Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cytosolic Ca2+ gradients triggering unidirectional fluid secretion from exocrine pancreas

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

EXOCRINE gland cells secrete Cl–-rich fluid when stimulated by neurotransmitters or hormones1. This is generally ascribed to a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration2 ([Ca2+]i), which leads to activation of Ca2+-dependent ion channels3,4. A precise understanding of Cl- secretion from these cells has been hampered by a lack of knowledge about the spatial distribution of the Ca2+ signal and of the Ca2+-dependent ion channels in the secreting epithelial cells4. We have now used the whole-cell patch-clamp method and digital imaging5 of [Ca2+]i to examine the response of rat pancreatic acinar cells to acetylcholine. We found a polarization of [Ca2+]i elevation and ion channel activation, and suggest that this comprises a novel 'push–pull' mechanism for unidirectional Cl- secretion. This mechanism would represent a role for cytosolic Ca2+ gradients in cellular function. The cytosolic [Ca2+]i gradients and oscillations of many other cells2 could have similar roles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Petersen, O. H. The Electrophysiology of Gland Cells (Academic, New York, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Berridge, M. J. & Irvine, R. F. Nature 341, 197–205 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Petersen, O. H. & Gallacher, D. V. A. Rev. Physiol. 50, 65–80 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Marty, A. Trends Neurosci. 10, 373–377 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Tsien, R. Y. & Poenie, M. Trends Biochem. Sci. 11, 450–455 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Merritt, J. E. & Rubin, R. P. Biochem. J. 230, 151–159 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bruzzone, R., Pozzan, T. & Wollheim, C. B. Biochem. J. 235, 139–143 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Oscipchuk, Y. V., Wakui, M., Yule, D. I., Gallacher, D. V. & Petersen, O. H. EMBO J. 9, 697–704 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Wakui, M., Potter, B. V. L. & Petersen, O. H. Nature 339, 317–320 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Maruyama, Y. J. Physiol. 406, 299–313 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Randriamampita, C., Chanson, M. & Trautmann, A. Pflügers Arch. 411, 53–57 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Laugier, R. & Petersen, O. H. Pflügers Arch. 386, 147–152 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Marty, A. & Tan, Y. P. J. Physiol. 419, 665–687 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Foskett, J. K., Gunter-Smith, P. J., Melvin, J. E. & Turner, R. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 167–171 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Schulz, I., Thevenod, F. & Dehlinger-Kremer, M. Cell Calcium 10, 325–336 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Volpe, P., Krause, K., Hashimoto, S., Zorzato, F., Pozzan, T., Meldolesi, J. & Lew, D. P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 1091–1905 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Marty, A., Tan, Y. P. & Trautmann, A. J. Physiol. 357, 293–325 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Maruyama, Y. & Petersen, O. H. Nature 299, 159–161 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Petersen, O. H. & Ueda, N. J. Physiol. 264, 819–835 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Petersen, O. H. Experimentia 26, 1103–1104 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Habara, Y. Jap. J. Physiol. 30, 561–574 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rapp, P. E. & Berridge, M. J. J. exp. Biol. 93, 119–132 (1981).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Neher, E. in Neuromuscular Junction (eds Sellin, L. C., Libelius, R. & Thesleff, S.) 65–76 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Smith, S. J., Osses, L. R. & Augustine, G. J. in Calcium and Ion Channel Modulation, (eds Grinnell, A. D., Armstrong, D. & Jackson, M. B.) 147–155 (Plenum, New York, 1988).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  25. Kanno, T., Saito, T. & Yasmashita, T. Biomed. Res. 10, 475–484 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Amsterdam, A. & Jamieson, J. D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69, 3028–3032 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Haruo Kasai

    Present address: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113, Japan

  2. George J. Augustine

    Present address: Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089-2520, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-lnstitut für biophysikalische Chemie, am Fassberg, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    George J. Augustine

Authors
  1. Haruo Kasai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. George J. Augustine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kasai, H., Augustine, G. Cytosolic Ca2+ gradients triggering unidirectional fluid secretion from exocrine pancreas. Nature 348, 735–738 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/348735a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/348735a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation