Caerulein and secretin induced pancreatic growth: a possible control by endogenous pancreatic somatostatin

Pancreatic hypertrophy and hyperplasia following chronic joint (CA + SE), or separate, caerulein (CA: 1 microgram . kg-1) and secretin (SE: 75 micrograms . kg-1) administration were studied in parallel with pancreatic somatostatin (SRIF) contents following 2, 4, 7 and 10 days of treatment. Parameters indicative of pancreatic growth (tissue weight, DNA and protein contents, cellular protein concentrations) increased significantly after 2 days of CA or CA + SE and reached a plateau between days 4 and 10. SE merely induced a mild hypertrophy after 4 days. Endogenous pancreatic SRIF contents varied upon treatment, differently so with each peptide regimen. Indeed, CA and CA + SE treatments decreased total SRIF contents after 2 days with no effect thereafter. SE also decreased the latter after 2 days while significant increases were observed after 7 and 10 days. The inverse relationship seemingly existing between SRIF contents and the amplitude of hormonally-induced pancreatic growth supports the hypothesis that endogenous pancreatic SRIF, operating as an 'antigrowth' factor, may participate in the exogenous CA, SE and CA + SE stimulated pancreatic growth phenomena.     

Neurotensin interacts with carbachol, secretin, and caerulein in the stimulation of the exocrine pancreas of the rat in vitro

In the present investigation the effect of neurotensin on pancreatic secretion of isolated pancreatic lobules from the rat was examined. We found a dose- and time-dependent stimulation of amylase release beginning with a concentration of 10(-9) M neurotensin. This response was potentiated by the cholinergic agonist carbachol, the gastrointestinal peptide secretin, and the CCK analogue caerulein. As we found neurotensin-immunoreactive nerves within the pancreas and as neurotensin-like immunoreactivity is present in the circulation (found previously), neurotensin may well be a further peptide taking part in the regulation of exocrine pancreatic secretion either as a hormone or a neurotransmitter. Neurotensin would then cooperate with cholinergic mechanisms, secretin, and CCK.     

Somatostatin: a potential antigrowth factor for the exocrine pancreas

The increases in DNA synthesis and total DNA content after caerulein treatment support the trophic effect of this CCK analog on the pancreas. Over a 15 day caerulein treatment, pancreatic growth plateaued after 5 days and somatostatin is believed to be responsible for this phenomenon. The present study was undertaken to test this possibility. Rats were treated for 2 or 4 days with caerulein (1 μg · kg^?1), somatostatin antiserum plus caerulein or caerulein plus somatostatin (600 μg · kg^?1). Caerulein increased all parameters studied after 2 and 4 days; pancreatic hyperplasia was established after 2 days. The somatostatin antiserum significantly enhanced the effect of caerulein, especially on DNA synthesis and contents after 2 and 4 days. The trophic effect of caerulein was significantly reduced by somatostatin dramatically so with respect to hyperplasia. The effects of the somatostatin antiserum and those of somatostatin on stimulated pancreatic growth support the hypothesis that somatostatin may be considered an endogenous growth inhibitory factor for the pancreas.     

Pro-inflammatory effects of hydrogen sulphide on substance P in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S), a novel gasotransmitter, has been recognized to play an important role in inflammation. Cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) is a major H(2)S synthesizing enzyme in the cardiovascular system and DL-propargylglycine (PAG) is an irreversible inhibitor of CSE. Substance P (SP), a product of preprotachykinin-A (PPT-A) gene, is a well-known pro-inflammatory mediator which acts principally through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R). We have shown an association between H(2)S and SP in pulmonary inflammation as well as a pro-inflammatory role of H(2)S and SP in acute pancreatitis. The present study was aimed to investigate the interplay between pro-inflammatory effects of H(2)S and SP in a murine model of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced in mice by 10 hourly intraperitoneal injections of caerulein (50 (g/kg). PAG (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered either 1 hr before (prophylactic) or 1 hr after (therapeutic) the first caerulein injection. PAG, given prophylactically as well as therapeutically, significantly reduced plasma H(2)S levels and pancreatic H(2)S synthesizing activities as well as SP concentrations in plasma, pancreas and lung compared with caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, prophylactic as well as therapeutic administration of PAG significantly reduced PPT-A mRNA expression and NK-1R mRNA expression in both pancreas and lung when compared with caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. These results suggest that the pro-inflammatory effects of H(2)S may be mediated by SP-NK-1R pathway in acute pancreatitis.     

Dynamics of pancreatic tissue cells in the rat exposed to long-term caerulein treatment: 1. Biochemical, morphological and morphometrical evaluations

This study was undertaken to evaluate whether hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the pancreatic acinar cells induced by caerulein remained after termination of the hormonal treatment. Rats received subcutaneous injections of saline or caerulein for 4 days and were killed immediately after termination of treatment or 2, 15 and 50 days later. Caerulein treatment induced significant increases in pancreatic weight and contents of DNA, RNA, protein, amylase and chymotrypsinogen along with an increased number of acinar cells per acinus and zymogen granules per acinar cells. During the post-treatment period, the caerulein-treated pancreas reverted to control values for their contents in proteins, enzymes and RNA and number of zymogen granules per acinar cell while the number of pancreatic cells remained constant as indicated by the absence of modification in total DNA content and acinar cells per acinus. During that same period, saline-treated pancreas exhibited constant growth. These morphological and biochemical data indicate that the already present and newly formed acinar cells can remain in place once the trophic stimulus is withdrawn and that they can adjust their cellular components and thus their digestive capacity to the circulating levels of endogenous cholecystokinin released in response to normal meals.     

