Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Bethanechol”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Effects of somatostatin and its analog on gastric secretion. An application of the secretagogues to gastric secretion].

A simple technique to examine the effects of drugs on the gastric secretion response to the secretagogues without anesthesia was shown in this paper. The administration of bethanechol (1 mg/kg, s.c.), histamine (15 mg/kg, s.c.) or pentagastrin (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the gastric volume and the total acid output in the pylorus-ligated rat. These responses to the secretagogues were inhibited by N-butylscopolamine, urogastrone or cimetidine dose-dependently. N-butylscopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the response to bethanechol but not that to pentagastrin or histamine. Cimetidine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited not only the response to histamine but also the acid response to bethanechol or pentagastrin. Urogastrone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the response to these three secretagogues. The ratio of the total acid output to the gastric volume was also examined in each of the cases. Somatostatin (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the response to pentagastrin, but not that to bethanechol or histamine. On the other hand, an analogue of somatostatin (SS-1; 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the response to bethanechol but not that to pentagastrin or histamine.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inhibitory effect of somatostatin on gastric acid secretion in rats.

Effects of somatostatin on parasympathetically induced increases in gastric acid secretion and mucosal blood flow (MBF) were studied in anesthetized rats with a gastric fistula. Intravenous infusion of small doses of somatostatin (0.1-0.5 microgram/kg/min) dose-dependently inhibited the increases in the vagally stimulated gastric acid secretion. Larger doses of somatostatin (0.5-2.5 micrograms/kg/min) also dose-dependently inhibited the bethanechol-induced gastric acid secretion. The dose of somatostatin required to inhibit the gastric acid secretion by about 50% of the preinfused control values was 0.25 microgram/kg/min for vagally stimulated acid secretion and 2.5 micrograms/kg/min for bethanechol-induced acid secretion. Thus, the inhibitory potency of somatostatin on the vagally stimulated gastric acid secretion was about 10-fold higher than that on bethanechol-induced acid secretion. Somatostatin had no effect on the increase in gastric MBF during vagus nerve stimulation or bethanechol infusion. Pretreatment with indomethacin or phentolamine had no effect on the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on the increase in gastric acid secretion during vagus nerve stimulation or bethanechol infusion. These results suggest that somatostatin exerts an inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion by acting on the parasympathetic neurons in the gastric wall more than on the structures peripheral to the parasympathetic nerve terminals, and it reduces parasympathetically stimulated gastric acid secretion in rats. This inhibitory effect of somatostatin on the gastric acid secretion is independent of the changes in the gastric MBF and probably not related to prostaglandin-involved or alpha adrenoceptor-mediated mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of isosorbide and hydralazine in painful primary esophageal motility disorders.

Five patients with painful primary esophageal motility disorders underwent pharmacologic testing with isosorbide and hydralazine. While neither agent affected baseline amplitude or duration of distal esophageal contractions, pretreatment with hydralazine significantly blunted the response to bethanechol (mean esophageal contraction duration, 31.4 +/- 4.8 s after bethanechol alone vs. 12.7 +/- 1.8 s after bethanechol and hydralazine p less than 0.005). Premedication with isosorbide was significantly less effective. In addition, while all 5 patients experienced chest pain in response to bethanechol alone, only 1 of 5 experienced chest pain in response to bethanechol after previous hydralazine administration; 3 patients had chest pain after previous administration of isosorbide. Patients who were placed on long-term oral hydralazine therapy experienced improvement in chest pain and dysphagia with concomitant decrease in amplitude and duration of esophageal contractions on repeat motility study (176.5 +/- 23.8 mmHg to 97.3 +/- 27.0 mmHg, p less than 0.05, 7.5 +/- 0.8 s to 5.2 +/- 0.5 s, p less than 0.005). Hydralazine appears to be of value in the treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm and other painful primary esophageal motility disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Dissociation of the metabolic from the contractile response to muscarinic stimulation in the rabbit urinary bladder.

The calcium dependence of contraction and NADH fluorescence was investigated in rabbit bladder stimulated with bethanechol or KCl. The absence of calcium in the bathing solution induced a rightward shift in the dose response to bethanechol for both contraction and NADH fluorescence. The contractile response was shifted to a greater degree than the fluorescence response and the maximal response to bethanechol was reduced by 80% for contraction but only 20% for NADH fluorescence. This rightward shift was also induced by the benzothiazepine calcium antagonist diltiazem (200 microM) and again the contractile response was shifted significantly more than the fluorescence response. The combination of zero calcium and 200 microM diltiazem virtually abolished contractions but only inhibited the NADH fluorescence by 65% at maximally effective bethanechol concentrations. Unlike the effect of diltiazem on the response to bethanechol, diltiazem (200 microM) shifted both the contraction and fluorescence curves to the right equally in response to KCl stimulation. These results indicate that a metabolic response to muscarinic stimulation (decreased NADH) can occur in the absence of any observable contractile response. This metabolic response may be due to post receptor signal processing events. For KCl stimulation, the NADH response is probably secondary to and a result of the contractile response.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The influence of intravesical volume upon contractile responses of the whole bladder preparation from streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

1. The in vivo whole bladder preparation was used to correlate bladder volume with the ability of urinary bladders from control, sucrose-drinking, and diabetic rats to develop pressure in response to bethanechol or nerve stimulation. 2. Both streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and sucrose-diuresis caused an increase in rat urinary bladder capacity and mass. 3. There were significant decreases in the ability of bladders from control rats to develop pressure in response to bethanechol at 1.0 ml intravesical volume, but no change in responsiveness of bladders from sucrose-drinking or diabetic rats at different intravesical volumes. Bladders from sucrose-drinking and diabetic rats developed significantly less pressure in response to bethanechol stimulation at low intravesical volumes than did bladders from control rats. 4. Bladders from diabetic rats developed significantly less pressure in response to 32 Hz stimulation at 0.2 ml intravesical volume compared to larger volumes, however, there were no differences in the responses of bladders from sucrose-drinking or control rats at any intravesical volume. 5. Bladders from control and sucrose-drinking rats had a reduced ability to empty in response to bethanechol and field stimulation at large intravesical volumes. 6. Bladders from 8-week streptozotocin-diabetic rats are able to contract and empty efficiently in response to nerve stimulation and bethanechol over a wide range of intravesical volumes.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Selective activation by photodynamic action of cholecystokinin receptor in the freshly isolated rat pancreatic acini.

1 Sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine (SALPC) photodynamic action induces amylase secretion and permanent calcium oscillation in rat pancreatic acinar cells, because of the activation of phospholipase C or signalling proteins upstream. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of muscarinic acetylcholine and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors. 2 Muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (10 micro M) blocked amylase secretion induced by bethanechol (100 micro M), and CCK(1) receptor antagonist (S)-N-[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3,4,6,7-tetrahydor-4-oxo-pyrrolo-[3,2,1-jk][1,4] benzodiazepine-3yl]-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (FK480) (1 micro M) blocked amylase secretion induced by CCK (100 pM). 3 Amylase secretion induced by SALPC photodynamic action was not inhibited when atropine and FK480 were present during photodynamic action. However, addition of FK480 1 micro M after initiation of photodynamic action inhibited photodynamic amylase secretion. Bethanechol (10, 100 micro M) added after photodynamic action resulted in a full secretory response. 4 Atropine (10 nM) abolished calcium oscillation induced by bethanechol (5 micro M), and FK480 (10 nM) blocked calcium oscillation induced by CCK (10 pM). 5 Atropine up to 10 micro M was without effect on Ca(2+) oscillation triggered by photodynamic action, but these oscillations were abolished by FK480 (10 nM). FK480 (10 nM) had no effect on calcium oscillations induced by bethanechol (5 micro M). Bethanechol 5 micro M, added after FK480 blockade of photodynamic calcium oscillation, still triggered regular calcium oscillation. 6 It is concluded that SALPC photodynamic action selectively and permanently activates CCK receptor in rat pancreatic acini. Such permanent and selective modulation of signalling proteins has important implications for the treatment of pancreatitis, prion diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Amylases↗
PubMed1999

