Abstract
At present little is known about how the low-affinity cholecystokinin receptor inhibits secretagogue-stimulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acinar cells. To examine this question we have determined how cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) influences Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized pancreatic acini. CCK8 significantly inhibited Ca2+-stimulated amylase secretion. The inhibitory actions of CCK8 were completely blocked by the addition of JMV-180, a specific antagonist for the low-affinity CCK8 receptor. Previous studies have shown that Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized acini has two distinct phases [Padfield and Panesar (1997) Am. J. Physiol. 36, G655-660]. There is an initial rapid phase of secretion which represents release from exocytotic sites primed by MgATP prior to permeabilization. This is followed by a slower sustained phase of secretion which, in part, reflects the MgATP-dependent repriming of the exocytotic machinery. CCK8 did not influence the initial rapid phase of the Ca2+-dependent secretory response, but inhibited the second slower sustained phase. Moreover, CCK8 was shown to inhibit the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis in the acini. These results indicate that the low-affinity CCK receptor blocks stimulated amylase secretion by inhibiting the MgATP-dependent repriming of exocytosis.