Different implications of Ca2+i and and Ca2+e in CCK/gastrin-induced amylase secretion in AR4-2J cells

The importance of Ca2+ in the regulation of secretion is well-known. However, recent experiments suggest that a rise in intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i) does not necessarily trigger secretion in pancreatic acinar cells. In AR4-2J cells the role of the Ca2+ mobilization induced by cholecystokinin/gastrin (CCK/G), which is dependent of the intracellular calcium store and the calcium influx operating through voltage-dependent calcium channels, has never been directly demonstrated. Therefore, we attempted to determine whether Ca2+i and/or extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+e) mobilized by CCK/G plays a role in the amylase secretion of these cells. We measured the [Ca2+]i by spectrofluorometry and amylase release in different experimental procedures modulating the two pools of calcium. Ionomycin increased both [Ca2+]i and amylase related. In Ca(2+)-depleted cells or in the presence of thapsigargin the transient rise in Ca2+i and the amylase secretion induced by CCK/G were suppressed. A 50 mM K+ solution or Bay K 8644, which activated the Ca2+ influx, did not induce any variation of the basal amylase secretion. Moreover, amylase secretion induced by CCK/G did not change significantly in Ca(2+)-free medium or in the presence of nifedipine. These results indicate that in AR4-2J cells, amylase secretion is dependent of the large increase in Ca2+i induced by CCK/G and independent of the Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels dihydropyridine sensitive.