This work was supported by a National Institutes of Health Grant DK083327, and DK093491 (to S.Z.H.).

1. Preparing Pancreatic Acinar Cells for Calcium Imaging
<ol>
	<li>Prepare HEPES incubation buffer containing 20 mM HEPES, 95 mM NaCl, 4.7 mM KCl, 0.6 mM MgCl2, 1.3 mM CaCl2, 10 mM glucose, 2 mM glutamine, and 1 &times; minimum Eagle's medium non-essential amino acids. Adjust the final solution to pH 7.4 with NaOH.</li>
	<li>Prepare a BSA incubation buffer by adding BSA (1% w/v final) to 25 ml of the HEPES incubation buffer (described above).</li>
	<li>Prepare a collagenase digestion buffer by...

<ol>
	<li>Toescu, E. C., Lawrie, A. M., Petersen, O. H., Gallacher, D. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatial+and+temporal+distribution+of+agonist-evoked+cytoplasmic+Ca2++signals+in+exocrine+acinar+cells+analysed+by+digital+image+microscopy.">Spatial and temporal distribution of agonist-evoked cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals in exocrine acinar cells analysed by digital image microscopy.</a> Embo J. 11, 1623-1629 (1992).</li><li>Ito, K., Miyashita, Y., Kasai, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Micromolar+and+submicromolar+Ca2++spikes+regulating+distinct+cellular+functions+in+pancreatic+acinar+cells.">Micromolar and submicromolar Ca2+ spikes regulating distinct cellular functions in pancreatic acinar cells.</a> Embo J. 16, 242-251 (1997).</li><li>Husain, S. Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+ryanodine+receptor+mediates+early+zymogen+activation+in+pancreatitis.">The ryanodine receptor mediates early zymogen activation in pancreatitis.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102, 14386-14391 (2005).</li><li>Raraty, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium-dependent+enzyme+activation+and+vacuole+formation+in+the+apical+granular+region+of+pancreatic+acinar+cells.">Calcium-dependent enzyme activation and vacuole formation in the apical granular region of pancreatic acinar cells.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97, 13126-13131 (2000).</li><li>Orabi, A. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dantrolene+mitigates+caerulein-induced+pancreatitis+in+vivo+in+mice.">Dantrolene mitigates caerulein-induced pancreatitis in vivo in mice.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 299, G196-G204 (2009).</li><li>Shah, A. U., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protease+Activation+during+in+vivo+Pancreatitis+is+Dependent+upon+Calcineurin+Activation.">Protease Activation during in vivo Pancreatitis is Dependent upon Calcineurin Activation.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. , (2009).</li><li>Muili, K. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pharmacologic+and+genetic+inhibition+of+calcineurin+protects+against+carbachol-induced+pathologic+zymogen+activation+and+acinar+cell+injury.">Pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of calcineurin protects against carbachol-induced pathologic zymogen activation and acinar cell injury.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. , (2012).</li><li>Orabi, A. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ethanol+enhances+carbachol-induced+protease+activation+and+accelerates+Ca2++waves+in+isolated+rat+pancreatic+acini.">Ethanol enhances carbachol-induced protease activation and accelerates Ca2+ waves in isolated rat pancreatic acini.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 286, 14090-14097 (2011).</li><li>Nathanson, M. H., Padfield, P. J., O'Sullivan, A. J., Burgstahler, A. D., Jamieson, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanism+of+Ca2++wave+propagation+in+pancreatic+acinar+cells.">Mechanism of Ca2+ wave propagation in pancreatic acinar cells.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 267, 18118-18121 (1992).</li><li>Reed, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Low+extracellular+pH+induces+damage+in+the+pancreatic+acinar+cell+by+enhancing+calcium+signaling.">Low extracellular pH induces damage in the pancreatic acinar cell by enhancing calcium signaling.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 286, 1919-1926 (2011).</li><li>Amsterdam, A., Jamieson, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+and+functional+characterization+of+isolated+pancreatic+exocrine+cells.">Structural and functional characterization of isolated pancreatic exocrine cells.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69, 3028-3032 (1972).</li><li>Van Acker, G. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tumor+progression+locus-2+is+a+critical+regulator+of+pancreatic+and+lung+inflammation+during+acute+pancreatitis.">Tumor progression locus-2 is a critical regulator of pancreatic and lung inflammation during acute pancreatitis.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 282, 22140-22149 (2007).</li><li>Ito, K., Miyashita, Y., Kasai, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinetic+control+of+multiple+forms+of+Ca(2+)+spikes+by+inositol+trisphosphate+in+pancreatic+acinar+cells.">Kinetic control of multiple forms of Ca(2+) spikes by inositol trisphosphate in pancreatic acinar cells.</a> J. Cell Biol. 146, 405-413 (1999).</li><li>Leite, M. F., Burgstahler, A. D., Nathanson, M. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ca2++waves+require+sequential+activation+of+inositol+trisphosphate+receptors+and+ryanodine+receptors+in+pancreatic+acini.">Ca2+ waves require sequential activation of inositol trisphosphate receptors and ryanodine receptors in pancreatic acini.</a> Gastroenterology. 122, 415-427 (2002).</li><li>Paredes, R. M., Etzler, J. C., Watts, L. T., Zheng, W., Lechleiter, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemical+calcium+indicators.">Chemical calcium indicators.</a> Methods. 46, 143-151 (2008).</li><li>Schild, D., Jung, A., Schultens, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Localization+of+calcium+entry+through+calcium+channels+in+olfactory+receptor+neurones+using+a+laser+scanning+microscope+and+the+calcium+indicator+dyes+Fluo-3+and+Fura-Red.">Localization of calcium entry through calcium channels in olfactory receptor neurones using a laser scanning microscope and the calcium indicator dyes Fluo-3 and Fura-Red.</a> Cell Calcium. 15, 341-348 (1994).</li><li>Saluja, A. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Secretagogue-induced+digestive+enzyme+activation+and+cell+injury+in+rat+pancreatic+acini.">Secretagogue-induced digestive enzyme activation and cell injury in rat pancreatic acini.</a> Am. J. Physiol. 276, 835-842 (1999).</li><li>Husain, S. Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ryanodine+receptors+contribute+to+bile+acid-induced+pathological+calcium+signaling+and+pancreatitis+in+mice.">Ryanodine receptors contribute to bile acid-induced pathological calcium signaling and pancreatitis in mice.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. , (2012).</li><li>Gurda, G. T., Guo, L., Lee, S. H., Molkentin, J. D., Williams, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cholecystokinin+activates+pancreatic+calcineurin-NFAT+signaling+in+vitro+and+in+vivo.">Cholecystokinin activates pancreatic calcineurin-NFAT signaling in vitro and in vivo.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 19, 198-206 (2008).</li></ol>