牛胰多肽对大鼠胰外分泌的抑制作用

在大鼠观察了牛胰多肽(BPP)对由蛋白胨和雨蛙素引起的大鼠胰外分泌的影响。向十二指肠灌入25%蛋白胨后90min 时,对照组的蛋白排出量约为其基础值的10倍,而1、3、5及10ug/kg BPP 剂量组的蛋白排出量分別为对照组的47%、33%、29%及29%。在灌注剂量为3μg/kg 雨蛙素后60min 时,对照组的蛋白排出量约为其基础值的14倍,但3、5及10μg/kgBPP 剂量组的蛋白排出量分別为对照组的74%、68%及55%。各组胰淀粉酶浓度的变化和其蛋白排出量变化相平行。胰液量的增加不受 BPP 影响。结果提示,BPP 能抑制胰酶的大量分泌,并有剂量依从关系,但不抑制胰液量。     

Effects of keratin filament disruption on exocrine pancreas-stimulated secretion and susceptibility to injury

Disruption or absence of hepatocyte keratins 8 and 18 is associated with chronic hepatitis, marked hepatocyte fragility, and a significant predisposition to stress-induced liver injury. In contrast, pancreatic keratin disruption in transgenic mice that express keratin 18 Arg89 --> Cys (K18C) is not associated with an obvious pancreatic pathology. We compared the effects of keratin filament disruption on pancreatic acini or acinar cell viability, and on cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated secretion, in transgenic mice that overexpress wild-type keratin 18 and harbor normal extended keratin filaments (TG2) and K18C mice. We also compared the response of these mice to pancreatitis induced by a choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented diet or by caerulein. Despite extensive cytoplasmic keratin filament disruption, the apicolateral keratin filament bundles appear intact in the acinar pancreas of K18C mice, as determined ultrastructurally and by light microscopy. No significant pancreatitis-associated histologic, serologic, or F-actin/keratin apicolateral redistribution differences were noted between TG2 and K18C mice. Acinar cell viability and yield after collagenase digestion were lower in K18C than in TG2 mice, but the yields of intact acini and their (125)I-CCK uptake and responses to CCK-stimulated secretion were similar. Our results indicate that keratin filament reorganization is a normal physiologic response to pancreatic cell injury, but an intact keratin cytoplasmic filament network is not as essential in protection from cell injury as in the liver. These findings raise the possibility that the abundant apicolateral acinar keratin filaments, which are not as evident in hepatocytes, may play the cytoprotective role that is seen in liver and other tissues. Alternatively, identical keratins may function differently in different tissues.     

雨蛙肽中枢促胃酸分泌作用机制的初步分析

利用特异的受体阻断剂能够拮抗相应的受体激动剂的效应的原理,分析雨蛙肽中枢促胃酸分泌作用的受体机制。向大鼠侧脑室内注射微量雨蛙肽(67ng/鼠),可引起急性灌流大鼠胃酸分泌明显增加。预先向大鼠侧脑室内注射肾上腺素受体阻断剂酚妥拉明或心得安,20min后再向侧脑室内注射雨蛙肽,预处理对雨蛙肽的促胃酸分泌作用影响不大。但事先向侧脑室内注射乙酰胆碱受体阻断剂阿托品或胆囊收缩素(CCK)受体阻断剂二丁酰环化-磷酸鸟苷(Bt_2 cGMP)则可有效地阻断雨蛙肽的作用。以上结果提示,脑内雨蛙肽促胃酸分泌机制中,可能有 CCK 受体和胆碱能受体参与,而与肾上腺素能系统关系不大。     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of a CCK-like peptide in the nervous system of a marine annelid worm,Nereis diversicolor O.F. Müller

Summary Perikarya and nerve fibers containing a substance immunologically related to CCK-8 were detected in the nervous system of Nereis, a marine annelid worm. The most noteworthy immunostaining was seen in cell bodies, localized at the periphery of the brain, within nuclei 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 23–24. Immunoreactive fibers were also found in the neuropile without any particular grouping. Numerous other positive perikarya occur in the medio-ventral portion of the ventral nerve cord, and in the ventral and dorsal parts of the suboesophageal ganglion. In addition to the cell bodies in the cerebral external layer, immunoreactive axons were abundantly observed in the connectives between the ganglia. Moreover, our results demonstrate CCK-like staining in neurons showing variations in size and shape, and in affinity for paraldehyde fuchsin. The present results support the hypothesis that this peptide may exert a role as neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in annelids.     

Action of caerulein,gastrin 17, pentagastrin,and secretin on the active transport of sodium by the frog skin

Summary Frog skin was mounted in an Ussing chamber and the actions of caerulein, gastrin, pentagastrin, and secretin on the active transport of sodium were studied using the short-circuit current method. All polypeptides exerted their effect when placed in the solution bathing the outside surface of the skin. The response was a transient dose-related increase in the transepithelial electrical potential difference and in the short-circuit current. Analysis of the response indicated that at submaximal doses the effect was due to an increase in the rate of entry of sodium through the outer barrier to active sodium transport. At supramaximal doses the passive permeability of the skin was also increased. Th ED50 concentrations of the hormones were: caerulein, 50pm; gastrin, 53pm; pentagastrin, 440pm; and secretin, 30pm. It is argued that the large quantity of caerulein or caerulein-like peptides stored in the skin may be required either to control the entry of sodium when the amphibian is undergoing maximum stress in a freshwater environment, or that it may have a protective function for the amphibian as it could elicit a noxious hypersecretion in the gastrointestinal tract of the predator together with a marked hypotension.