Effects of GABA on pancreatic exocrine secretion of rats
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Physiology, Hallym University, Chunchon and College of Medicine, Konyang University, Nonsan, Korea.
Abstract
- Since GABA and its related enzymes had been determined in beta-cells of pancreas
islets, effects of GABA on pancreatic exocrine secretion were investigated in
the isolated perfused rat pancreas. GABA, given intra-arterially at
concentrations of 3, 10, 30 and 100 microM, did not exert any influence on
spontaneous or secretin (12 pM)-induced pancreatic exocrine secretion. However,
GABA further elevated cholecystokinin (10 pM)-, gastrin-releasing peptide (100
pM)- or electrical field stimulation-induced pancreatic secretions of fluid and
amylase, dose-dependently. The GABA-enhanced CCK-induced pancreatic secretions
were completely blocked by bicuculline (10 microM), a GABAA receptor antagonist
but not affected by saclofen (10 microM), a GABA(B) receptor antagonist. The
enhancing effects of GABA (30 microM) on CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were
not changed by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) but partially reduced by
cyclo-(7-aminoheptanonyl-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr[BZL]) (10 microM), a somatostatin
antagonist. In conclusion, GABA enhances pancreatic exocrine secretion induced
by secretagogues, which stimulate enzyme secretion predominantly, via GABA(A)
receptors in the rat pancreas. The enhancing effect of GABA is partially
mediated by inhibition of islet somatostatin release. GABA does not modify the
activity of intrapancreatic neurons.