Biochemical Reactions Involved in Pancreatic Enzyme Secretion. I. Activation of the Adenylate Cyclase Complex

Abstract

Pancreatic amylase secretion was studied using an in vitro system. Secretion was increased by urecholine and cholecystokinin–pancreozymin (CCK–PZ). Addition of tetracaine and dibucaine to the medium abolished secretion stimulated by urecholine and decreased by 75% that stimulated by CCK–PZ. In contrast, an increase in enzyme secretion was observed after dibutyryl cyclic AMP; this was potentiated by tetracaine added to the medium. Oxygen uptake by pieces of pancreatic tissue was not affected by tetracaine. Adenylate cyclase activity, increased in vitro when CCK–PZ was added to a pancreas homogenate, was inhibited by 15% by tetracaine at 2 mM and by 67.5% at the 10 mM concentration.From data known on biochemical reactions associated with the process of secretion and the results described in the present paper, we propose a model for the activation of the pancreatic adenylate cyclase complex. Associated to the depolarization of the acinar cell plasma membrane by urecholine and CCK–PZ and an inward movement of sodium and calcium, there is an immediate rise in adenylate cyclase activity within 10 s which is timed with the initiation of amylase secretion.