The transmission of receptor-generated cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals between communicating pancreatic acinar cells has been investigated by comparing patch-clamp recordings of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- current in internally perfused single cells and small multi-cell clusters. Acetylcholine (50 nM) generates shortlasting repetitive spikes of Ca(2+)-dependent current and these spikes are not transmitted to neighbouring cells. Cholecystokinin octapeptide (5 pM) also generates repetitive spikes, but a significant proportion of these trigger longer and larger pulses of Ca(2+)-dependent current and these waves can easily spread from cell to cell. In pancreatic acinar units it is therefore possible to observe both local Ca2+ signals confined to the cell of its origin as well as Ca2+ signals that spread through communicating junctions to all cells in the unit.
Michael Reimann, András Ecker, Sirio Bolaños Puchet, James Bryden Isbister, Daniela Egas Santander
Georg Fantner, Zahra Ayar Dulabi, Samuel Mendes Leitão
Henry Markram, Srikanth Ramaswamy, Werner Alfons Hilda Van Geit, Alexis Arnaudon, Maria Reva, Mustafa Anil Tuncel, Darshan Mandge, Christian Andreas Rössert, Tanguy Pierre Louis Damart