Activation of Muscarinic and of α1-Adrenergic Receptors on Astrocytes Results in the Accumulation of Inositol Phosphates

Astrocyte-enriched cultures prepared from the newborn rat cortex incorporated [3H]myo-inositol into intracellular free inositol and inositol lipid pools. Noradrenaline and carbachol stimulated the turnover of these pools resulting in an increased accumulation of intracellular [3H]inositol phosphates. The effects of noradrenaline and carbachol were dose-dependent and blocked by specific alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonists, respectively. The increase in [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation caused by these receptor antagonists was virtually unchanged when cultures were incubated in Ca2+-free medium, but was abolished when EGTA was also present in the Ca2+-free medium. Cultures of meningeal fibroblasts, the major cell type contaminating the astrocyte cultures, also accumulated [3H]myo-inositol, but no increased accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates was found in response to either noradrenaline or carbachol.     

Comparison of α1-Adrenergic Receptor-Stimulated Inositol Phosphate Formation in Primary Neuronal and Glial Cultures

alpha 1-Adrenergic receptor binding sites and norepinephrine-stimulated 3H-inositol phosphate (3H-InsP) accumulation were measured in primary cultures of neurons and glia from 1-day-old rat brains. The density of alpha 1-adrenergic receptor binding sites was approximately three times higher in membranes from neurons compared to glia. Although norepinephrine was slightly more potent in stimulating 3H-InsP formation in neurons than in glia, the maximal response was greater in glial cells. Norepinephrine-stimulated 3H-InsP formation remained constant for [3H]inositol prelabelling periods of 1-14 days in neurons, whereas the response increased with time in glia and was maximal after 7-10 days of prelabelling. Both the incorporation of [3H]inositol into lipid and basal levels of 3H-InsPs were lower in glial cells than in neurons, which accounted for the greater percent stimulation in glia. Pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine decreased norepinephrine-stimulated 3H-InsP formation in a dose-dependent manner in both neurons and glia by decreasing the maximal response without altering potency. HPLC separation showed that similar types of 3H-InsPs were accumulated in neurons and glial cells. These results demonstrate that alpha 1-adrenergic receptors exist on both neurons and glial cells and activate 3H-InsP accumulation in both cell types. Although receptor density is higher in neurons than in glia, the 3H-InsP response is higher in glia. This difference does not appear to be due to different receptor reserves, but may be due to differential coupling mechanisms in the two cell types.     

Synergistic Interactions Between α1- and α2-Adrenergic Receptors in Activating 3H-Inositol Phosphate Formation in Primary Glial Cell Cultures

Norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated 3H-inositol phosphate (3H-InsP) formation in primary glial cell cultures is thought to be due to alpha 1-adrenergic receptor activation. Surprisingly, the alpha 1-selective agonists phenylephrine and methoxamine showed only 12-21% of the intrinsic activity of NE in activating this response. Although the alpha 2-selective agonist UK 14,304 was itself inactive, inclusion of UK 14,304 increased the response to the alpha 1-selective agonists by about threefold. This increase was concentration-dependent and occurred at all time points examined. 6-Fluoro-NE and alpha-methyl-NE mimicked the effect of NE in glial cultures, although with lower potencies. However, several partial agonists were ineffective in activating this response, in both the presence and absence of UK 14,304. Synergistic interactions were not observed for alpha 1-mediated responses in slices of rat cerebral cortex, either for formation of 3H-InsPs or potentiation of isoproterenol- or adenosine-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Both UK 14,304 and phenylephrine inhibited NE-stimulated 3H-InsP formation in concentrations similar to those necessary to activate this response directly. These results suggest that NE activates 3H-InsP formation in primary glial cultures by synergistic actions on both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. The agonists UK 14,304 and phenylephrine also can act to inhibit the response to NE competitively.     

