Mechanism of corticotropin action on adrenal protein synthesis. The effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis and calcium chelators

We have recently shown that beside a general stimulation of most adrenal proteins, corticotropin induces a marked increase in a specific adrenal cytosolic protein, protein E, in intact and hypophysectomized rats. To further clarify the mechanisms by which corticotropin exerts its trophic action we have investigated the effects of cycloheximide, calcium and calcium chelator administration on intact and hypophysectomized animals. These substances were injected in rats with or without corticotropin, and slices of adrenal glands from control and treated animals were removed 5 h later, incubated with [14C]- or [3H]-leucine for 2 h, and cytosolic proteins analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a dual labelling technique. When high doses of cycloheximide (higher than 500 micrograms) were injected in rats, incorporation of labelled leucine in adrenal slices of control and corticotropin-treated animals was inhibited. With 500 micrograms cycloheximide per rat, incorporation of labelled leucine in adrenal slices of control animals was normal, but the corticotropin stimulation of both protein E and total protein synthesis was inhibited. Lower doses of cycloheximide (100 micrograms per rat) completely inhibited the stimulatory effect of corticotropin on total protein synthesis but did not affect protein E synthesis, while after 50 micrograms per rat both stimulatory effects were preserved. The two higher doses of cycloheximide (500 and 100 micrograms per rat) could not completely block the steroidogenic effect of the hormone. The effects of calcium and calcium chelators were studied in 1-day hypophysectomized rats. Calcium alone or injected simultaneously with corticotropin has no effect. Calcium chelators injected simultaneously with corticotropin partially inhibited the stimulatory effects of corticotropin on steroidogenesis but totally inhibited stimulation of total protein synthesis, while the stimulation of protein E persisted. Our results show that after corticotropin, stimulation of protein E synthesis correlates better with steroidogenesis than with total protein synthesis.     

Growth hormone inhibits renotropic action of luteinizing hormone-isoform(s)

We recently purified luteinizing hormone (LH)-isoforms with renotropic activity from ovine pituitaries based on the stimulation of [3H] thymidine incorporation into renal DNA of castrated-hypophysectomized rats. In this study, we examined the hormonal interactions between ovine growth hormone (GH) and this LH-isoform in renal DNA synthesis. A single injection of LH-isoform (40 micrograms) significantly increased [3H] thymidine incorporation, but an injection of GH (200 micrograms) did not, during experimental periods of up to 26 hours. Repetitive ovine GH treatment (5 days) did not change basal [3H] thymidine incorporation, either, although its biological activity was evidenced by an increase in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Stimulated [3H] thymidine incorporation by LH-isoform (100 micrograms) was significantly suppressed by an injection of GH (200 micrograms) and was, to a greater extent, by repetitive treatment with GH (200 micrograms/day, for 3 or 5 consecutive days). These results demonstrated one example of the effect of complex hormonal interactions on kidney growth.     

Prolactin and growth hormone synthesis: effects of perphenazine, alpha-methyltyrosine and estrogen in different thyroid states.

The effects of thyroid hormones on prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) synthesis by the rat anterior pituitary gland were assessed in vitro. A marked reduction (84-87%) in the rate of H3-leucine incorporation into GH was evident 2-4 weeks after thyroidectomy, while incorporation into PRL was 52-71% less than that measured in glands from intact rats. A single injection of T4 (200 mug/kg) administered to thyroidectomized (THX) rats 48 hr before sacrifice significantly increased incorporation into both pituitary hormones, although the stimulation of GH synthesis was much more dramatic. Perphenazine, alpha-methyltyrosine and estrogen enhanced the rate of PRL synthesis in intact rats. Thyroid ablation did not affect the response to perphenazine, but significantly increased the response to alpha-methyltyrosine and estrogen. On the other hand, administration of T4 to THX rats receiving perphenazine, alpha-methyltyrosine or estrogen diminished the stimulatory influence of these treatments on PRL synthesis. Perphenazine, alpha-methyltyrosine and estrogen had no effect on the rate of GH synthesis in THX rats, nor did they alter the ability of T4 to restore GH synthesis in these animals. These results indicate that GH synthesis in the rat is dependent upon thyroid hormones and support the concept that these hormones exert their stimulatory effect directly on pituitary somatotrophs. Pituitary lactotrophs, however, appear to retain much of their capacity to synthesize PRL under conditions of thyroid deficiency. The changes in pituitary PRL levels and synthesis rate induced by thyroid ablation might reflect differences in the number rather than the activity of these cells.     

Wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A inhibit the response of human fibroblasts to peptide growth factors by a post-receptor mechanism

The effect of plant lectins on amino acid uptake and DNA synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts stimulated by various peptide mitogens was studied. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), at a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml, which by itself had little effect on 3H-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake, markedly inhibited stimulation of 3H-AIB uptake by somatomedin-C, insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor. This inhibition could not be overcome by increasing the concentration of peptide added. Neither WGA nor concanavalin A (Con A) significantly affected basal 3H-thymidine incorporation. However both lectins, at concentrations of 5-20 micrograms/ml, decreased EGF- and insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis while succinyl Con A, a divalent lectin derivative, did not. The inhibitory effects of lectins on mitogenic stimulation were reversed by alpha-methyl mannose (Con A) or N-acetylglucosamine (WGA), and were not due to a reduction in the binding of growth factors to their receptors. It is concluded that certain lectins noncompetitively inhibit the response of human fibroblasts to multiple peptide mitogens at the post-receptor level, possibly by interfering with lateral mobility and aggregation of mitogen-receptor complexes.     

Impairment of pancreatic acinar function by reserpine in vivo and in vitro

Summary Chronic reserpine treatment of animals, an experimental model for cystic fibrosis (CF), results in generalized exocrinopathy, impaired pancreatic secretion, and decreased pancreatic content of amylase. The mechanisms of altered acinar function and decreased amylase content in both CF and the reserpine-treated rat are unknown. To examine this alteration, the rate of [³H]phenylalanine (phe) incorporation into cellular protein was determined in pancreatic acinar cells after reserpine treatment of rats in vivo (7 d) and of cells in vitro (1 to 24 h). Acinar cells isolated from control, chronic reserpine-treated, and pair-fed rats were incubated in vitro with 0, 30, 50, or 100 μM reserpine. Reserpine treatment in vitro for 24 h of acinar cells from control rats significantly decreased amylase activity (20 to 70%), an effect similar to that of reserpine treatment in vivo. In vivo, reserpine treatment decreased [³H]phe incorporation (disintegrations per minute per milligram protein) 56% in freshly isolated cells, but did not alter intracellular specific activity (disintegrations per minute per nanomole phe, SA) of [³H]phe. Reserpine treatment (30 and 50 μM) in vitro for 1 h also decreased [³H]phe incorporation by freshly isolated cells from control (53 to 85%) and pair-fed (40 to 68%) rats. Reserpine treatment for 24 h in vitro significantly decreased [³H]phe incorporation by cells from control (82 and 98%), pair-fed (80 and 95%), and chronic reserpine-treated (90 and 97%) rats as compared with cells from respective in vivo treatments cultured with no reserpine. In vitro reserpine treatment also decreased the intracellular SA of [³H]phe in freshly isolated cells from control (14 and 36%) and pair-fed (35 and 39%) rats and in cultured cells from control (11 and 86%), pair-fed (60 and 88%), and chronic reserpine-treated (49 and 76%) rats. However, these alterations of SA by reserpine did not account for the decreased incorporation of [³H]phe into acinar protein, which remained significantly lower (70 to 88%) when expressed as total phe incorporation. These results suggest (a) that reserpine acts directly on acinar cells to alter function and (b) that the ability of the pancreas to synthesize digestive enzymes may be impaired in this model of cystic fibrosis. This study was supported in part by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bethesda, MD.     

