Processes Maintaining Calcium Homeostasis in Acinar Cells of the Rat Submandibular Salivary Gland

Using a Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent indicator, fura-2/AM, we recorded calcium transients in secretory cells of isolated acini of the rat submandibular salivary gland; these transients were induced by hyperpotassium-induced depolarization (after an increase in [K⁺] _e up to 50 mM) of the plasma membrane of the above cells. Calcium transients were significantly suppressed by 50 M nifedipine. Addition of 10 M carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone to the normal extracellular solution was accompanied by a rise in [Ca²⁺] _i , whereas when hyperpotassium solution is used the effect was less expressed. Blockers of CA²⁺-ATPase in the cellular membrane and in the endoplasmic reticulum, eosin Y (5 M) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 5 M), respectively, evoked a significant increase in [Ca²⁺] _i and a decrease in the K⁺-depolarization-induced calcium transient. Extracellular application of caffeine (2, 10, or 30 mM) was accompanied by a concentration-dependent rise in [Ca²⁺] _i . Therefore, potassium depolarization of the plasma membrane of acinar cells of the rat submandibular salivary gland activates both the voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ influx and Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum; the initial level of [Ca²⁺] _i was restored at the joint involvement of Ca²⁺-ATPases in the plasma membrane and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.     

Mechanisms Underlying Leakage of Calcium from the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Acinar Cells of the Submandibular Salivary Gland

In the resting state, the Ca²⁺ concentration in agonist-sensitive intracellular stores reflects the balance between active uptake of Ca²⁺, which is mediated by Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA), and passive leakage of Ca²⁺. The mechanisms underlying such a leakage in cells of the submaxillary salivary gland were not studied. In our experiments, we examined possible pathways of passive leakage of Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of acinar cells obtained from the rat submaxillary salivary gland; direct measurements of the concentration of Ca²⁺ in the ER ([Ca²⁺]_ER) using a low-affinity calcium-sensitive dye, mag-fura 2/AM, were performed. The cellular membrane was permeabilized with the help of β-escin (40 μg/ml); the Ca²⁺ concentration in the cytoplasm ([Ca²⁺] _i ) was clamped at its level typical of the resting state (∼100 nM) using an EGTA/Ca²⁺ buffer. Incubation of permeabilized acinar cells in a calcium-free intracellular milieu, as well as application of thapsigargin, resulted in complete inhibition of the uptake of Ca²⁺ with the involvement of SERCA. This effect was observed 1 min after the beginning of superfusion of the cells with the corresponding solutions and was accompanied by the leakage of Ca²⁺ from the ER; this is confirmed by a gradual drop in the [Ca₂₊]_ER. Such a leakage of Ca²⁺ remained unchanged in the presence of thapsigargin, heparin, and ruthenium red; therefore, it is not mediated by SERCA, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive receptors (InsP₃R), or ryanodine receptors (RyRs). At the same time, an antibiotic, puromycin (0.1 to 1.0 mM), which disconnects polypeptides from the ER-ribosome translocon complex, caused intensification of passive leakage of Ca²⁺ from the ER. This effect did not depend on the functioning of SERCA, InsP₃R, or RyR. Therefore, passive leakage of Ca²⁺ from the ER in acinar cells of the submaxillary salivary gland is realized through pores of the translocon complex of the ER membrane. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 339–346, July–August, 2005.     

体外培养小鼠下颌下腺细胞生长特性的实验研究

目的：研究小鼠下颌下腺细胞的培养方法,探讨下颌下腺细胞培养条件及细胞生长特性,为研究干细胞转分化涎腺腺泡细胞以及涎腺再生研究奠定理论基础和技术支持。方法：取2周龄的小鼠,组织块法和消化法分别进行培养,用活细胞观察法和HE染色法记录细胞形态学特征;免疫荧光染色法鉴定;通过生长曲线和细胞倍增时间来比较两种方法对细胞增殖能力的影响。结果：组织块法和消化法均可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,（1）组织块法培养的细胞呈卵圆形或多边形,10天左右成铺路石样;消化法培养细胞亦为上皮样细胞,呈多边形,胞质丰富;（2）HE染色下颌下腺细胞呈多边形,胞核明显;（3）Cytokeratin13和AQP5表达阳性,Wimentin表达阴性;（4）组织块法培养细胞增殖相对较平缓,消化法培养细胞增长较迅速;（5）消化法培养倍增时间（1．3471±0．6071）天比组织块法倍增时间（2．1887±1．1503）明显缩短（P〈0．05）;结论：体外可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,但是同时证明下颌下腺细胞长期传代较困难,这为研究干细胞转分化涎腺细胞和涎腺再生体内实验提供了理论和实验基础。     

Circadian Rhythms of Rat Pancreatic Acinar Cells

On the basis of the circadian oscillations of the rat’s exocrine pancreatic function and previous reports on concomitant ultrastructural changes in the pancreatic tissue, we analysed stereologically the circadian rhythmicity in the structure of this organ. Twenty-four male Wistar rats, four and a half months old, were singly housed two months before the experiment in a lighting regimen LD=12:12, constant environmental temperature and relative humidity, with food and water ad libitum. The experiment was performed in winter. The rats were randomly divided into 6 balanced groups and killed under ether anesthesia at 6 equidistant time points in 24 hours. The pancreatic tissue was fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium and embedded in Epon. 1 µm thick sections were examined by light microscopy for the evaluation by stereological methods of: a) volume fractions of the different parenchymal components of the exocrine pancreas; b) surface fractions of acinar cell faces; c) size distribution of acinar cell nuclei, their number per unit tissue volume and their mean diameter. Single cosinor method analysis of the data demonstrated statistically significant circadian rhythms for the volume fraction of the cytoplasm of acinar cells and the volume fractions of pancreatic acini and acinar cells. The volume fraction of the cytoplasm of the rat pancreatic acinar cells undergoes circadian oscillations with the highest values at the end of the light span; this rise precedes the well-known physiological nocturnal surge of pancreatic digestive enzymes. Our findings further support the hypothesis of a close relationship between pancreatic cell structure and its function.     

Circadian Rhythms of Rat Pancreatic Acinar Cells

On the basis of the circadian oscillations of the rat's exocrine pancreatic function and previous reports on concomitant ultrastructural changes in the pancreatic tissue, we analysed stereologically the circadian rhythmicity in the structure of this organ. Twenty-four male Wistar rats, four and a half months old, were singly housed two months before the experiment in a lighting regimen LD=12:12, constant environmental temperature and relative humidity, with food and water ad libitum. The experiment was performed in winter. The rats were randomly divided into 6 balanced groups and killed under ether anesthesia at 6 equidistant time points in 24 hours. The pancreatic tissue was fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium and embedded in Epon. 1 µm thick sections were examined by light microscopy for the evaluation by stereological methods of: a) volume fractions of the different parenchymal components of the exocrine pancreas; b) surface fractions of acinar cell faces; c) size distribution of acinar cell nuclei, their number per unit tissue volume and their mean diameter. Single cosinor method analysis of the data demonstrated statistically significant circadian rhythms for the volume fraction of the cytoplasm of acinar cells and the volume fractions of pancreatic acini and acinar cells. The volume fraction of the cytoplasm of the rat pancreatic acinar cells undergoes circadian oscillations with the highest values at the end of the light span; this rise precedes the well-known physiological nocturnal surge of pancreatic digestive enzymes. Our findings further support the hypothesis of a close relationship between pancreatic cell structure and its function.     

Characterization of Long-Term Cultured Murine Submandibular Gland Epithelial Cells

Purpose

Human and rat salivary gland cell lines derived from tumors or genetic modification are currently available for research. Here, we attempted to culture and characterize long-term cultured cells spontaneously derived from wild type murine submandibular glands (SGs).