Stimulation of Formation of Inositol Phosphates in Primary Cultures of Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells by Angiotensin II, Histamine, Bradykinin, and Carbachol

Histamine, bradykinin, and angiotensin II stimulate release of catecholamines from adrenal medulla. Here we show, using bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in culture, that these agonists as well as carbachol (with hexamethonium) stimulate production of inositol phosphates. The histamine response was mepyramine sensitive, implicating an H1 receptor, whereas bradykinin had a lower EC50 than Met-Lys-bradykinin, and [Des-Arg9]-bradykinin was relatively inactive, implicating a BK-2 receptor. Total inositol phosphates formed in the presence of lithium were measured, with histamine giving the largest response. The relative contribution of chromaffin cells and nonchromaffin cells in the responses was assessed. In each case chromaffin cells were found to be responding to the agonists; in the case of histamine the response was solely on chromaffin cells. When the inositol phosphates accumulating over 2 or 5 min, with no lithium present, were separated on Dowex anion-exchange columns, bradykinin gave the greatest stimulation in the inositol trisphosphate fraction, whereas histamine gave a larger inositol monophosphate accumulation. On resolution of the isomers of stimulated inositol trisphosphate after 2 min of stimulation, the principal isomer present was inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in each case. Two hypotheses for the differential responses to histamine and bradykinin are discussed.     

Aluminium Inhibits Muscarinic Agonist-Induced Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Production and Calcium Mobilization in Permeabilized SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: The effects of aluminium (as Al³⁺) on carbachol-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (lnsP₃) production arid Ca²⁺ mobilisation were assessed in electropermeabilised human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Al³⁺ had no effect on lnsP₃-induced Ca²⁺ release but appreciably reduced carbachol-induced Ca²⁺ release (lC₅₀ of ∼90 μ M ). Aβ³⁺ also inhibited lnsP₃ production (lC₆₀ of ∼15 μ M ). Dimethyl hydroxypyridin-4-one, a potent Al³⁺ chelator (K₅= 31), at 100 μ M was able to abort and reverse the effects of Al³⁺ on both Ca²⁺ release and lnsP₃ production. These data suggest that, in permeabilised cells, the effect of Al³⁺ on the phosphoinositide-mediated signalling pathway is at the level of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis. This may reflect interference with receptor-G protein-phospholipase C coupling or an interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.     

α2-Adrenergic and Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptors Have Oposing Actions on Cyclic AMP Levels in SK-N-SH Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Forskolin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were shown to increase cyclic AMP accumulation in a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH cells. The alpha 2-adrenergic agonist UK 14304 decreased forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP levels by 40 +/- 2%, with an EC50 of 83 +/- 20 nM. This response was blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PT) (EC50 = 1 ng/ml) or by the alpha 2-antagonists yohimbine, idazoxan, and phentolamine. Antagonist IC50 values were 0.3 +/- 0.1, 2.2 +/- 0.3, and 1.4 +/- 0.1 microM, respectively. This finding suggests the presence of normal inhibitory coupling of SK-N-SH cell alpha 2-adrenergic receptors to adenylate cyclase via the inhibitory GTP-binding protein species, Gi. Muscarinic receptors in many target cell types are coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase. However, in SK-N-SH cells, muscarinic agonists synergistically increased (67-95%) the level of cyclic AMP accumulation elicited by forskolin or VIP. EC50 values for carbamylcholine (CCh) and oxotremorine facilitation of the forskolin response were 1.2 +/- 0.2 and 0.3 +/- 0.1 microM, respectively. Pharmacological studies using the muscarinic receptor subtype-preferring antagonists 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine, pirenzepine, and AF-DX 116 indicated mediation of this response by the M3 subtype. IC50 values were 14 +/- 1, 16,857 +/- 757, and 148,043 +/- 16,209 nM, respectively. CCh-elicited responses were unaffected by PT pretreatment. Muscarinic agonist binding affinity was indirectly measured by the ability of CCh to compete for [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding sites on SK-N-SH cell membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inositol Phospholipid Hydrolysis in Rat Cerebral Cortical Slices: I. Receptor Characterisation