M2 muscarinic receptor subtype in the feline medial pontine reticular formation modulates the amount of rapid eye movement sleep.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is generated, in part, by activating muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChRs) in the medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF). Molecular cloning has identified five mAChR subtypes, and this study tested the hypothesis that the M2 subtype in the mPRF modulates the amount of REM sleep. This hypothesis cannot be tested directly, due to lack of subtype selective muscarinic agonists. However, the amount of REM sleep can be enhanced by mPRF microinjection of a muscarinic agonist, and the relative potencies of muscarinic antagonists to block the REM sleep enhancement can be determined. Two muscarinic antagonists, methoctramine and 4-DAMP, were studied. Six concentrations of each antagonist were microinjected into the mPRF of conscious cat 15 min prior to the agonist bethanechol. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to calculate the dose of antagonist that caused a 50% inhibition (ID50) of bethanechol-induced REM sleep. Bethanechol significantly increased (442%) the amount of time spent in REM sleep. Both methoctramine and 4-DAMP significantly blocked the bethanechol-induced REM sleep increase, with an ID50 of 1.8 microM and 0.6 microM, respectively. The ID50 ratio for methoctramine-to-4-DAMP (3.0) was similar to the affinity ratio of methoctramine-to-4-DAMP only at the M2 subtype (3.5), suggesting that the M2 subtype in the mPRF modulates the amount of REM sleep. This study also tested the null hypothesis that sleep-dependent respiratory depression evoked by mPRF cholinomimetics would not be antagonized by pretreatment of the mPRF with muscarinic antagonists. Neither methoctramine nor 4-DAMP antagonized the bethanechol-induced decrease in respiratory rate.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Gastrointestinal motor and secretory responses to cholinergic stimulation in humans. Differential modulation by muscarinic and cholecystokinin receptor blockade.

The present study investigated how a cholinergic agonist modifies interdigestive motility and secretion of the upper gastrointestinal tract and how muscarinic and cholecystokinin receptor blockade interfere with this direct cholinergic stimulation. In eight healthy volunteers, gastrointestinal motor and secretory responses to bethanechol (12.5, 25, and 50 micrograms kg-1 h-1) with and without a background of atropine (5 micrograms kg-1 h-1) or loxiglumide (10 mg kg-1 h-1) were studied. Stepdoses of bethanechol caused a parallel stimulation of antroduodenal motility and gastropancreatic secretion (P < 0.01) without inducing a fed pattern. However, duration of phase I was shortened (P < 0.05). Only high doses of bethanechol enhanced gastrin (P < 0.05), cholecystokinin (P < 0.05), and pancreatic polypeptide (P < 0.01) release. Atropine completely antagonized motor and secretory responses to cholinergic stimulation. Loxiglumide left cholinergically stimulated motility and pancreatic enzyme secretion unaltered. With co-infusion of bethanechol and loxiglumide, PP release dropped by 63% (P < 0.01); gastric acid output, gastrin and CCK release increased by 56%, 16%, and 25%, respectively (P < 0.05). We conclude that stimulation by a cholinergic agonist preserves the interdigestive pattern. Low dose muscarinic receptor blockade abolishes cholinergic stimulation over the full dose range. Inhibition of somatostatin release would explain stimulation of gastrin release and gastric acid secretion with co-infusion of bethanechol and loxiglumide. Endogenous CCK appears to interact with direct cholinergic stimulation at the pancreatic PP cell and the gastric D-cell but not at pancreatic acinar and antroduodenal smooth muscle cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Effects of the calcium ionophore A23187 on pancreatic acinar cell membrane potentials and amylase release.

1. The effects of the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 and the non-metabolizable cholinergic agonist bethanechol on acinar cell membrane potentials and amylase release from the superfused mouse pancreas were studied. 2. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+ (2.56 mM), A23187 (10(-5)M) and bethanechol (3 X 10(-5)M) caused an equal increase in the release of amylase. Both stimulants depolarized theacinar cells, A23187 by 6-0 mV and bethanechol by 12-3 mV. 3. When Ca2+ and Mg2+ were removed from the superfusate, the ability of A23187 to increase the rate of amylase release was virtually abolished, while the effect of bethanechol remained unaltered. Similarly, in the absence of these divalent cations, A23187 did not cause depolarization of the acinar cells, while depolarization in response to bethanechol was largely normal. Consequently it is unlikely that cholinergic agonists initiate secretion by activating a Ca2+-ionophore-like mechanism in the cell membrane. 4. When the concentration of Ca2+ in the medium was raised to 10 mM was the only extracellular divalent cation present, the depolarization in response to A23187 was increased to 11-8 mV. When Mg2+ in a concentration of 10 mM was the only extracellular divalent cation, the depolarization was only 2-1 mV. 5. The Ca2+ dependent, A23187-induced depolarization was abolished in the absence of Na+ (Tris substitution). Addition of Na+ to the superfusate caused an immediate depolarization. 6. It is concluded that the Ca2+ dependent depolarization of pancreatic acinar cells induced by A23187 is not directly due to an increased divalent cation conductance. Our findings are consistent with the view that the depolarization is due to an increased influx of Na+ resulting from a Ca2+ mediated increase in Na+ permeability.

