Proteinase‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2): regulation of salivary and pancreatic exocrine secretion in vivo in rats and mice

A Kawabata, H Nishikawa, R Kuroda… - British journal of …, 2000 - Wiley Online Library
A Kawabata, H Nishikawa, R Kuroda, K Kawai, MD Hollenberg
British journal of pharmacology, 2000Wiley Online Library
Proteinase‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2) is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract
including the pancreas, and may be involved in digestive functions. The aim of our study
was to evaluate a potential role for PAR‐2 in regulating salivary and pancreatic exocrine
secretion in vivo. PAR‐2‐activating peptides (PAR‐2‐APs), but not selective PAR‐1‐APs,
administered intravenously, increased salivary secretion in the mouse or rat; this effect of the
PAR‐2‐APs was unaffected by atropine, phentolamine, propranolol or indomethacin …
  • Proteinase‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2) is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract including the pancreas, and may be involved in digestive functions. The aim of our study was to evaluate a potential role for PAR‐2 in regulating salivary and pancreatic exocrine secretion in vivo.
  • PAR‐2‐activating peptides (PAR‐2‐APs), but not selective PAR‐1‐APs, administered intravenously, increased salivary secretion in the mouse or rat; this effect of the PAR‐2‐APs was unaffected by atropine, phentolamine, propranolol or indomethacin.
  • Secretion (amylase) by rat parotid gland slices in vitro was also stimulated by PAR‐2‐APs and trypsin, but not by activation of other PARs.
  • PAR‐2‐APs, administered to rats in vivo, caused a prompt effect on pancreatic exocrine secretion.
  • PAR‐2 mRNA, known to be present in pancreatic tissue, was also detected in parotid tissue.
  • Our results indicate that in addition to a potential role in regulating cardiovascular and respiratory functions, PAR‐2 may also play a general role in vivo for the direct regulation of glandular exocrine secretion.
British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 129, 1808–1814; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703274
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