Chronic administration of a potent cholecystokinin receptor antagonist, L-364,718, fails to inhibit pancreas growth in preweanling rats.
We examined whether endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) is involved in growth of the preweanling rat pancreas. Twice daily for 14 days, 7-day-old neonatal rats received an oral gavage of either 2.5 mg/kg or 5.0 mg/kg of the potent and specific CCK receptor antagonist L-364,718 (the 2.5 mg/kg dose of antagonist was shown in the present study to abolish totally the pancreas growth-promoting effects of exogenously administered caerulein (CR) in neonatal rats). Control pups received oral gavages of the L-364,718 vehicle alone. The final body weights, pancreas weights, total pancreatic DNA contents, and total pancreatic protein contents did not differ significantly between the 21-day-old control pups and the 21-day-old pups that were pretreated for 14 days with either the low or the high doses of L-364,718. These findings suggest that endogenous CCK is not required for growth of the neonatal rat pancreas.
Pancreatico-Biliary Research Institute, Hospital of the Good Samaritan, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
J R
JR
Wisner
S
S
Ozawa
B G
BG
Xue
I G
IG
Renner
D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020109:Devazepide; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011949:Receptors, Cholecystokinin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014886:Weaning
D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D011506:Proteins; D011949:Receptors, Cholecystokinin; D002108:Ceruletide; D004247:DNA; D000681:Amylases; D020109:Devazepide