Effects of γ-aminobutyric acid on secretagogue-induced exocrine secretion of isolated, perfused rat pancreas

Because GABA and its related enzymes have been determined in β-cells of pancreas islets, effects of GABA on pancreatic exocrine secretion were investigated in the isolated, perfused rat pancreas. GABA, given intra-arterially at concentrations of 3, 10, 30, and 100 μM, did not exert any influence on spontaneous or secretin (12 pM)-induced pancreatic exocrine secretion. However, GABA further elevated CCK (10 pM)-, gastrin-releasing peptide (100 pM)-, or electrical field stimulation-induced pancreatic secretions of fluid and amylase dose dependently. The GABA (30 μM)-enhanced CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were completely blocked by bicuculline (10 μM), a GABAA receptor antagonist, but were not affected by saclofen (10 μM), a GABAB receptor antagonist. The enhancing effects of GABA (30 μM) on CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were not changed by tetrodotoxin (1 μM) but were partially reduced by cyclo-(7-aminoheptanonyl-Phe-d-Trp-Lys-Thr[BZL]) (10 nM), a somatostatin antagonist. In conclusion, GABA enhances pancreatic exocrine secretion induced by secretagogues, which predominantly induce enzyme secretion, via GABAA receptors in the rat pancreas. The enhancing effect of GABA is partially mediated by inhibition of islet somatostatin release.