Characterisation of receptor-mediated breakdown of inositol phospholipids in rat cortical slices has been performed using a direct assay which involves prelabelling with [3H]inositol. When slices were preincubated with [3H]inositol, lithium was found to greatly amplify the capacity of receptor agonists such as carbachol, noradrenaline, and 5-hydroxytryptamine to increase the amount of radioactivity appearing in the inositol phosphates. Using a large variety of agonists and antagonists it could be shown that cholinergic muscarinic, alpha 1-adrenoceptor, and histamine H1 receptors appear to be linked to inositol phospholipid breakdown in cortex. The large responses produced by receptor agonists allowed a clear discrimination between full and partial agonists as well as quantitative analysis of competitive antagonists for each receptor. Whereas carbachol and acetylcholine (in the presence of a cholinesterase inhibitor) were full agonists, oxotremorine and arecoline were only partial agonists. Very low concentrations of atropine shifted the carbachol dose-response curve to the right and allowed inhibition constants for the antagonist to be easily calculated. The nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine, was ineffective. Noradrenaline adrenaline were full agonists at alpha 1-adrenoceptors, but phenylephrine and probably methoxamine were partial agonists. Prazosin, but not yohimbine, potently and competitively antagonised the noradrenaline inositol phospholipid response. Mepyramine but not cimetidine competitively antagonised the histamine response. These data provide strong confirmation for the potentiating effect of lithium on neurotransmitter inositol phospholipid breakdown and emphasise the ease with which functional responses at a number of cortical receptors can be characterised.     

Noradrenergic Inhibition and α2-Adrenergic Stimulation of Melatonin Secretion in the Pigeon

Adrenergic regulatory mechanisms of melatonin synthesis and secretion were studied in the pigeon in vivo. Late-afternoon intraperitoneal injection of noradrenaline (NA; 1 mg/kg) resulted in a significant decrease in plasma melatonin levels in 3 h. The same effect was seen after phenylephrine treatment (1 mg/kg i.p.), indicating that an alpha 1-adrenergic mechanism may mediate the inhibition. Propranolol treatment had no effect on plasma melatonin levels, supporting this concept. Detomidine (1 mg/kg i.p.), an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, increased melatonin levels. This stimulatory effect was blocked by yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist. However, yohimbine alone had no effect on the plasma melatonin levels, suggesting that alpha 2-adrenergic transmission is not primarily responsible for the nocturnal stimulation of melatonin synthesis and secretion in the pigeon.     

Effects of Muscarinic Agonists and Depolarizing Agents on Inositol Monophosphate Accumulation in the Rabbit Vagus Nerve

The effects of muscarinic agonists and depolarizing agents on inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in the rabbit vagus nerve were assessed by the measurement of [3H]inositol monophosphate production in nerves that had been preincubated with [3H]inositol. After 1 h of drug action, carbachol, oxotremorine, and arecoline increased the inositol monophosphate accumulation, though the maximal increase induced by these agonists differed. Addition of the muscarinic antagonists atropine or pirenzepine shifted the carbachol dose-response curves to the right, without decreasing the carbachol maximal stimulatory effects. The KB for pirenzepine was 35 nM, which is characteristic of muscarinic high-affinity binding sites coupled to phosphoinositide turnover and often associated with the M1 receptor subtype. On the other hand, agents known to depolarize or to increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, e.g., elevated extracellular K+, ouabain, Ca2+, and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, also increased inositol monophosphate accumulation. These effects were not mediated by the release of acetylcholine, as suggested by the fact that they could not be potentiated by the addition of physostigmine nor inhibited by the addition of atropine. The Ca(2+)-channel antagonist Cd2+, also known to inhibit the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, was able to block the effects of K+ and ouabain, but did not alter those of carbachol. These results suggest that depolarizing agents increase inositol monophosphate accumulation in part through elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and that muscarinic receptors coupled to phosphoinositide turnover are present along the trunk of the rabbit vagus nerve.     

