Cadmium inhibits stimulated amylase secretion from isolated pancreatic lobules of the guinea-pig

The effect of cadmium chloride on pancreatic exocrine secretion 'in vitro' was examined using guinea-pig isolated lobules, Cadmium (10(-3) M) stimulated amylase release when added alone to the incubation medium and the increase of amylase was unaffected by atropine. Cadmium (10(-4) M) did not significantly modify the basal amylase release. Depolarization of pancreatic nerves with potassium stimulated amylase secretion; the stimulant effect of KCl was completely inhibited by atropine. Cadmium (10(-4) M) inhibited, but did not abolish, the stimulant effect of KCl, indicating a direct effect of the metal on the acinar cell. Cadmium (10(-4) M) also inhibited the amylase release evoked by the secretagogues carbachol and caerulein, which are known to act directly on the acinar cell. Taken together with previous data reporting a large increase of pancreatic cadmium concentration following cadmium ingestion, the strong inhibition of pancreatic secretion observed in our experiments suggests that the exocrine pancreas may be regarded as a possible target organ of cadmium toxicity. (C) 2001 Academic Press.