Amylases↗
PubMed1982

Nonparallel transport of exportable proteins in rat pancreas in vitro.

The relative change in in vitro discharge of amylase (or total protein) versus pulse-labeled protein from rat pancreatic fragments was studied after in vivo stimulation with bethanechol or saline injections. Bethanechol was injection were pulse-labeled for 5 min with [14C]L-phenylalanine. The pulse was chased for 60 min. In fragments derived from animals injected with saline, ratio of amylase (or total protein) to new secretory protein decreased at 5 and 15 min but there was no change at 45 min of in vitro incubation with 5 X 10-5 M bethanechol. In fragments derived from animals injected with bethanechol, ratio of amylase to radiolabeled secretory protein decreased at 5 and 15 min and the ratio of total protein to radiolabeled secretory protein secretion decreased at 5 but not at 15 and 45 min. There was a lack of parallelism between the ratios of amylase to radiolabeled protein secretion and total protein secretion to radiolabeled protein secretion in animals injected with bethanechol in vivo followed by in vitro incubations. These experiments indicate that the older proteins are preferentially secreted under nonstimulated conditions and mixing of granules occurs following stimulation. The time required for mixing varies depending on whether the cells are stimulated or not. These data provide support for the concept that there may be more than one subpopulation of zymogen granules in the acinar cell leading to nonparallel enzyme secretion.

Amylases↗
PubMed2001

Regional differences in the response of feline esophageal smooth muscle to stretch and cholinergic stimulation.

There are no objective differences in neural elements that explain regional differences in neural influences along the smooth muscle (SM) esophageal body (EB). Regional differences in muscle properties are present in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This study examines whether regional differences in SM properties exist along the EB and are reflected in length-tension relationships and responses to cholinergic excitation. Circular SM strips from feline EB at 1 cm (EB1) and 3 cm (EB3) above LES and from clasp and sling muscle bundles of LES were assessed in normal and calcium-free solutions with and without bethanechol stimulation. Neural inhibition was assessed by electrical field stimulation (EFS). EB3 developed significantly higher tension in response to stretch and to bethanechol than did EB1. The relaxation response to EFS in bethanechol-precontracted strips was less in EB3 than in EB1. In LES, clasp developed higher resting tension than sling but less active tension in response to bethanechol. EFS-induced relaxations of sling and clasp tissues precontracted by bethanechol were not different. In calcium-free solution, length-tension differences between EB3 and EB1 persisted, but those of LES clasp and sling were abolished. Therefore, regional myogenic differences exist in feline EB circular SM as well as in LES and may contribute to the nature of esophageal contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Lower esophageal sphincter pressures and serum gastrin levels after cholinergic stimulation.

To define the role of gastrin, if any, in the response of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to bethanechol, serum gastrin determinations and LES pressure measurements were made in controls, patients with vagotomy and antrectomy (V&A), and patients with vagotomy and pyloroplasty (V&P). Despite significant differences in mean basal serum gastrin levels no differences were found in mean resting LES pressures among these groups. In controls significant increases in LES pressure occurred after subcutaneous bethanechol, but serum gastrin levels did not change from basal values. Subcutaneous injections of bethanechol produced significantly greater increases in LES pressures in V&P patients than in V&A patients. Serum gastrin levels did not change in either group; however, background serum gastrin concentrations were significantly greater for V&P patients than V&A patients throughout the study. Intravenous infusion of human gastrin I heptadecapeptide in controls significantly increased sphincter responses to bethanechol. Thus, these studies provide evidence to suggest that the LES response to bethanechol is affected by background serum gastrin levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Cholinergic stimulation and inhibition of pancreatic secretion in alcohol-adapted dogs.