The cell isolation method and subsequent assays depicted here represent powerful tools with which to study the physiological and pathophysiological features of the exocrine pancreas. The method for isolating dispersed pancreatic acinar cells was first described by Amsterdam and Jamieson in 1972 11. The methods presented here have been adapted from more recent isolation methods described by Van Acker and colleagues 12. Although these techniques are highly reproducible and easily learned, there...

Dynamic changes in cytosolic calcium are necessary for both physiological and pathological acinar cell events. These divergent effects of calcium are thought to result from distinct spatial and temporal patterns of calcium signaling 1. For example, enzyme and fluid secretion from the acinar cell are linked to calcium spikes from a restricted region of the apical pole where secretion takes place 2. In contrast, a global calcium wave followed by intense non-oscillatory calcium signals is associated with early pathological events which lead to acute pancreatitis 3,4. These include intra-acinar protease activation, reduced enzyme secretion, and acinar cell injury. Our lab uses isolated pancreatic acini to study these early pathological events which lead to disease both in vivo and in vitro 5-7. The methods detailed here describe isolation of primary acinar cells for the purpose of measuring cytosolic calcium levels and cell injury. A method for adenoviral infection of these cells is also provided.

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue Number</td>
 <td>Comments</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Mice</td>
 <td>NCI</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>Male 20-30 grams; virtually any strain should yield comparable results.</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>HEPES</td>
 <td>American Bioanalytical</td>
 <td>AB00892</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sodium Chloride</td>
 <td>J.T. Baker</td>
 <td>3624-05</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Potassium Chloride</td>
 <td>J.T. Baker</td>
 <td>3040-01</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Magnesium Chloride</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>M-8266</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Calcium Chloride</td>
 <td>Fischer</td>
 <td>C79</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dextrose</td>
 <td>J.T. Baker</td>
 <td>1916-01</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>L-Glutamine</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>G-8540</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>1X minimum Eagle's medium non-essential amino acid mixture</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>11140-050</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sodium Hydroxide</td>
 <td>EM</td>
 <td>SX0593</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Bovine Serum Albumin</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>A7906</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Collagenase</td>
 <td>Worthington</td>
 <td>4188</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>T-9003</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Carbon Dioxide</td>
 <td>Matheson Gas</td>
 <td> 124-38-9 </td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>125 ml Erlenmeyer plastic flask</td>
 <td>Crystalgen </td>
 <td>26-0005</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dissection kit</td>
 <td>Fine Science Tools</td>
 <td>14161-10</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>70% Ethanol</td>
 <td>LabChem</td>
 <td>LC222102</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>P1000, P100, P10 pipettes</td>
 <td>Gilson</td>
 <td>FA10005P</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Weighing boat</td>
 <td>Heathrow Scientific</td>
 <td>HS1420A</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Plastic transfer pipettes</td>
 <td>USA Scientific</td>
 <td>1020-2500</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>15 ml conical tubes</td>
 <td>BD Falcon</td>
 <td>352095</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>50 ml conical tubes</td>
 <td>BD Falcon</td>
 <td>352070</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>1.5 ml micro-centrifuge tube</td>
 <td>Fisher</td>
 <td>05-408-129</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>0.65 ml micro-centrifuge tube</td>
 <td>VWR</td>
 <td>20170-293</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>22 x 22 mm glass coverslips</td>
 <td>Fisher</td>
 <td>032811-9</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Nitric Acid</td>
 <td>Fischer</td>
 <td>A483-212</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Hydrochloric Acid</td>
 <td>Fischer</td>
 <td>A142-212</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Deionized water</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>18 x 18 mm coverslips</td>
 <td>Fischer</td>
 <td>021510-9</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Laboratory film</td>
 <td>Parafilm</td>
 <td>PM-996</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Fluo-4AM</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>F14201</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dimethylsulfoxide</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>D2650</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Luer lock</td>
 <td>Becton Dickinson</td>
