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We studied the ability of the pancreas in the aspect of histological, biochemical and functional changes (pancreatic blood flow, serum and pancreatic amylase levels, DNA and RNA content and pancreatic mass) to recover from repeated episodes of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. The experiment was carried out in three animal groups: group I receiving one infusion of caerulein, group II receiving two infusions of caerulein at the interval of 10 days, and group III with three infusions every 10 days. It was found that histological signs of acute pancreatitis after the first caerulein infusion showed regression after 3 days, and the process of regeneration was almost completed after 10 days. The content of DNA and RNA correlated with the histological picture. At this time interval also the level of amylase was returning to normal. Each subsequent infusion of caerulein resulted in less enhanced tissue destruction, but regeneration started later. Pancreatic blood flow was decreased each time after induction of pancreatitis, whereas normalization was more rapid. The present findings indicate that the pancreas adapts to repeated injury, which is manifested by decreased severity of changes, but the process of regeneration is delayed.

Background: Endogenous nitric oxide has been implicated in the control of mesenteric circulation, but its role in the control of pancreatic blood flow and exocrine pancreatic secretion has not been studied., Methods: Secretory studies were performed on conscious dogs with chronic pancreatic fistulas, and changes in pancreatic blood flow were measured by laser Doppler flowmetry in anesthetized animals., Results: Infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine did not affect basal pancreatic protein secretion but suppressed an increase of this secretion induced by L-arginine but not that induced by glyceryl trinitrate. Sham-feeding, meal feeding, and infusion of secretin plus cholecystokinin induced pancreatic protein outputs reaching, respectively, 30%, 74%, and 50% of cerulein maximum in these dogs. Infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine caused a profound inhibition of these secretions, whereas the addition of L-arginine reversed this inhibition in part. NG-nitro-L-arginine or L-arginine added to the incubation medium of isolated canine pancreatic acini did not affect basal or cholecystokinin-induced amylase release. In anesthetized dogs, infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine caused a significant reduction in the pancreatic blood flow both while resting and following stimulation with secretin plus cholecystokinin but did not affect this flow in animals treated with glyceryl trinitrate. Addition of L-arginine attenuated the decrease in pancreatic blood flow and the increase in systemic blood pressure caused by NG-L-nitro-arginine., Conclusions: Endogenous NO affects pancreatic secretion probably through the changes in the vascular bed.

Pancreatic secretion in rats is regulated by feedback inhibition of cholecystokinin (CCK) release by proteases in the gut lumen, but little is known about the role of gastric acid in this regulation. This study, carried out on conscious rats with large gastric fistulas (GF) and pancreatic fistulas, shows that diversion of pancreatic juice results in the progressive stimulation of pancreatic secretion only in rats with the GF closed. When the GF was kept open, the diversion resulted in only small increment in pancreatic secretion and this was accompanied by progressive increase in gastric acid outputs. Similar amounts of HCl instilled into the duodenum in rats with the GF open fully reproduced the increase in pancreatic secretion observed after the diversion of pancreatic juice. Pretreatment with omeprazole (15 mumol/kg) to suppress gastric acid secretion or with L-364,718 (5 mumol/kg) to antagonize CCK receptors in the diverted state, resulted in the decline in pancreatic secretion similar to that observed after opening the GF. CCK given s.c. (20-320 pmol/kg) failed to cause any significant rise in the post-diversion pancreatic secretion in rats with the GF closed, but stimulated this secretion dose-dependently when the GF was open. Camostate (6-200 mg/kg) in rats with pancreatic juice returned to the duodenum caused dose-dependent increase in pancreatic secretion, but after opening the GF or after omeprazole this increase was reduced by about 75%. This study provides evidence that gastric acid plays a crucial role in the pancreatic response to diversion of pancreatic juice or inhibition of luminal proteases, and that factors that eliminate gastric acid secretion reduce this response.

Recently synthesized highly specific and potent bombesin receptor antagonists permit study of the role of endogenous bombesin-like peptides in the physiological regulation of pancreatic secretion. We now tested the action of three novel pseudononapeptide bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) antagonists (RC-3095, RC-3100 and RC-3120) on amylase release in vitro from isolated rat pancreatic acini and on protein secretion in vivo in chronic pancreatic fistula rats. In isolated pancreatic acini, all three bombesin receptor antagonists inhibited the amylase secretion induced by bombesin by shifting to the right the amylase response to bombesin without altering the maximal response. These antagonists alos reduced concentration dependently the near-maximal amylase response to bombesin, the concentration required for 50% reduction (IC50) being about 10(-7) M for RC-3095 and RC-3100 and 10(-6) M for RC-3120. None of the bombesin/GRP antagonists used affected the amylase response to CCK, pentagastrin or urecholine. In conscious rats with a chronic pancreatic fistula, all three bombesin antagonists shifted to the right the pancreatic protein response to graded doses of bombesin without changing the maximal response. These antagonists inhibited the protein response to constant background stimulation with bombesin in a dose-dependent manner, the ID50 being about 20 nmol/kg per h for RC-3095 and RC-3100 and about 160 nmol/kg per h for RC-3120. None of the antagonists significantly affected basal pancreatic secretion or secretion induced by sham-feeding, ordinary feeding or the diversion of pancreatic juice from the duodenum. These results indicate that exogenous bombesin is a potent direct stimulant of pancreatic enzyme secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

