Objectives: 

Little is known about AR42J cell function after treatment with the noxious stimulus as cerulein. We have assessed secretory response and intracellular calcium homeostasis in AR42J cells treated with cerulein and studied whether this can be influenced by the membrane fatty acid profile.

Materials: 

AR42J cells were cultured for 72 h in standard medium1 (control group) or medium enriched with &#969;3 PUFA (15 mM 20:5&#969;-3 + 10 mM 22:6&#969;-3, &#969;3 group). Incorporation of fatty acids into cell membranes was confirmed by G.L.C. Next, cells were treated for 24h with or without 10-8 M cerulein. Cell function was evaluated by measurement of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in fura-2-loaded cells and amylase release in response to CCK-8. Means were compared using Student's t-test; values P < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: 

Membranes of AR42J cells were enriched with &#969;3 PUFA provided in the culture medium. Membrane manipulation did not change the time-course of Ca2+ in response to CCK-8. As for the secretory function, this was already deranged by the mere enrichment of membranes with &#969;3 PUFA, and cerulein treatment of this group did not reduce further amylase secretion evoked by CCK-8 at 10-9 M or above, in contrast to control cells, where amylase release was impaired for all concentrations of CCK-8 tested.

Conclusions: 

Enrichment of AR42J membranes with &#969;3 PUFA modifies the CCK-stimulated amylase secretion but not the calcium signalling in cells before being treated with caerulein.