The pancreatic acinar cell is a classical model for studies of secretion and signal transduction mechanisms.Because of the extensive endoplasmic reticulum and the large granular compartment, it has been possible - by direct measurements - to obtain considerable insights into intracellular Ca2+ handling under both normal and pathological conditions.Recent studies have also revealed leopard drum throne important characteristics of stimulus-secretion coupling mechanisms in isolated human pancreatic acinar cells.The acinar cells are potentially dangerous because of the high intra-granular concentration of proteases, which become inappropriately activated in the human disease acute pancreatitis.
This disease is due to toxic Ca2+ signals generated by excessive liberation of Ca2+ from both the endoplasmic reticulum and the nucleus ball toy secretory granules.