EGF, produced mainly by salivary glands, inhibits gastric acid secretion, stimulates the proliferation of gastric mucosal cells and protects the mucosa against various ulcerogens, but its role in the pathogenesis of stress ulcerations is unknown. In this study, rats with intact or resected salivary glands were exposed to water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) without and with pretreatment with exogenous EGF or dimethyl PGE2 (dmPGE2) at doses which were shown previously to protect the mucosa against topical irritants. During 1.5-12 h of WRS, the formation of gastric ulcerations increased progressively with the duration of stress reaching peak after 6 h of stress and being significantly higher in rats with removed salivary glands than in intact animals. Gastric acid secretion and DNA synthesis in oxyntic mucosa declined with the duration of WRS, but after sialoadenectomy a significant increase in gastric acid secretion and a further decline in DNA synthesis were observed after WRS. EGF contents in the gastric lumen and the gastric mucosa were several times higher in rats subjected to stress than in control unstressed animals, indicating that stress causes an extensive release of EGF. Both exogenous EGF (17 nmol/kg/h) and dmPGE2 (143 nmol/kg) prevented, in part, the formation of gastric lesions, while inhibiting gastric acid secretion both in rats with intact or resected salivary glands. We conclude that water immersion and restraint stress is accompanied by an excessive release of EGF, which appears to attenuate gastric secretion, enhances the DNA synthesis and may limit the formation of stress-induced gastric ulcerations.

The effects of bombesin, gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) on amylase secretion from the isolated rat pancreatic acini and on DNA synthesis (as biochemical indicator of trophic action) in the pancreas have been examined in 48-hour fasted and 16-hour refed rats with and without administration of specific receptor antagonists for bombesin, gastrin and CCK. Studies on the isolated rat acini revealed that bombesin, gastrin and CCK-8 all showed the same efficacy in their ability to stimulate amylase release. RC-3095, bombesin pseudo-peptide antagonizing bombesin receptors, was effective only in suppressing the amylase response to bombesin but not to gastrin or CCK. Benzodiazepine receptor antagonists for gastrin (L-365,260) and for CCK (L-364,718) showed higher efficacy in the inhibition of amylase release induced by pentagastrin and CCK, respectively, but failed to affect that induced by bombesin. These peptides administered 3 times daily for 48 h in fasted rats increased the rate of DNA synthesis as measured by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. The blockade of bombesin receptors abolished the DNA synthesis induced only by bombesin but not by gastrin or CCK. The blockade of gastrin receptors by L-365,260 suppressed the DNA synthesis induced by gastrin while the antagonism of CCK receptors by L-364,718 was effective only against CCK. Refeeding of 48-hour fasting rats strongly enhanced DNA synthesis which was significantly reduced by blocking only the CCK receptors (with L-364,718), but not the bombesin (with RC-3095) or gastrin receptors (with L-365,260).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidermal growth factor promotes the growth of and protects gastric mucosa against various ulcerogens, including stress, but little is known about its role in the pathogenesis of stress ulcerations. In this study, Wistar rats with intact and resected salivary glands were exposed to water-immersion and restraint stress. During 2-14 hours of water-immersion restraint stress, the formation of gastric ulcerations increased progressively and the duration of stress was accompanied by a decrease in DNA synthesis in the gastric mucosa. Following sialoadenectomy, a significant increase in the number of stress ulcerations and further reduction in DNA synthesis were observed. Exogenous epidermal growth factor and dimethyl prostaglandin E2 significantly reduced the ulcerations in the stressed rats with intact salivary glands, but this reduction was significantly less pronounced after sialoadenectomy. Water-immersion restraint stress also resulted in about 50% reduction in mucosal prostaglandin E2 generation, and the pretreatment with indomethacin, which suppressed prostaglandin E2 by about 90%, almost doubled the number of stress ulcerations and abolished the gastro-protective effect of exogenous epidermal growth factor (but not dimethyl prostaglandin E2) against the stress lesions. An inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase activity by difluoromethyl ornithine also augmented stress-induced ulcerogenesis and abolished the protective action of epidermal growth factor while the administration of spermine almost completely prevented stress ulcerations in rats both without and with pretreatment with difluoromethylornithine. Water-immersion restraint stress also significantly reduced mucosal content of glutathione. Cysteamine increased tissue glutathione and reduced stress ulcerations but N-ethylmaleimide, an sulfhydryl blocker, decreased mucosal content of glutathione without affecting the stress ulcerations. This study indicates that the stress ulcers are accompanied by the reduction in mucosal synthesis of DNA, prostaglandin, and glutathione and that the presence of salivary glands attenuates the stress ulcerogenesis probably by releasing epidermal growth factor which acts, in part, by enhancing ornithine decarboxylase activity, mucosal growth, and prostaglandin and glutathione formation.

