Development of sensitivity to cAMP-inducing hormones in the rat stomach

Development of cAMP responses to secretin, pancreatic glucagon, and histamine was measured in gastric glands of fetal (day 20), postnatal (days 1-30), and adult rats (day 65). cAMP stimulation by these hormones was already detected on day 20 of gestation. cAMP generation showed biphasic variations during the 1st days of life and at the onset of weaning (day 20). Anticipated weaning at day 14 triggered precocious maturation (efficacies) of the cAMP-generating systems sensitive to secretin, glucagon, and histamine without changing the potencies of the hormones. During development, the general characteristics (potency and pharmacological or regulatory properties) of the receptor-cAMP systems studied were comparable with those evidenced in adult rats. At days 5, 20, and 65, vasoactive intestinal peptide and the peptide having N-terminal histidine and C-terminal isoleucine amide (PHI) were about 100 times less potent than secretin (EC50 = 1.5 X 10(-9) M secretin). The histamine action could be blocked by the competitive H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (70-100% inhibition) as well as by the noncompetitive inhibitor somatostatin (37-62% inhibition). The data indicate that these regulatory hormones (secretin, glucagon(s), histamine, and somatostatin) might have a direct effect on gastric glands and may modulate their biological activities (metabolism, differentiation, proliferation, and exocrine and endocrine secretions) from the neonatal period in rats. The important physiological role of weaning on the final maturation of the cAMP-generating systems in rat gastric glands is underlined.