Demonstration of in vitro actions of growth hormone on isolated rat adipocytes

Previous studies have shown that adipocytes isolated from normal rats possess specific receptors for growth hormone (GH). Thus, we have now investigated the direct effects on such cells of GH added in vitro. The biological actions of GH determined were the stimulation of 14C-glucose oxidation to 14CO2 and conversion to 14C-lipid. As in adipose segments, hGH stimulation of these parameters required a 3-4 hr preincubation period in GH-free medium. The effect of hGH or bGH was dose-dependent with maximal effects at 1-2 micrograms/ml (CO2 55 +/- 13% stimulation above basal n = 9; lipid 33 +/- 4% n = 21, mean +/- SEM). The magnitude of the effect in isolated adipocytes was lower than that seen in adipose segments from similar groups of animals (lipid 67 +/- 26%, n = 4). The induction of responsiveness by preincubation was accompanied by a parallel increase in 125I-hGH binding. These studies have demonstrated that adipocytes from normal rats not only possess specific receptors for GH but also are metabolically responsive to GH added in vitro. These data suggest that the isolated rat adipocyte should be a useful model for further investigation of the relationship between GH receptor and post-receptor events.     

Thyroid hormones modulate ornithine decarboxylase in the immature rat cerebellum

In this study, we measured ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity as a potential parameter to evaluate the response of the developing rat brain to thyroid hormones. In cerebellum, neonatal hyperthyroidism (40 micrograms thyroxine/100 g body weight daily from birth) increased ODC activity at 2 and 5 days of age and then accelerated its developmental decline. Conversely, ODC activity was decreased in 2- and 5-day-old hypothyroid rats (propylthiouracil to the mother), but it was not significantly different from normal thereafter. No significant differences were observed in the forebrain following either treatment. In hypothyroid rat cerebellum, a single injection of triiodothyronine (T3, 100 micrograms/100 g 18 h before sacrifice) increased significantly ODC activity at all ages. A dose-response study showed that 0.5 micrograms T3/100 g is sufficient to obtain maximal stimulation. Finally, administration of antiserum against rat growth hormone had no significant effect on ODC response to T3. These results show that ODC is a useful marker of thyroid state and tissue response in the neonatal rat cerebellum.     

Reproductive, hormonal and milk characteristics in ewe lambs treated with ovine growth hormone before breeding

One month before a fall breeding season, 30 6-mo-old fine-wool ewe lambs were allotted to one of three treatment groups consisting of either 0, 2.5 or 5 mg ovine growth hormone (oGH) daily for 10 d and then, on alternate days, for an additional 20 d. Five ewes from each treatment group were bled at hourly intervals for 8 h on Days 0 (first day of treatment), 9, 19 and 29. Milk yield and composition were examined on Day 21 post partum. Neither feed intake nor ewe weights differed (P > 0.20) among treatments. Serum insulin did not differ (P > 0.20) among treatments before or during the 5 h following treatment on Day 0 or 29; however, 6, 7 and 8 h after oGH administration, a linear, dose-dependent increase (P < 0.10) in serum insulin was noted. On Day 9, serum insulin differed linearly (P < 0.10) before and after treatment. On Day 19, serum insulin differed (P < 0.10) among the groups 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 h following oGH treatment. One hour after treatment on Day 0, serum GH increased linearly (P < 0.01) among groups. Serum GH continued to rise 3 h after treatment and remained elevated through Hour 8 in ewes receiving oGH. Serum GH was increased (P < 0.01) before and after oGH administration on Days 9, 19 and 29 in GH-treated ewes. Percentage of ewes that cycled during treatment or breeding as determined by serum progesterone was similar (P > 0.20) among groups. Pregnancy rates did not differ (P > 0.20) in ewe lambs receiving 0 (70%), 2.5 (80%) and 5 (60%) mg oGH. No differences were detected (P > 0.40) in milk yield or composition among treatments. In fine-wool ewe lambs treated with 2.5 or 5 mg of exogenous oGH for 30 d before breeding, neither reproductive performance nor subsequent milk production were enhanced; however, these treatments increased serum GH and insulin.     

Turnover of the Molecular Forms of Acetylcholinesterase in the Rat Diaphragm

Abstract: The turnover of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its molecular forms was measured by following the loss of enzyme activity in the right hemidiaphragms of Sprague-Dawley rats treated with cycloheximide, 20 mg/kg, every 4 h. This treatment inhibited 96% of the incorporation of [³H]leucine into muscle protein. After 8 h of treatment, the total AChE activity of the diaphragm decreased by 17% ( P < 0.01). Assuming first-order exponential kinetics, a half-life of 30 h and an hourly turnover of 180 units were calculated. The measured accumulation of AChE activity at a ligature on the phrenic nerve indicated that axonal transport contributed trivially to this turnover. Sucrose density gradient experiments showed that the cycloheximide-induced loss of AChE activity was restricted to the 4S enzyme, which had an apparent half-life of 6.2 h.     

Interaction of octanoate with branched-chain 2-oxo acid oxidation in rat and human muscle in vitro

Acetate and butanoate inhibited and hexanoate and octanoate increased the 14CO2 production from 0.1 mM [1-14C]-labelled 2-oxoisocaproate (KIC) and 2-oxoisovalerate (KIV) in rat hemidiaphragms. Octanoate increased KIC and KIV oxidation in rat soleus muscle, too, inhibited it in human skeletal muscle and had a divergent effect in rat and human heart slices. In rat hemidiaphragms octanoate primarily affected the process of oxidative decarboxylation. No effect was found on transamination rates of branched-chain amino acids and on the CO2 production beyond alpha-decarboxylation. The reverse transamination of branched-chain 2-oxo acids and their incorporation into protein decreased in the presence of octanoate. Octanoate had no effect on KIC and KIV oxidation at higher 2-oxo acid concentrations and in hemidiaphragms from 3-day-starved rats. The observed interactions are discussed and related to regulatory mechanisms, which are known to affect the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex.     

The episodic secretory pattern of growth hormone regulates liver carbonic anhydrase III. Studies in normal and mutant growth-hormone-deficient dwarf rats.

Carbonic anhydrase III (CAIII) occurs in male rat liver at concentrations twenty times those in the female, and is sensitive to the pattern of growth hormone (GH) release. Males release GH episodically and have high concentrations of CAIII; females produce GH in a more continuous fashion and have lower CAIII levels. In normal female rats, the endogenous GH secretory pattern was masculinized, either by regular injections of GH-releasing factor (GRF) or by intermittent infusions of somatostatin (90 min on/90 min off). Both treatments induced regular GH pulses and stimulated growth, but only intermittent somatostatin infusions raised CAIII levels (controls, 1.5 +/- 0.5; somatostatin-treated, 9.0 +/- 2.9 micrograms/mg; means +/- S.D.). GRF pulses (4 micrograms every 4 h) did not however raise CAIII levels (controls 1.8 +/- 0.5; GRF-treated 1.4 +/- 0.4 micrograms/mg). Surprisingly, hepatic CAIII is also sexually dimorphic (males, 18.8 +/- 3; females, 2.22 +/- 0.4 micrograms/mg) in a GH-deficient dwarf rat strain which has low plasma GH levels without 3-hourly GH peaks. Intermittent somatostatin infusions in female dwarf rats partially masculinized hepatic CAIII, an effect reduced by co-infusion with GRF. This CAIII response was not secondary to growth induction, since neither somatostatin nor GRF stimulated growth in dwarf rats, and pulses of exogenous GH stimulated growth in female dwarfs without masculinizing CAIII levels. Furthermore, continuous GH infusion in male dwarf rats partially feminized hepatic CAIII levels (to 9.1 +/- 2.4 micrograms/mg), whereas infusions of insulin-like growth factor-1, which induced the same body weight gain, did not affect hepatic CAIII (20.8 +/- 6 micrograms/mg). These results show that hepatic CAIII expression is highly sensitive to the endogenous GH secretory pattern, independent of growth. They also implicate the low basal GH levels between pulses, rather than the peak GH levels, as the primary determinant of the sexually dimorphic hepatic CAIII expression in the rat.     

Inhibitory effects of cysteamine on neuroendocrine function

The action of cysteamine on anterior pituitary hormone secretion was studied in vivo using conscious, freely moving male rats and in vitro using anterior pituitary cells in monolayer culture. Administration of 500 micrograms cysteamine into the lateral cerebral ventricles of normal rats caused the complete inhibition of pulsatile GH secretion for a minimum of 6 h. This treatment also significantly decreased plasma concentrations of LH for at least 6 h in orchiectomized rat, TSH in short-term (0.5 month) thyroidectomized rats, and PRL in long-term (6 months) thyroidectomized rats. The in vivo stimulation of GH, LH, TSH and PRL with their respective releasing hormones 60 min after administration of cysteamine was not different from the response observed in rats pretreated with saline except for PRL where cysteamine pretreatment significantly inhibited the expected PRL increase. In vitro, 1 mM cysteamine decreased basal and TRH stimulated PRL release while not affecting basal or stimulated GH, LH, TSH and ACTH secretion. These data demonstrate the dramatic and wide-ranging effects of cysteamine on anterior pituitary hormone secretion. This action appears to be mediated through hypothalamic pathways for GH, LH and TSH and through a pituitary pathway for PRL.     

Growth hormone releasing effect of hpGRF-40 in rats at different time intervals following ablation of the mediobasal hypothalamus

We have investigated the effect of hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection in the rat on the growth hormone (GH) responsiveness to human pancreatic GH-releasing factor (hpGRF). Adult female rats, sham-operated (sham-op) or bearing a complete mechanical ablation of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH-A) were challenged, while under urethane anesthesia, with hpGRF-40 (20,100,500 ng/rat i.v.) at different time intervals after surgery. In sham-op rats only 500 ng/rat of hpGRF-40 stimulated GH release, while in 1-and 7-day MBH-A rats the stimulation also occurred with the lower hpGRF doses and the rise in plasma GH was greater than in sham-op controls. Twenty-one and 42 days after the placing of the lesions the GH response to hpGRF-40 was still present at the 500 ng/rat dose, though it was smaller than in sham-op controls. Evaluation of pituitary GH content demonstrated a progressive and rapid decline starting the first day after the placing of the lesions. These data indicate that GH responsiveness to hpGRF is: 1) enhanced in the anterior pituitary shortly after hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection and, 2) despite a striking reduction of the pituitary GH stores, it is maintained after these lesions.The physiologic growth hormone (GH) releaser in the rat is GH-releasing factor and, recently, a group of peptides has been characterized from human pancreatic tumors (hpGRFs) (1,2) which are potent and specific GH-releasers in both animals (3) and man (4). The availability of these peptides, which show a high degree of homology with the physiologic rat hypothalamic GRF (5), offers the unique opportunity to assess somatotrope responsiveness to GRF molecules in rats with hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection.In this study we have first evaluated the GH pituitary responsiveness to increasing doses of hpGRF-40 in rats following mechanical ablation of the mediobasal hypothalamus (6). These rats, by definition, lack the effect of both central nervous system (CNS) inhibitory (e.g. somatostatin) and stimulatory (e.g. GRF) influences to GH release. With the aim to ascertain how the lack of these two opposing inputs reflects on the secretory capacity of the somatotropes, we also investigated the GH response to hpGRF-40 at different time intervals after the lesioning. In a study in rats with electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial-arcuate region of the hypothalamus Tannenbaum et al (7) had shown persistence of the GH response to huge doses of a hpGRF analog.     

Effects of hypophysectomy and acute growth hormone treatment upon glucose metabolism in adipose tissues and isolated adipocytes of rats.

Glucose oxidation and incorporation into lipid were measured in epididymal adipose tissues and isolated adipose cells of normal and hypophysectomized rats in an effort to determine whether the acute hypoglycemic effect of a systemic growth hormone (GH) injection was related to alterations in the glucose metabolism of adipose tissue. The rats were fed rat chow or a high sucrose diet and received 100 mug GH intraperitoneally 30 minutes or three and one-half hours before sacrifice. Hypophysectomized rats showed a lower plasma glucose as compared with normal rats on both diets. Thirty minutes after a GH injection there was a further decrease of the plasma glucose which, however, was not present in those rats receiving GH three and one-half hours before sacrifice. Adipose tissues from hypophysectomized rats fed the high sucrose diet showed a blunted insulin sensitivity as compared with normal rats on a similar diet. The insulin sensitivity of these tissues was further decreased 30 minutes after a GH injection. Basal glucose metabolism of isolated adipocytes from hypophysectomized rats, as compared with normal rats, was depressed if they were fed rat chow, was at normal levels if they were fed the high sucrose diet and was increased if they were fed the sucrose diet and received triiodothyronine and cortisone supplements. No manipulations of diet or hormonal treatments made the isolated adipocyte from hypophysectomized rats sensitive to insulin either 30 minutes or three and one-half hours after a GH injection. Since basal glucose utilization is not enhanced by GH injection and both the blunted insulin sensitivity of adipose tissue and the absent insulin sensitivity of adipopocytes would be expected to produce hyperglycemia rather than hypoglycemia, it is concluded that immediate systemic effects of a GH injection on carbohydrate metabolism are not related to changes in glucose metabolism of the peripheral adipose tissues.     

Impaired peripheral T3 production but normal induced thyroid hormone secretion in the sex-linked dwarf chick embryo

Plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and chicken GH (cGH), together with hepatic 5'-monodeiodination (5'-D) activity, were measured in normal (Dw) and dwarf chick (dw) embryos at incubation d 18. An injection of 10 micrograms of ovine GH (oGH) raised plasma concentrations of T3 in Dw embryos after 1 and 2 h and stimulated hepatic 5'-D activity after 2 h. A non-specific increase in T4 was also observed after 1 h in Dw animals probably due to the heterologous nature of the injection. These effects were not observed in dw embryos. An injection of 1 microgram of TRH was able to increase cGH levels after 15 min in Dw embryos, whereas the the observed increase in the dw group was not significant. In Dw embryos, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 microgram of TRH increased plasma concentrations of T3 in a dose-dependent way, whereas in dw embryos, no reaction to the TRH injections was seen, except for the highest dose used. Contrary to this observation, T4 was increased to the same level in both Dw and dw embryos following TRH injections. An injection of 1 microgram of ovine CRH increased corticosterone after 0.5 h and elevated T3 and T4 after 2 h to the same extent in Dw and dw embryos. It is concluded that the thyrotrophic activities of TRH and oCRH and the corticotropic activity of oCRH do not differ between normal and sex-linked dwarf embryos. However TRH and GH were unable to stimulate the T4-T3 conversion in the liver of dw embryos, presumably due to the lack of hepatic GH receptors in these animals.     

Plasma concentrations of pituitary hormones in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-treated male rats

Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that acute TCDD toxicity is associated with pituitary hypofunction. Sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were given graded doses of TCDD (0-100 micrograms/kg) and evaluated 7 days later. Despite pronounced hypophagia and body weight loss, plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were not significantly affected by any dose of TCDD. Only prolactin (PRL) concentrations were reduced, while, as previously reported, thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were elevated. Also, plasma LH, PRL, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations were not significantly affected 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days after a single dose of TCDD (50 micrograms/kg). We conclude that (1) pituitary hypofunction is not a major cause of the initial stages of acute TCDD toxicity, (2) growth retardation in TCDD-treated rats is not the result of a deficiency of GH, (3) alterations in plasma corticosterone concentrations are due to altered responsiveness of the adrenal to ACTH stimulation rather than to changes in plasma ACTH concentrations, and (4) that impaired spermatogenesis is not associated with a decrease in plasma FSH concentrations. In addition, the lack of a consistent effect on plasma PRL concentrations suggests that alterations in plasma PRL concentrations do not play a critical role in the toxicity of TCDD. Finally, because TCDD treatment causes a serious androgenic deficiency without increasing the rates at which androgens are catabolized or excreted, the fact that plasma LH concentrations were unaffected indicates that TCDD treatment must reduce the responsiveness of the testis to LH stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Growth hormone-induced differential desensitization of STAT5, ERK,and Akt phosphorylation

