Distribution of Na+,K+-ATPase in rat exocrine pancreas as monitored by K+-NPPase cytochemistry and [3H]-ouabain binding: a plasma membrane protein found primarily to be ductal cell associated.
We investigated the distribution of Na+,K+-ATPase in rat exocrine pancreas. By use of enzymatic dissociation techniques, pancreatic acini (containing acinar cells and centroacinar ductal cells in a ratio of about 10:1) and all major classes of pancreatic ducts were isolated and analyzed for the presence of Na+,K+-ATPase using K+-NPPase cytochemistry and [3H]-ouabain binding assays. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated a basolateral localization of ouabain-sensitive enzyme activity in all classes of pancreatic ducts, although the degree of activity varied among the various classes. Qualitative analysis (scale of 0 to + + +) indicated the following enzyme distribution: centroacinar ductal cells (+); intralobular ducts (+ +); interlobular ducts (+ + +); main duct (+ +). In contrast, no reaction product was associated with pancreatic acinar cells even when observed adjacent to enzyme-positive centroacinar ductal cells. Parallel experiments monitoring [3H]-ouabain binding supported the cytochemical studies. When expressed as femtomoles [3H]-ouabain/microgram DNA, the following values were obtained: whole pancreas, 100.3; ducts (pooled intralobular and interlobular), 337.0; acini, 48.2. The acinar value is complicated by the fact that acini contain both acinar and centroacinar cells, but in light of the cytochemical observations we suggest that most of the [3H]-ouabain binding is due to the few ductal cells present in acini. The results suggest that Na+,K+-ATPase is primarily associated with the ductal epithelium of the exocrine pancreas and is differentially distributed among the different classes of ducts.
Madden
M E
ME
Department of Anatomy, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
Sarras
M P
MP
D009597:4-Nitrophenylphosphatase; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010042:Ouabain; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000201:enzymology*; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010042:Ouabain; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D009597:4-Nitrophenylphosphatase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase