Caffeine inhibits a low affinity but not a high affinity mechanism for cholecystokinin-evoked Ca2+ signalling and amylase release from guinea pig pancreatic acini.

Caffeine has been found to inhibit the formation and action of Ca2+-mobilizing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in pancreatic acinar cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of caffeine on cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and amylase release in response to different agonists. [Ca2+]i was determined by cytofluorometry using fura-2 as indicator and amylase release with a substrate reagent.