Secretion of growth hormone (GH) in adult male rats is characterized by high peak and undetectable trough levels, both of which are required for male-specific pattern of liver gene expression and GH-induced phosphorylation of STAT5. The present study suggests that regulation of GH receptor (GHR) levels in rat hepatoma cells by repeated GH stimulation determines GH responsiveness via the JAK2/STAT5 pathway. A short exposure to GH rapidly reduced GHR levels which resulted in an equal desensitization of the JAK2/STAT5 pathway. Recovery of GH-induced STAT5 phosphorylation correlated with the time-dependent recovery of GHR levels during incubation in the absence of GH. Acute GH also induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt, and this induction was also inhibited by prior exposure to GH. However, unlike the JAK2/STAT5 pathway, the effect of GH to activate the MEK/ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathways did not recover following prolonged incubation in the absence of GH. Thus, GH administration desensitizes the JAK2/STAT5 pathway, possibly because of down-regulation of GHR, whereas an additional post-receptor mechanism is required for the prolonged refractoriness of the MEK/ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathways toward a second GH stimulation. Our study suggests that both receptor and post-receptor mechanisms are important in GH-induced homologous desensitization.     

The effects of potassium ions and denervation on protein synthesis and the transport of amino acids in muscle

1. The effects of varying concentrations of K(+) during incubation, of denervation and of various drugs on the accumulation of (14)C-labelled amino acids, their incorporation into protein and the stimulation of these processes by insulin in rat diaphragm preparations were studied. 2. The accumulation of glycine and aminoisobutyrate and incorporation of glycine into protein was less in tissue incubated in K(+)-free buffer or 20mm-K(+) than with 5-10mm-K(+). Incorporation of leucine was unaffected. 3. Incorporation into protein of amino acids by diaphragm that had been denervated 3 days previously was elevated. Accumulation of both glycine and aminoisobutyrate was also raised but that of phenylalanine was unaffected. 4. Accumulation of glycine by diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus muscle was decreased by a number of agents including cocaine and mepyramine. 5. The stimulation of incorporation by insulin was unaffected by changes in K(+) or in the presence of cocaine and mepyramine. Denervated tissue was markedly less responsive to insulin than its control. 6. The results are discussed in the context of the relation of amino acid accumulation to operation of the Na(+) pump and the influence of insulin thereon.     

Does alprazolam, in contrast to diazepam, activate alpha 2-adrenoceptors involved in the regulation of rat growth hormone secretion?

The conventional benzodiazepine diazepam and the novel triazolobenzodiazepine alprazolam were compared with respect to effects on growth hormone (GH) release in reserpine pretreated rats. The reserpine pretreatment was undertaken to eliminate brain monoaminergic influence on GH secretion, hence obtaining a low GH baseline from which a drug induced increase could be easily detected. Previous studies have indicated that activation of brain alpha 2-adrenoceptors is an indispensable prerequisite for GH release induced by other agents such as serotonin and opiate receptor agonists. In line with these findings, diazepam was found to induce GH release in reserpine pretreated rats only when the alpha 2-receptor agonist clonidine was simultaneously administered. In contrast, alprazolam caused a dose-dependent increase in plasma GH when given alone to reserpine pretreated rats. This effect of alprazolam was effectively antagonized by either of the two selective alpha 2-receptor antagonists yohimbine or idazoxane. The data indicate that alprazolam, but not diazepam, activates brain alpha 2-adrenoceptors involved in rat GH regulation. The possibility that an alpha 2-agonistic profile of alprazolam may contribute to the suggested effectiveness of the drug in the treatment of panic disorder is discussed.     

Inhibition by antiserum to rat growth hormone-releasing factor of growth hormone secretion induced by a met5-enkephalin analog, FK33-824, in rats

A Met5-enkephalin analog, FK33-824 (5, 10 and 20 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv) caused a dose-related increase in plasma growth hormone (GH) in urethane-anesthetized male rats. Pretreatment with cysteamine (30 mg/100 g body wt, sc), a depletor of hypothalamic somatostatin, increased the plasma GH response to FK33-824 (10 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv). Antiserum specific for rat GH-releasing factor (GRF) (0.5 ml/rat, iv) blunted GH release induced by FK33-824 (10 micrograms/100 g body wt, iv) in rats with or without cysteamine pretreatment. These results suggest that GH secretion induced by the opioid peptide is mediated, at least in part, by hypothalamic GRF in the rat.