potent as inhibitors on the same model.     

Binding of cholecystokinin to high affinity receptors on isolated rat pancreatic acini

The binding of cholecystokinin (CCK) to its receptors on isolated rat pancreatic acini was investigated employing high specific activity, radioiodinated CCK (125I-BH-CCK), prepared by the conjugation of 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent (125I-BH) to CCK. Binding was specific, time-dependent, reversible, and linearly related to the acinar protein concentration. After incubation for 30 min at 37 degrees C, the 125I-BH-CCK both in the incubation medium and bound to acini remained intact, as judged by gel filtration and trichloroacetic acid precipitation studies. Scatchard analysis was compatible with two classes of binding sites on acini: a very high affinity site (Kd, 64 pM) and a lower affinity site (Kd, 21 nM). 125I-BH-CCK binding to acini was competitively inhibited by CCK and four of its analogues in proportion to their biological potencies but not by unrelated hormones. Stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK and inhibition of 125I-BH-CCK binding by the same analogues carried out under identical conditions revealed a correlation (r = 0.99) between binding potency and amylase secretion. Stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK closely paralleled the occupancy of the high affinity CCK binding sites. It is concluded that the high affinity CCK binding sites most likely are the receptors mediating the stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK.