Effect of bile acids on ion conductances in guinea pig pancreatic duct cells

Background: Exposure of the pancreas to bile acids is considered to be one of the possible causes of acute pancreatitis. However, little information is available about the effects of bile acids on intact pancreatic ducts. Our group has shown that luminal chenodeoxycholate (CDC) at a low dose (0.1mM) stimulated HCO3- secretion in intact pancreatic ducts (Venglovecz et al Gut 2008). Our aim was to investigate whether CDC could also regulate ion channels in ductal cells. Methods: We have used the patch clamp technique to measure whole cell currents. Single guinea pig pancreatic duct cells were prepared by a combina…