Phorbol ester (TPA) potentiates noradrenaline and acetylcholine-evoked amylase secretion in the rat pancreas.

The effect of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradeconyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on noradrenaline (NA) and acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked amylase secretion in isolated segments of rat pancreas was investigated. TPA alone evoked a relatively small increase in amylase output. However, when combined with either noradrenaline or ACh, the phorbol ester markedly enhanced the secretagogue-induced amylase secretion. These effects were dose related. TPA also enhanced the amylase secretion evoked by either the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. This potentiation by TPA of noradrenaline, ACh, Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and dibutyryl cyclic AMP-evoked amylase output may suggest the existence of a third pathway controlling enzyme secretion in the pancreas.