Effect of tetramethylpyrazine on exocrine pancreatic and bile secretion

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 (I SC ) 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 dosedependent increase in I SC (EC 50 =1.56 mmol/L), which contained a fast transient I SC 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.

The epithelial sodium channel δ-subunit: new notes for an old song

“…The site of expression of ␦-ENaC in the human pancreas is unknown. To date, no amiloride-sensitive Na ϩ conductance has been detected in pancreatic duct cells of different species (24,64,102). It remains to be seen whether ␦-ENaC is expressed in the endocrine pancreas, where it may play a role in controlling cell excitability.…”

The Underlying Cellular Mechanism in the Effect of Tetramethylpyrazine on the Anion Secretion of Colonic Mucosa

“…TMP has been widely used for the treatment of patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Its proposed pharmacological actions include antagonizing calcium mobilization [2], inhibiting platelet aggregation [3] and increasing intracellular cAMP level by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity [4], performing antioxidant effect, reducing free radical generation [5], decreasing nitric oxide production [6], and promoting HCO 3 -secretion of pancreatic duct [7].…”