Evidence for an apical, nonregulated protein secretion in pig exocrine pancreas

Secretory proteins are segregated into two pathways out of the trans-Golgi network of regulated secretory cells. To identify proteins specifically secreted by pathways other than the one leading to zymogen granule exocytosis in the exocrine pancreas, conscious permanently cannulated pigs were perfused with atropine to inhibit the regulated fusion of granules. Atropine almost totally inhibited the protein secretion after 1 h of perfusion. The secretion of GP-2, a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein of the zymogen granule membrane, was partially inhibited but was never totally abolished by atropine perfusion. The pattern of proteins secreted under atropine was almost totally different. Soluble GP-2 was the major secretory product. Its specific activity increased 60 times over its normal level in all other conditions. This secretion clearly originated from nonregulated pathways. Results suggest that during the atropine block the apical plasmalemma could be the source of the released GP-2 and that the sustained nature of this release is compatible with a replenishment of the plasmalemma with GP-2 by the continuous exocytosis of vesicles from the nonregulated pathways.