The effects of bombesin on the growth of the gastroduodenal mucosa and the pancreas have been examined in adult rats with intact or resected antrum and following administration of somatostatin or CCK-receptor antagonist L-364,718. The peptides were administered three times daily for 7 consecutive days, and then the animals were sacrificed and growth parameters (organ weight and RNA and DNA contents) were determined, and plasma gastrin and CCK were assayed. Compared with the control (saline) values, bombesin significantly stimulated the growth of the oxyntic and duodenal mucosa and the pancreas. These effects were partly reduced but not abolished by somatostatin, antrectomy and L-364,718, suggesting that bombesin may enhance the growth partly by releasing gastrin and CCK and partly by direct action on these tissues.

This study was designed to determine the specificity and physiological nature of short-term satiety effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) in rats with intact and transected vagal nerves. Rats with-the gastric fistulas, closed or open, were used for normal feeding or sham feeding of liquid meal offered for 30 min. CCK-8 (0.5-10 nmol/kg) injected intraperitoneally (ip) 15 min before feeding inhibited food intake dose dependently in both normal-fed and sham-fed rats at a minimal inhibitory dose of 1 nmol/kg. CCK-8 at the same doses caused a potent stimulation of pancreatic protein secretion, reaching maximum at a dose of approximately 0.5 nmol/kg. Pretreatment with a potent CCK receptor antagonist, L-364,718 (2.5 mg/kg ip), increased food intake during normal feeding (but not sham feeding) and almost completely blocked the satiety and pancreatic stimulatory effects of CCK. When feeding was preceded by intragastric administration of proteinase inhibitor (Foy-305, 200 mg/kg), food preload, or diversion of bile-pancreatic secretion to the exterior, there was a significant increase in the plasma level of CCK and an inhibition of food intake by about 36, 78, and 25%, respectively. Pretreatment with L-364,718 completely abolished this inhibition by Foy-305 and bile-pancreatic diversion and reduced that caused by food preload. Among other gut peptides given ip (10 nmol/kg) only bombesin reduced food intake, whereas gastrin, secretin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and peptide YY (PYY) were ineffective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1. Graded doses of bombesin infused I.V. into conscious rats with chronic pancreatic fistulae induced a dose-dependent stimulation of protein secretion, similar to that obtained with caerulein. This stimulation does not appear to be mediated by cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors because peptidergic (CR-1409) and non-peptidergic (L-364718) CCK antagonists failed to affect protein secretion at a dose range which caused almost complete suppression of caerulein-induced pancreatic secretion. 2. Studies in vitro on isolated rat pancreatic acini revealed that caerulein, pentagastrin and bombesin all showed the same efficacy in their ability to stimulate amylase release. In contrast, CCK antagonists competitively inhibited amylase release induced by caerulein and pentagastrin but not by bombesin or urecholine, indicating that the latter two agents act directly on acinar cells via receptors which are separate from those involved in stimulation induced by caerulein and pentagastrin. 3. DNA synthesis, measured by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, was significantly stimulated by caerulein, soybean trypsin inhibitor (FOY 305), pentagastrin and by bombesin in a dose-dependent manner. CCK receptor antagonists prevented stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by caerulein, FOY 305 and pentagastrin but not by bombesin. 4. This study indicates that bombesin strongly stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion, with an efficacy similar to that of caerulein, and also exerts a potent growth-promoting action on the pancreas, both effects appearing to be mediated by mechanisms independent of the CCK receptors.

Growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) was reported to possess the growth-promoting action on the gastroduodenal mucosa that can be augmented by removal of endogenous somatostatin. Since mucosal proliferation was considered to contribute to healing of chronic gastroduodenal ulcerations, we designed the study to determine the interaction of GRF and somatostatin on the healing rate of acetic acid-induced chronic gastric and duodenal ulcers and on the growth of gastroduodenal mucosa in rats. GRF injected subcutaneously twice daily at 100 micrograms/kg/day for 7 days resulted in a significant enhancement of healing rate of both gastric and duodenal ulcerations and this was accompanied by a significant increase in the weight of the mucosa and the contents of RNA and DNA. GRF also significantly increased serum gastrin levels and the tissue contents of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in salivary glands, duodenum and pancreas, suggesting that both gastrin and EGF could contribute to mucosal trophic and ulcer healing effects of GRF. Somatostatin (100 micrograms/kg/day for 7 days) abolished almost completely the ulcer healing and mucosal growth-promoting effects of GRF and this was accompanied by the reduction in serum gastrin level and the tissue contents of EGF suggesting that the suppression of gastrin and EGF release could contribute to the observed effects of somatostatin. We conclude that GRF has both the ulcer healing and the mucosal trophic actions which can be antagonized by somatostatin and that gastrin and EGF may be implicated in these actions.