tetragastrin and Pancreatic-Neoplasms

Topics: Animals; Azaserine; Carcinogens; Cell Division; Cholecystokinin; Male; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Peptide Fragments; Precancerous Conditions; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Receptors, Cholecystokinin; Sincalide; Tetragastrin

Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been shown to stimulate the growth of both normal pancreas and azaserine-induced putative preneoplastic pancreatic lesions in the rat. The present study was performed to determine whether these effects are mediated by way of CCK-A receptors, CCK-B receptors, or both. Sixteen-day-old male Lewis rats were given i.p. injections of azaserine at 30 mg/kg body weight. Starting on day 21, rats were given s.c. injections, 5 days/week for 16 consecutive weeks, of either (a) CCK octapeptide (nonselective CCK agonist) (2.50 micrograms/kg body weight, n = 17), (b) tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Trp-Lys(epsilon-N-2-methylphenylaminocarbonyl++ +)-Asp- (N-methyl)-Phe-NH2 (highly selective CCK-A agonist) (1.84 micrograms/kg body weight, n = 18), (c) [(2R,3S)-beta-MePhe28,N-MeNle31]CCK26-33 (highly selective CCK-B agonist) (2.40 micrograms/kg body weight, n = 18), or (d) normal saline solution (control, n = 17). Rats were subsequently sacrificed, pancreatic weights were determined, and quantitative morphometric analysis of atypical acinar cell foci and nodules was performed. Both CCK octapeptide and the selective CCK-A agonist tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Trp-Lys(epsilon-N-2- methylphenylaminocarbonyl)-Asp-(N-methyl)-Phe-NH2 stimulated pancreatic growth and the development of acidophilic atypical acinar cell foci and nodules. Furthermore, the effect produced by the selective CCK-A agonist tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Trp-Lys(epsilon-N-2- methylphenylaminocarbonyl)-Asp-(N-methyl)-Phe-NH2 was greater than that produced by CCK octapeptide. In contrast, the selective CCK-B agonist [(2R,3S)-beta-MePhe28,N-MeNle31]CCK26-33 had no effect. These findings suggest that the growth of putative preneoplastic lesions (acidophilic atypical acinar cell foci and nodules) in the rat pancreas during the early stages of azaserine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis is mediated specifically by way of CCK-A receptors.

Topics: Animals; Azaserine; Cholecystokinin; Chronic Disease; Male; Organ Size; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatitis; Peptide Fragments; Precancerous Conditions; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Receptors, Cholecystokinin; Sincalide; Tetragastrin

The effect of tetragastrin on pancreatic tumors induced by azaserine was investigated in Wistar rats. Rats were given 25 weekly injections of 10 mg/kg body weight of azaserine and 1 mg/kg body weight of tetragastrin as a suspension in olive oil every other day. Carcinogen-induced pancreatic lesions were examined by histochemical techniques, and were classified as ATPase-positive or ATPase-negative. In week 62, quantitative histological analysis showed that prolonged administration of tetragastrin had little or no influence on the number and size of the carcinogen-induced pancreatic lesions, although it caused significantly increased cell proliferation, indicated by a greater labelling index of the pancreatic acinar cells.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Animals; Azaserine; Body Weight; Cell Division; Gastrins; Male; Mitotic Index; Organ Size; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Tetragastrin

(Thr28,Nle31)CCK(23-33) (CCK-9) and gastrin(1-17)I (gastrin) inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from the tumoral rat pancreatic acinar cell line AR 4-2J through a Bordetella pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism. This contrasted with the stimulatory effect exerted by CCK-9 on adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from normal rat pancreas. The relative potency of CCK-9, gastrin, and related peptides in inhibiting adenylate cyclase, when confronted with previous evidence, suggests that 'non-selective CCK-gastrin CCK-B receptors' predominating over 'selective CCK-A receptors' in the AR 4-2J cell line, favored the coupling of the first receptors to adenylate cyclase through Gi, while CCK-A receptors capable of stimulating the enzyme through Gs were detected only after Bordetella pertussis toxin pretreatment.

Topics: Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; Animals; Cell Membrane; Cholecystokinin; Gastrins; Guanosine Triphosphate; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pentagastrin; Peptide Fragments; Pertussis Toxin; Rats; Secretin; Tetragastrin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; Virulence Factors, Bordetella