There is indirect evidence of increased release of acetylcholine in the exocrine pancreas of chronically alcoholic dogs. Our aim was to ascertain whether altered pancreatic responsiveness to cholinergic stimulation was an associated phenomenon. Pancreatic dose-response tests with graded bethanechol stimulation on constant secretion stimulation, without or with a low dose of background atropine, were performed in four chronic gastric and duodenal fistula dogs after 3 and 12 months of intragastric feeding with ethanol. The secretory protein response was dose-dependently increased by bethanechol in the control dogs but not in the test dogs, after 3 or 12 months of daily alcohol. They responded significantly only to a dose four to eight times greater than the minimum effective dose in the control dogs. Atropine depressed the entire dose-response curve of these dogs but only the response to the greatest doses in the alcohol-treated dogs. In previous experiments caerulein and/or secretin evoked increased secretory responses of bicarbonate in chronically alcoholic dogs, but this was not the case in this study with bethanechol, which did not have a stimulating effect on bicarbonate in either test or control dogs. Concomitant atropine, however, unmasked a bicarbonate-stimulating effect of bethanechol in control but not in treated dogs. It is concluded that chronic alcohol-feeding, already after 3 months, leads to a diminished pancreatic responsiveness to cholinergic stimulation and inhibition of protein output, as evidenced by at least a fourfold increase of the minimum effective dose of bethanechol and diminished inhibitory action of atropine.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1996

Chronic (-)-isoprenaline infusion down-regulates beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors but does not transregulate muscarinic cholinoceptors in rat heart.

Regulation of beta-adrenoceptor (beta-ar) subtypes and transregulation of muscarinic cholinoceptors (mAchr) was examined in regions of rat heart after chronic infusion of (-)-isoprenaline (450 micrograms/kg per hour) for 14 days. Following (-)-isoprenaline infusion systolic blood pressure was reduced for 10 days but then gradually returned to control levels, whereas heart rate was increased for 7 days before declining to a level significantly above control. Heart weight to body weight ratio was increased in (-)-isoprenaline treated rats. beta-ar subtype densities were measured by quantitative autoradiography with [125I]-cyanopindolol (CYP) in sinoatrial node (SA), atrioventricular node (AV), bundle of His (BH), left (LB) and right (RB) bundle branches, interventricular (IVS) and interatrial (IAS) septa, right atria (RA), apex (AX) and mitral valve (MV). beta 1-ars were reduced by 59.1-74.2% in the AV conducting regions, 53.4% in the SA node and 43.3-53.4% in myocardial areas, beta 2-ars were markedly reduced in myocardial regions (93.2-98.5%) and in pacemaker and conducting regions (87.7-97.8%). No changes in mAchr densities measured using [3H]-N-methyl scopolamine (NMS) occurred in the AV node, BH, LB, RB, IVS and IAS following (-)-isoprenaline infusion. Densities of beta 1- and beta 2-ars and mAchrs were also measured in ventricular homogenates from control and (-)-isoprenaline treated animals. beta-ar levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in treated animals and the ratio of beta 1- to beta 2-ars increased after treatment. mAchr density in ventricular homogenates measured using either [3H]-NMS or [3H]-quinuclidinyl [phenyl-4-3H]benzilate (QNB) was unchanged. Homogenates of left and right ventricle also showed no change using [3H]-NMS. Organ bath studies were used to investigate the effect of (-)-isoprenaline infusion on negative inotropic and chronotropic effects of the non-selective muscarinic receptor agonist bethanechol in left and right atria, respectively. Lower concentrations of bethanechol (3 x 10(-10) to 10(-6) M) produced a negative inotropic response in isolated electrically driven left atria from (-)-isoprenaline treated rats, but not from control rats, with the slope of the curves being significantly different between groups (ANCOVA, P = 0.037). At concentrations of bethanechol from 10(-6) to 3 x 10(-4) M the negative inotropic response was not changed between (-)-isoprenaline treated and control animals. Bethanechol also produced a negative chronotropic response at lower concentrations (10(-10) to 10(-6) M) in (-)-isoprenaline treated rats, but not in controls. A second, steeper phase of the negative chronotropic response occurred at concentrations of bethanechol greater than 10(-6) M and was also seen in control rats. Expression of M2 (cardiac) mAchrs (m2Achr) in left and right ventricular tissues measured using a quantitative non-competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay showed a significant (P = 0.001) 28.5% increase in expression in left ventricle and a significant (P = 0.003) 21.5% decrease in expression in right ventricle after (-)-isoprenaline treatment, compared to controls. There was no significant difference in total ventricular m2Achr expression between the two groups of rats. The results suggest that chronic beta-ar stimulation down-regulates both beta 1- and beta 2-ars, and appears to differentially transregulate m2Achr expression, but not mAchr protein. Following (-)-isoprenaline infusion, muscarinic receptor mediated responses were sensitised, with no change in receptor densities, suggesting changes occur in the cell signalling system beyond the level of the receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effect of glucagon on digestive enzyme synthesis, transport and secretion in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

