In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas two inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, Ro 20-1724 and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), augmented the increase in amylase secretion caused by supramaximal concentrations of cholecystokinin but did not alter the stimulation of enzyme secretion caused by bombesin. The augmentations of the action of cholecystokinin caused by Ro 20-1724 or IBMX could be reproduced by 8-bromo-cAMP. When tested alone or with theophylline, cholecystokinin did not alter cAMP in pancreatic acini; however, with Ro 20-1724 or IBMX, concentrations of cholecystokinin that were supramaximal for stimulating amylase secretion caused a significant increase in cellular cAMP. These findings indicate that Ro 20-1724 and IBMX augment the action of cholecystokinin on enzyme secretion by inhibiting cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and allowing a significant cholecystokinin-induced increase in cellular cAMP. IBMX but not Ro 20-1724 caused a parallel rightward shift in the dose-response curve for the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by carbachol. IBMX also caused a parallel rightward shift in the dose-response curve for the stimulation of outflux of 45Ca caused by carbachol. These results indicate that IBMX, but not Ro 20-1724, can function as a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist.

Theophylline, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and Ro 20-1724 each augmented the increase in cAMP and the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or secretin. With IBMX the dose-response curve for the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by VIP or secretin spanned a range of lower concentrations than did that obtained with Ro 20-1724, which in turn spanned a range of lower concentrations than did that obtained with theophylline. The configuration of the dose-response curve for the action of VIP on cAMP differed with each phosphodiesterase inhibitor tested. With Ro 20-1724 the dose-response curve was monophasic, whereas with the two methylxanthines the dose-response curve was biphasic. With theophylline the magnitude of the second component of the dose-response curve was larger than the first; with IBMX the magnitude of the first component was larger than the second. The configuration of the dose-response curve for the action of secretin on cAMP also differed with each phosphodiesterase inhibitor tested. With theophylline the dose-response curve was monophasic, whereas with Ro 20-1724 and IBMX the dose-response curve was biphasic. With Ro-20-1724 the magnitude of the second component of the dose-response curve was larger than the first; with IBMX the magnitude of the first component was larger than the second. These results indicate that cAMP is compartmentalized in pancreatic acinar cells and that the different compartments of cAMP are affected differently by various inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. These findings also suggest that the different compartments of cAMP are acted on by phosphodiesterases with different sensitivities to various inhibitors.

In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, theophylline did not alter basal amylase release, but had three functionally distinct modes of action on the stimulation of amylase release caused by various secretagogues. 1) At relatively low concentrations (0.1-1.0 mM), theophylline augmented the increase in enzyme secretion caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, or 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, but did not alter the increase in amylase release caused by other secretagogues. 2) At intermediate concentrations (1-10 mM), theophylline selectively altered the increase in enzyme secretion caused by carbamylcholine, but did not alter the effects of cholecystokinin or bombesin, secretagogues whose modes of action are similar to that of cabamylcholine. 3) At high concentrations (greater than 10 mM), theophylline inhibited the increase in enzyme secretion caused by all secretagogues tested.

The acetyl-derivative of the biologically active C-terminal 7-peptide portion of cholecystokinin (CCK), N-acetyl-O-sulfate-L-tyrosyl-L-methionyl-glycyl-L-tryptophyl-L-methionyl-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide was prepared by the condensation of 2-peptide segments with 1-isobutyloxycarbonyl-2-isobutyloxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline as coupling reagent. The N-terminal residue, tyrosine was incorporated by the active ester method. The same 7-peptide was prepared also by stepwise chain-lengthening, starting with the C-terminal residue. The 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl group was applied for the protection of alpha-amino functions. In the release of amylase from acinar cells of the pancreas of guinea pigs, the acetyl-7-peptide amide was about 3 times more potent than CCK 27-33 and equal in potency to CCK 26-33. The new derivative strongly stimulated the contraction of the in situ guinea pig gall bladder.