 <td>932777</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>60 ml syringe</td>
 <td>BD Bioscience</td>
 <td>DG567805</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>23 &frac34; gauge needle</td>
 <td>BD Bioscience</td>
 <td>9328270</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>PE50 tubing</td>
 <td>Clay Adam</td>
 <td>PE50-427411</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Flat head screwdriver </td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DMEM F-12, no Phenol Red</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>21041-025 </td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>30.5 gauge needle</td>
 <td>BD Bioscience</td>
 <td>305106</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>5 CC syringe</td>
 <td>BD Bioscience</td>
 <td>309603</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>25 ml Erlenmeyer flask</td>
 <td>Fischer</td>
 <td>FB50025</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Nylon mesh filter </td>
 <td>Nitex</td>
 <td>03-150/38</td>
 <td>150 &mu;m pore size</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>48 well tissue culture plate</td>
 <td>Costar</td>
 <td>3548</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>96 well tissue culture plate </td>
 <td>Costar</td>
 <td>3795</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>6 well tissue culture plate</td>
 <td>Costar</td>
 <td>3506</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Liquid nitrogen</td>
 <td>Matheson Gas</td>
 <td>7727-37-9</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cytotoxicity assay kit</td>
 <td>Promega</td>
 <td>G1782</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Adeno-GFP</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>Gift from J. Williams</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>Equipment</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ring stand with clamps</td>
 <td>United Scientific</td>
 <td>SET462</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Perifusion chamber</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>N/A</td>
 <td>Designed by S.Z.H and colleagues at Yale University</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Vacuum line</td>
 <td>Manostat</td>
 <td>72-100-000</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Water bath with shaker</td>
 <td>Precision Scientific</td>
 <td>51220076</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Confocal microscope</td>
 <td>Zeiss</td>
 <td>LSM 710</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>BioTek Synergy H1 plate reader</td>
 <td>BioTek</td>
 <td>11-120-534</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Tissue culture hood</td>
 <td>Nuaire</td>
 <td>NU-425-600</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Tissue culture Incubator</td>
 <td>Thermo</td>
 <td>3110</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

preparation of pancreatic acinar cells for the purpose of calcium imaging, cell injury measurements, and adenoviral infection

The pancreatic acinar cell is the main parenchymal cell of the exocrine pancreas and plays a primary role in the secretion of pancreatic enzymes into the pancreatic duct. It is also the site for the initiation of pancreatitis. Here we describe how acinar cells are isolated from whole pancreas tissue and intracellular calcium signals are measured. In addition, we describe the techniques of transfecting these cells with adenoviral constructs, and subsequently measuring the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, a marker of cell injury, during conditions that induce acinar cell injury in vitro. These techniques provide a powerful tool to characterize acinar cell physiology and pathology.

An example of acinar cell calcium measurements in response to physiologic stimuli is provided in Figure 3. Acinar cells were loaded with the calcium dye Fluo-4 and perfused with the acetylcholine analogue carbachol (CCh; 1 &mu;M)) 8. Cells responded in the form of a calcium wave which initiates in the apical region and propagates to the basolateral region 3,9. Representative tracings shown in Figure 3B demonstrate the typical peak-plateau pattern commonly observed w...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Pancreatic Acinar Cells for the Purpose of Calcium Imaging, Cell Injury Measurements, and Adenoviral Infection at JoVE.com

Preparation of Pancreatic Acinar Cells for the Purpose of Calcium Imaging, Cell Injury Measurements, and Adenoviral Infection

We describe a reproducible method of preparing mouse pancreatic acinar cells from a mouse for the purpose of examining acinar cell calcium signals and cellular injury with physiologically and pathologically relevant stimuli. A method for adenoviral infection of these cells is also provided.

The pancreatic acinar  cell is the main parenchymal cell of the exocrine pancreas and plays a primary  role in the secretion of pancreatic enzymes into ...

preparation-pancreatic-acinar-cells-for-purpose-calcium-imaging-cell

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

13.1K vistas.  Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Se describe un método reproducible de la preparación de las células acinares pancreáticas de ratón de un ratón con el fin de examinar las señales de calcio de células acinares y el daño celular con estímulos fisiológica y patológicamente relevantes. Un método para la infección adenoviral de estas células también se proporciona.