Phorbol ester attenuates cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase release in pancreatic acini of rats.

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and cholecystokinin octapeptide stimulate amylase secretion in dispersed pancreatic acini, presumably acting via the activation of protein kinase C. In this study, we examined TPA pretreatment on the subsequent response of rat pancreatic acini to secretagogues. Acini exposed to TPA (3 X 10(-7) M) at 37 degrees C reduced the subsequent amylase secretion as stimulated by cholecystokinin octapeptide and carbachol, but not by A23187 or VIP. The optimal effect was obtained after 5 min of preincubation with TPA. Longer incubation did not result in greater attenuation. The degree of attenuation was dependent on the concentration of TPA used in the pretreatment. Maximal effect was seen at TPA concentrations of 10(-7) M and higher. Preincubation with TPA resulted in alterations of the dose response of pancreatic acini to cholecystokinin octapeptide. A decrease in amylase secretion was obtained at optimal and suboptimal but not at supraoptimal concentrations of cholecystokinin octapeptide. The peak response to cholecystokinin octapeptide, furthermore, was shifted almost 1 log unit to the right, suggesting a decrease in cholecystokinin binding of the acini following TPA treatment. Binding studies demonstrated a reduction in the specific binding of 125I-labelled cholecystokinin octapeptide to acini following TPA treatment. Analysis of binding data revealed a decrease in affinity and binding capacity of the high-affinity component. No significant change in the binding capacity was detected with the low-affinity component, but a great increase in its affinity was observed. This suggests that the attenuation effect by TPA on the cholecystokinin octapeptide response in rat pancreatic acini in vitro is at the receptor level.