Methods

SGs were removed from 3-week-old C57B/6J female mice and dissociated by collagenase type 1 and hyaluronidase digestion. Isolated SG epithelial cells were cultured in low calcium, serum-free growth media in the presence of cholera toxin (CT) during early passages. Single-cell colonies were isolated by limiting dilution culture after 25 passages. Early- and late-stage cell cultures were characterized for keratin 14, keratin 18, α-smooth muscle actin, and p63 by immunostaining and quantitative real-time PCR analysis.

Results

SG epithelial cells cultured in optimized media maintained their proliferative ability and morphology for over 80 passages. Long-term cultured cells expressed keratin 14, keratin 18, and p63, indicative of an epithelial phenotype.

Conclusions

Epithelial cells originating from wild type murine SGs could be cultured for longer periods of time and remain phenotypically similar to ductal basal epithelium.     

Age-Specific Differentiations during the Development of the Rat Submandibular Gland

Histological observations indicate that the rodent submanfibular salivary gland does not complete its development until adulthood. Reports in the literature based upon enzyme studies suggest that the gland may pass through several stages of differentiation from birth to adulthood. Considering that proteases appear late in the developmental sequence and could cause apparent changes in enzyme concentrations, a methodology free of possible protease-mediated artefacts has been developed to analyze the patterns of protein accumulations. Analysis of total trichloroacetic acid-precipitable proteins on acrylamide gradient slab gels with sodium dodecyl sulphate and urea indicated that there are stage-specific patterns, and that certain protein species are prominent in early stages, but become unresolvable in later stages where different species have assumed prominence. Direct analysis of stage-specific gene expression as indicated by patterns of short-term protein synthesis also suggest that some of the major synthetic activities change qualitatively as development progresses. These alterations are discussed in the light of the changing cellular populations within the gland and certain correlations are proposed. These studies support the view that the submandibular gland exhibits several distinguishable differentiated states in the course of its development.     

A Bicarbonate- and Weak Acid-permeable Chloride Conductance Controlled by Cytosolic Ca2+ and ATP in Rat Submandibular Acinar Cells

A Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ conductance in rat submandibular acinar cells was identified and characterized using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. When the cells were dialyzed with Cs-glutamate-rich pipette solutions containing 2 mm ATP and 1 μm free Ca²⁺ and bathed in N-methyl-d-glucamine chloride (NMDG-Cl) or Choline-Cl-rich solutions, they mainly exhibited slowly activating currents. Dialysis of the cells with pipette solutions containing 300 nm or less than 1 nm free Ca²⁺ strongly reduced the Cl⁻ currents, indicating the currents were Ca²⁺-dependent. Relaxation analysis of the ``on' currents of slowly activating currents suggested that the channels were voltage-dependent. The anion permeability sequence of the Cl⁻ channels was: NO⁻ ₃ (2.00) > I⁻ (1.85) ≥ Br⁻ (1.69) > Cl⁻ (1.00) > bicarbonate (0.77) ≥ acetate (0.70) > propionate (0.41) ≫ glutamate (0.09). When the ATP concentration in the pipette solutions was increased from 0 to 10 mm, the Ca²⁺-dependency of the Cl⁻ current amplitude shifted to lower free Ca²⁺ concentrations by about two orders of magnitude. Cells dialyzed with a pipette solution (pCa = 6) containing ATP-γS (2 mm) exhibited currents of similar magnitude to those observed with the solution containing ATP (2 mm). The addition of the calmodulin inhibitors trifluoperazine (100 μm) or calmidazolium (25 μm) to the bath solution and the inclusion of KN-62 (1 μm), a specific inhibitor of calmodulin kinase, or staurosporin (10 nm), an inhibitor of protein kinase C to the pipette solution had little, if any, effect on the Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ currents. This suggests that Ca²⁺/Calmodulin or calmodulin kinase II and protein kinase C are not involved in Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ currents. The outward Cl⁻ currents at +69 mV were inhibited by NPPB (100 μm), IAA-94 (100 μm), DIDS (0.03–1 mm), 9-AC (300 μm and 1 mm) and DPC (1 mm), whereas the inward currents at −101 mV were not. These results demonstrate the presence of a bicarbonate- and weak acid-permeable Cl⁻ conductance controlled by cytosolic Ca²⁺ and ATP levels in rat submandibular acinar cells. Received: 9 January 1996/Revised: 20 May 1996     

