The relationship between free cytosolic calcium and amylase release in rat pancreatic acini

We have studied the effects of various pancreatic secretagogues on free cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and amylase release in dispersed rat pancreatic acini, to determine the role of [Ca2+]i in stimulated enzyme secretion from the exocrine pancreas. Dispersed rat pancreatic acini were loaded with the new Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent indicator, fura-2. Resting [Ca2+]i was 110 +/- 2 nM (a mean +/- S.E.). Carbachol, caerulein, bombesin, and neuromedin B and C each caused a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i; maximal increases of 100 to 400-500 nM were reached within 20s following the secretagogue addition, and this was followed by a return to a lower sustained level within 2 min. When enzyme secretion from the acini was monitored as a function of time using a perifusion system, secretagogue-induced amylase release took a biphasic pattern consisting of an initial burst phase for a several minutes and a second sustained phase during stimulation. Although sustained amylase secretion occurred at near resting [Ca2+]i, the peak [Ca2+]i correlated with the amount of stimulated amylase release as well as with the initial release, during submaximal and maximal stimulation by these agents. At supramaximal concentrations of carbachol and caerulein, amylase release, but not the increase in [Ca2+]i, was attenuated. On the other hand, in response to supramaximal concentrations of bombesin, and neuromedin B and C, both the amount of amylase released and the peak [Ca2+]i were similar to those obtained in response to maximal concentrations. From a standpoint of time course analysis of enzyme secretion, both the first burst phase and the second sustained phase were inhibited during stimulation by 10(-3) M carbachol, compared with 10(-5) M carbachol, while supramaximal stimulation by neuromedin C caused a pattern of amylase release similar to that produced by maximal stimulation. These data suggest that in pancreatic acinar cells an increase in [Ca2+]i plays an important role in stimulus-secretion coupling; however, other factors may be indispensable in regulating enzyme secretion. Furthermore, it is suggested that there is a difference in the intracellular messenger system between carbachol and caerulein, and neurotransmitters belonging to the bombesin family, especially during supramaximal stimulations.