1. Effect of glucagon on amylase secretion and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release from functionally intact dissociated pancreatic acinar cells and acini was studied. 2. In dissociated rat pancreatic acinar cells, the rate of amylase secretion was increased by 70% with bethanechol (maximally effective concentration, 10(-4) M) and 125% with A23187 (10(-5) M), but the response to cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ) was inconsistent. In dissociated cells from mouse pancreas, the increases amounted to 78% with bethanechol (10(-4) M), 134% with A23187 (10(-5) M) and 82% with CCK-PZ (maximally effective concentration, 0 . 01 u. ml.-1). Glucagon in concentrations ranging from 10(-7) to 10(-4) M increased amylase secretion by 3, 26, 67 and 80%, whereas secretin (10(-8)--10(-5) M) increased amylase secretion by 8, 39, 88 and 138%. LDH release was increased with A23187 in concentrations greater than 10(-6) M. 3. CCK-PZ, bethanechol and A23187 used in maximal concentrations potentiated the effect of a submaximal dose of glucagon whereas secretin did not have an additive or a potentiating effect. 4. Pancreatic acini were approximately 3 times more responsive to secretagogues than cells. The dose--response curves to bethanechol, glucagon and CCK-PZ for increase in amylase secretion were similar. LDH release was not increased by these agents. Cytochalasin B (5 microgram ml.-1) which is known to disrupt the integrity of luminal membrane inhibited the amylase secretion stimulated by glucagon, bethanechol and CCK-PZ. 5. Glucagon inhibited incorporation of a mixture of fifteen 14C-labelled amino acids (algal profile, Schwarz Mann) into perchloric acid precipitable proteins in dissociated mouse pancreatic acini within 30 min. 6. In 'pulse-chase' experiments, glucagon decreased the specific activity of zymogen granules isolated by differential centrifugation, from pancreatic lobules (120 min) and increased the specific activity of radiolabelled proteins in the medium (60 and 120 min). 7. It is concluded that glucagon increased digestive enzyme secretion from pancreatic acinar cells by a direct action (in contrast to its reported indirect effect in vivo) and decreased digestive enzyme synthesis. The data on transport and secretion do not support the suggested role of glucagon as an inhibitor in the intact animal.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1980

Amylase release from dissociated mouse pancreatic acinar cells stimulated by glucagon: effect of membrane stabilizers.

1. The effect of membrane stabilizers and cytochalasin-B on amylase secretion, basal and induced by ionophore A23187, CCK-PZ, bethanechol and glucagon, was studied in dissociated mouse pancreatic acinar cells. 2. Cytochalasin-B did not affect basal or secretagogue-stimulated amylase secretion. 3. Membrane stabilizers [thymol (10(-7)-10(-4) M), chlorpromazine (10(-7)-10(-4) M) and propranolol (10(-7)-10(-5) M) did not alter basal release of amylase. At higher concentrations of thymol (10(-3) M), chlorpromazine (10(-3) M) and propranolol (10(-4) M), dissociated acinar cells were lysed as indicated by an increase in release of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). 4. Ionophore A23187, CCK-PZ (maximal effective concentrations, 0.01 u. ml.-1), bethanechol (maximal effective concentrations, 10(-4) M) and glucagon increased amylase secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. Concentrations of CCK-PZ and bethanechol beyond optimal levels decreased amylase secretion. Concentrations of ionophore A23187 and glucagon when tested beyond 10(-6) M and 10(-4) M respectively increased the release of LDH. In concentrations that were non-toxic, membrane stabilizers blocked the stimulating effect of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin and bethanechol on amylase secretion but did not alter the response to A23187 and glucagon. 5. Unlike bethanechol, glucagon neither increased the uptake of 45Ca nor did it alter the release of 45Ca from cells previously loaded with 45CaCl2. 6. These data provide evidence that stimulus-secretion coupling in dissociated pancreatic acinar cells is basically similar to cells in situ. The effect of glucagon is consistent with the model in which hormone-dependent mobilization of Ca2+ from intra- or extracellular sources is bypassed leading to digestive enzyme secretion.