A Stage-Restricted Secretory System in the Submandibular Gland of the Neonatal Rat

Ribonuclease and amylase have been shown to undergo a transient increase in activity in the sub-mandibular gland of the perinatal rat [5]. We report here that brief stimulation with isoproterenol in vitro selectively releases these enzymes. In addition, analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the 4-day old submandibular gland contains three other major protein species that are not present in the sublingual gland and two of which are not evident in the adult submandibular gland. These are also selectively released by the drug. Examination of the glands by light and electron microscopy showed that concurrent with release of these protein products, extensive degranulation occurs in the immature acini (terminal tubules). Our experiments suggest that the 4-day glands show a marked incorporation of ³H-leucine into the submandibular-specific, secreted protein species. This indicates that these proteins will provide convenient molecular markers of early submandibular differentiation.     

四种显微技术观测大鼠颌下腺细胞与丝素-壳聚糖体外共培养的形态学特点

目的采用倒置显微镜、扫描电镜（scanning electron microscopy,SEM）、荧光显微镜和激光共聚焦显微镜（（laser scanning confocal microscopy,LSCM））技术对大鼠颌下腺细胞（rat submandibular gland cells,RSMGs）与丝素-壳聚糖（silk fibroin-chitosan,SFCs）的体外复合培养进行形态学观察。为观测、评估种子细胞在三维支架的内部生长情况提供技术支持。方法取0～8 d龄SD大鼠的颌下腺,对大鼠颌下腺细胞进行原代培养、分离纯化并传代;用抗细胞角蛋白单克隆抗体（CK8）及淀粉酶抗体的免疫细胞化学染色鉴定细胞来源。选取传至第二代的对数生长期的RSMGs作为种子细胞,选取SFCs共混膜（5×5×2）mm作为支架材料构建组织工程化涎腺样结构。将种子细胞与支架材料复合培养并分别于倒置显微镜、SEM、荧光显微镜和LSCM下观察二者复合生长情况。结果倒置显微镜可以直接观察活细胞与支架复合生长情况,方法简单易行。SEM可以较精确的展示细胞支架复合生长的表面超微结构。经过荧光染料的着色,荧光显微镜和LSCM都可以观察到支架上锚定的种子细胞。荧光显微镜可见细胞核的荧光信号均匀的分布在支架孔隙内。LSCM通过层扫描及三维重建技术对较厚的标本获取图像;并可以通过旋转图像,从不同角度观察细胞支架复合物的三维剖面或整体结构,得到更为准确的定位信息。结论四种显微技术均可应用于RSMGs与SFCs体外共培养的形态学观测。LSCM的三维重建技术结合荧光染料标记可以较好地获得RSMGs与SFCs复合生长的情况,有着较广泛的应用价值。     

Purification of Rat Urinary Kallikrein: Comparative Studies with Rat Submandibular Gland Kallikrein-Like Serine Protease

Abstract

A 427-fold purification of rat urinary kallikrein (RUK) was achieved in three steps involving chromatography on columns of DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and affinity chromatography on a column of benzamidine-Sepharose. Purified enzyme showed a single band on SDS-PAGE with an estimated molecular weight of 43,000. The amino-terminal sequences of the first 25 residues of RUK resemble the reported sequence for true kallikrein and share 80% identity with rat submandibular gland (RSMG) kallikrein-like serine protease. The RUK is highly reactive towards kallikrein substrates Bz-pro-phe-arg-pNA and DL-val-leu-arg-pNA, and plasmin substrate D-val-leu-lys-pNA. RSMG enzyme is more reactive towards Bz-val-gly-arg-pNA and tosyl-gly-pro-arg-pNA, preferential chromogenic substrates for trypsin-like proteases and thrombin, respectively. Both leupeptin and aprotinin inhibit RUK strongly, but soy bean trypsin inhibitor has no effect on this enzyme. RSMG enzyme is poorly inhibited by any of these inhibitors. The data suggest that although both enzymes are members of tissue kallikrein multigene family, urinary enzyme is a true kallikrein and RSMG enzyme is a kallikrein-like serine protease with different substrate specificity.     

