The effects of various gastrins on intracellular free Ca2+ in isolated pig parietal cells

Gastrin 17 (G17) is a potent stimulant of gastric acid secretion in vivo. In this study, the effects of G17 and some related peptides on intracellular free Ca2+ in isolated pig parietal cells were studied. Both G17 and the synthetic peptide pentagastrin increased intracellular free Ca2+ in a dose-dependent manner over the concentration range 10(-9) to 10(-6) M, suggesting a specific action. The EC50 values were 3 X 10(-8) M for G17 and 8 X 10(-8) M for pentagastrin. The N-terminal tridecapeptide of G17 [(1-13)G17] did not have any effect on intracellular free Ca2+, nor was it able to inhibit the action of G17. A glycine-extended gastrin [(5-17)G17-Gly)] elicited a small but significant increase in intracellular free Ca2+ although only at 10(-6) M. This increase was approximately 20% of that obtained with a similar concentration of G17. Sequential incubations with (5-17)G17-Gly and G17 showed that both peptides increased the intracellular free Ca2+ through the same mechanisms.