Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 15, 2003; 9(11): 2505-2508
Published online Nov 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i11.2505
Effect of tetramethylpyrazine on exocrine pancreatic and bile secretion
Wen-Chao Zhao, Jin-Xia Zhu, Ning Tang, Yu-Lin Gou, Dewi Kenneth Rowlands, Yiu-Wa Chung, Ying Xing, Hsiao-Chang Chan
Yu-Lin Gou, Dewi Kenneth Rowlands, Yiu-Wa Chung, Hsiao-Chang Chan, Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong \
Wen-Chao Zhao, Jin-Xia Zhu, Ning Tang, Ying Xing, Department of Physiology, Medical School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, Province China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Innovation and Technology Funds of Hong Kong and strategic Program of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Correspondence to: Professor Hsiao-Chang Chan, Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, The Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, SAR, China. hsiaochan@cuhk.edu.hk
Telephone: +852-2609-6839 Fax: +852-2603-5022
Received: May 11, 2003
Revised: August 1, 2003
Accepted: August 19, 2003
Published online: November 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (ligustrazine, TMP) on the secretion of exocrine pancreas (and biliary).

METHODS: In in vivo study, we investigated the effect of TMP on the secretion of pancreatic-bile juice (PBJ) in rats. Using human pancreatic duct cell line, CAPAN-1, combined with the short-circuit current (ISC) technique we further studied the effect of TMP on the pancreatic anion secretion.

RESULTS: Administration of TMP (80 mg/kg, ip) significantly increased the secretion of PBJ (P < 0.05), but the pH of PBJ and the secretion of pancreatic protein were not significantly affected. Basolateral addition of TMP produced a dose-dependent increase in ISC (EC50 = 1.56 mmol/L), which contained a fast transient ISC response followed by a slow decay. Apical application of Cl- channel blockers, DPC (1 mmol/L), decreased the response by about 67.1% (P < 0.001), whereas amiloride (100 μmol/L), a epithelial sodium channel blockers, had no effect. Removal of extracellular HCO3- abolished TMP-induced increase in ISC by about 74.4% (P < 0.001), but the removal of external Cl- did not. Pretreatment with phosphodiesterase inhibitor, IBMX (0.5 mmol/L), decreased the TMP-induced ISC by 91% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: TMP could stimulate the secretion of PBJ, especially pancreatic ductal HCO3- secretion via cAMP or cGMP-dependent pathway. It need further study to investigate the roles of cAMP or cGMP in the effect of TMP on the secretion of exocrine pancreas.

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