Pancreatic amylase regulation

Malhotra R, Singh L, Eng J, Raufman J-P. (1992) Exendin-4, a new peptide from Heloderma suspectum venom, potentiates cholecystokinin-induced amylase release from rat pancreatic acini. Regul Pept 41 149-156. 

Pancreatic secretion for many, if not most, species is regulated in order to insure adequate protein digestion. Correspondingly, protease inhibitors have a greater impact on pancreatic secretion than do inhibitors of amylase and lipase (Toskes, 1986). The secretory response of the exocrine pancreas to protease inhibitors can be rapid (< 10 min), does not involve parallel increases in the secretion of all enzymes (Holm et al., 1992), and is probably mediated by a signaling pathway (see below). 

There is evidence that protease inhibitors selectively regulate the activity of specific digestive enzymes at the level of gene expression (Rosewicz et al., 1989). Specifically, soybean trypsin inhibitor increases secretion of proteases, including a form of trypsin that is resistant to inhibition but does not cause an increase in amylase secretion. Although the relationships between protease inhibitors and exocrine pancreatic secretion have received the most attention, pancreatic secretion is increased when potato fiber is added to the diet (Jacob et al., 2000), although the mechanism and signaling pathway have not been elucidated. 

Acetylcholine is involved in many aspects of the regulation of the cardiovascular system. Thus, it may also play a role in the control of intercellular communication. Very early in gap junction research the effect of acetylcholine as an important transmitter on gap junction conductance has been investigated. First, Petersen and Ueda [1976] demonstrated an increase in junctional resistance in pancreatic acinar cells following the application of acetylcholine. Concomitantly, the release of amylase was stimulated. A minimum concentration of 1 pmol/l acetycholine was required to evoke uncoupling. The next question was, how is the acetylcholine effect mediated Calcium has been considered to contribute to the mechanism of action [Iwatsuki and Pertersen,... 

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