Expression of the Low-Affinity p75 Nerve Growth Factor Receptor in the Developing Rat Pituitary Gland

We investigated, by means of in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled RNA probe, the expression of the low-affinity p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) in the developing pituitary primordium of the rat. In 13-day pc embryos, intense staining of p75 NGFR mRNA was present in the cytoplasm of all cells of Rathke's pouch. In day-17 pc embryos p75 NGFR expression was present primarily in the cells of the intermediate lobe. In the newborn rat pituitary only very weak staining was observed, predominantly in the intermediate lobe. In neural structures the staining at day 13 pc was comparable to that of day 17 pc. Since p75 expression is seen very early during pituitary development and declines during the time the expression of pituitary hormonal phenotypes are steadily increasing, we suggest that the p75 NGFR expression in Rathke's pouch may play a temporally defined role in the commitment rather than in the differentiation of the various pituitary cell types.     

The Role of Calcium in the Volume Regulation of Rat Lacrimal Acinar Cells

Earlier studies have suggested a role for Ca²⁺ in regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in response to hypotonic stress through the activation of Ca²⁺-dependent ion channels (Kotera & Brown, 1993; Park et al., 1994). The involvement of Ca²⁺ in regulating cell volume in rat lacrimal acinar cells was therefore examined using a video-imaging technique to measure cell volume. The trivalent cation Gd³⁺ inhibited RVD, suggesting that Ca²⁺ entry is important and may be via stretch-activated cation channels. However, Fura-2 loaded cells did not show an increase in [Ca²⁺] _i during exposure to hypotonic solutions. The absence of any changes in [Ca²⁺] _i resulted from the buffering of cytosolic Ca²⁺ by Fura-2 during hypotonic shock and therefore inhibition of RVD. The intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator, BAPTA, also inhibited the RVD response to hypotonic shock. An increase in [Ca²⁺] _i induced by either acetylcholine or ionomycin, was found to decrease cell volume under isotonic conditions in lacrimal acinar cells. Cell shrinkage was inhibited by tetraethylammonium ion, an inhibitor of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. On the basis of the presented data, we suggest an involvement of intracellular Ca²⁺ in controlling cell volume in lacrimal acinar cells. Received: 20 February 1998/Revised: 1 May 1998     

Use of Silver Enhancement Technique for Immunohistochemical Detection of Epidermal Growth Factor in Rat Submandibular Gland

Low temperature photochemical silver staining was used for immunohistochemical demonstration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the rat submandibular gland. EGF was shown to be clearly localized in granular convoluted tubule cells. Silver staining with an immu-nogold method showed excellent resolution of the antigen localization.     

Electron Microscope Studies of Nuclear Extrusions in Pancreatic Acinar Cells of the Rat

This paper describes "blebs" protruding from the surface of the nucleus into the cytoplasm. The "blebs" are separated from the cytoplasm by 2 membranes which are continuous with the outer and inner nuclear membranes. The "blebs" contain 3 structurally distinct substances. Two of these substances (β and γ substances) are similar to extranucleolar karyoplasm and nucleolar material. The other substance (α substance) is present in every "bleb," but it cannot be readily compared to a recognizable nuclear structure. Cytoplasmic vesicles are described that are apparently different from the Golgi vesicles or the vesicular component of the ergastoplasm. It is suggested that these vesicles may be of nuclear "bleb" origin. A dark karyoplasmic zone extending from the region of the nucleolus into the nuclear "bleb" is shown. This zone may be similar in some respects to the preformed pathway ("Leitbahn") described by Altmann (3) and Hertl (28) and could reflect movement of nuclear material from the nucleolar region into the cytoplasm. The "blebs" are thought to be homologous to structures described by many light microscopists, but they are considerably larger than the nuclear "blebs" described previously by electron microscopists.