Effects of alcohols on the actions of VIP and secretin on acinar cells from guinea pig pancreas.

In dispersed acini prepared from guinea pig pancreas, ethanol inhibited the increase in amylase secretion caused by cholecystokinin, carbachol, secretin, or vasoactive intestinal peptide. Ethanol did not alter binding of [125I] vasoactive intestinal peptide to pancreatic acinar cells or the inhibition of binding cause by secretin or vasoactive intestinal peptide. Ethanol potentiated the increase in adenylate cyclase activity and cellular adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate caused by secretin or vasoactive intestinal peptide. This potentiating action was reversible and could also be detected with straight-chain alcohols having fewer than seven carbon atoms. At sufficiently high concentrations, straight-chain alcohols having more than two carbon atoms inhibited the action of secretin or vasoactive intestinal peptide on adenylate cyclase activity, and this and this action was irreversible.