Amylases↗
PubMed2004

Regulation of drug absorption from small intestine by enteric nervous system I: a poorly absorbable drug via passive diffusion.

To investigate the regulation of drug absorption from the small intestine by the enteric nervous system (ENS), the vascular-luminal perfusion study and the in-vitro transport study were performed by employing phenol red as a poorly absorbable model compound. The effect of ENS on the intestinal absorption of phenol red was examined by adding epinephrine, an adrenergic agonist, or bethanechol, a cholinergic agonist into the vascular perfusate in the vascular-luminal perfused rat small-intestine preparation. The viability of the perfused intestine was checked by the recovery of the vascular perfusate, net water flux and absorbability of antipyrine, a well absorbable drug, and it was confirmed that the function of the perfused small-intestine preparation was maintained for at least 1 hr. The effect of epinephrine or bethanechol on the function of the small intestine was recognized as the increase in net water absorption, or the promotion of the water secretion, respectively. These phenomena are ones that are typically observed when adrenergic or cholinergic neuron is stimulated. Then, we investigated the small-intestinal absorption of phenol red in the vascular-luminal perfused preparation. Absorption clearance (CL(abs)) of phenol red was gradually increasing during the perfusion for 1 hr, but the 20-min vascular perfusion with the perfusate containing epinephrine made CL(abs) of phenol red constant and significantly lower than those for control study. Furthermore, after the perfusate was changed with the one without any agonist, again, CL(abs) of phenol red started to increase. These results clearly indicate that the stimulation of adrenergic neuron by epinephrine leads to the decrease in the small-intestinal absorption of phenol red. On the other hand, the vascular perfusion of bethanechol resulted in the increase in CL(abs) of phenol red comparing to the control study. Removing bethanechol from the vascular perfusate decreased CL(abs) of phenol red, again. The in-vitro transport study using the isolated jejunum sheet also showed that epinephrine in the serosal solution significantly decreased the transport of phenol red, which can be ascribed to the paracellular pathway tightened by the action of epinephrine because of the increase in transmucosal electrical resistance (TER). On the other hand, although the effect of bethanechol on both the transport of phenol red and TER was not statistically significant, the transport of phenol red tended to increase and the values of TER are smaller than those of control study.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Current concepts in the pathogenesis and treatment of reflux esophagitis.

The etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of reflux esophagitis are reviewed. Reflux esophagitis is the subjective or objective response to gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which is defined as the entrance of gastroduodenal contents into the esophagus not associated with vomiting or belching. The pathogenesis of reflux esophagitis may involve a number of mechanisms, including changes in lower esophageal sphincter pressure, gastric volume, composition of the refluxate, esophageal acid clearance, and esophageal tissue resistance. The most common symptom of reflux esophagitis is heartburn. Regurgitation of fluid into the mouth, usually after bending or during the night, is an unequivocal symptom of GER. Treatment can be divided into three phases. Phase 1 involves the avoidance of certain foods and habits, elevation of the bed head, antacid, and alginic acid-antacid therapy. Phase 2 involves drug therapy with agents not yet approved by the FDA for this indication: bethanechol chloride, cimetidine, and metoclopramide hydrochloride. Bethanechol chloride 25 mg is generally given four times daily. Cimetidine is given in doses of 300-400 mg after meals and at bedtime. Metoclopramide hydrochloride is administered in doses of 10 mg before meals and at bedtime. Phase 3 is antireflux surgery. Clinical experience has shown that phase 1 therapy is successful for about 75% of all patients. Of the 25% that do not respond to phase 1 therapy, about 90% will respond to phase 2 therapy, leaving only 5-10% of all patients with this disorder who will require phase 3 treatment. Current data favor cimetidine and bethanechol over metoclopramide. The least proof of efficacy and the most frequent adverse side effects are seen with metoclopramide. Cimetidine and bethanechol appear to have similar efficacy and relatively infrequent side effects. Evidence confirming the superiority of cimetidine over bethanechol is lacking. Further research is needed to determine the optimal pharmacologic combinations and treatment regimens.

Animals↗