Desensitization of Muscarinic Receptor-Coupled Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis in Rat Hippocampus: Comparisons with the α1-Adrenergic Response

In the presence of lithium, carbamylcholine chloride (carbachol) and epinephrine increase the accumulation of inositol monophosphate severalfold in hippocampal slices from the rat. The stimulation by carbachol (EC50, 31 microM) is mediated by muscarinic receptors, whereas the effects of epinephrine (EC50, 2 microM) are due to activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. The responses of epinephrine and carbachol are additive, even under conditions that significantly reduce the levels of phosphoinositides and free inositol, suggesting that the muscarinic and adrenergic receptors may be located on separate cells. At concentrations that saturate their respective receptors, epinephrine induces an increase in inositol monophosphate that is linear with time to at least 60 min, whereas the response to carbachol begins to reach a plateau by 20-40 min. When hippocampal slices are preincubated with saturating concentrations of carbachol, the subsequent response to carbachol is reduced by 42%. However, preincubation with carbachol or epinephrine has no effect on the subsequent response to epinephrine. Despite the lack of adrenergic desensitization by this paradigm, preexposure of hippocampal slices to the tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, reduces the response to epinephrine to a significantly greater degree (57%) than it reduces the muscarinic response (25%). These studies indicate that, although they utilize the same second messenger, the muscarinic and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors of hippocampal slices have different characteristics and regulatory mechanisms.     

α1-Adrenergic Receptor-Mediated Downregulation of Angiotensin II Receptors in Neuronal Cultures

Previous evidence has suggested that brain catecholamine levels are important in the regulation of central angiotensin II receptors. In the present study, the effects of norepinephrine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) on angiotensin II receptor regulation in neuronal cultures from rat hypothalamus and brainstem have been examined. Both catecholamines elicit significant decreases in [125I]angiotensin II-specific binding to neuronal cultures prepared from normotensive rats, effects that are dose dependent and that are maximal within 4-8 h of preincubation. Saturation and Scatchard analyses revealed that the norepinephrine-induced decrease in the binding is due to a decrease in the number of angiotensin II receptors in neuronal cultures, with little effect on the receptor affinity. Norepinephrine has no significant actions on [125I]angiotensin II binding in cultures prepared from spontaneously hypertensive rats. The downregulation of angiotensin II receptors by norepinephrine or dopamine is blocked by alpha 1-adrenergic and not by other adrenergic antagonists, a result suggesting that this effect is initiated at the cell surface involving alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. This is further supported by our data indicating a parallel downregulation of specific alpha 1-adrenergic receptors elicited by norepinephrine. In summary, these results show that norepinephrine and dopamine are able to alter the regulation of neuronal angiotensin II receptors by acting at alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, which is a novel finding.     

Potentiation by γ-Aminobutyric Acid of α1-Agonist-Induced Accumulation of Inositol Phosphates in Slices of Rat Cerebral Cortex

Noradrenaline-induced accumulation of 3H-labeled inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphate (IP1, IP2, and IP3, respectively) in lithium-treated slices of rat cerebral cortex preincubated with [3H]inositol was potentiated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). However, the effect on [3H]IP2 accumulation was much greater than that on [3H]IP1 or [3H]IP3 accumulation. The principal effect of GABA on noradrenaline concentration-response curves for both [3H]IP1 and [3H]IP2 was to cause an increase in the maximal response attainable. However, whereas the EC50 for GABA potentiation of [3H]IP1 formation was 0.5 mM, the curve for the potentiation of [3H]IP2 formation showed a marked upturn at GABA concentrations of greater than 1 mM. Prazosin (1 microM) blocked the noradrenaline-induced formation of all three inositol phosphates (IPs), in both the presence and the absence of 2 mM GABA. 3H-IP formation induced by phenylephrine and methoxamine was also potentiated by GABA, and again the greatest effect was on [3H]IP2 accumulation. The ratio of [3H]IP2/[3H]IP1 formed in response to 100 microM noradrenaline was increased by 2 mM GABA at all times from 10 to 60 min, whereas the ratio of [3H]IP3/[3H]IP1 was little altered. The effect of GABA was not mimicked by the GABAA agonists isoguvacine and 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid and was not blocked by bicuculline methiodide. (-)-Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, did produce some stimulation of the response to noradrenaline, but to a much lesser extent than GABA. Of the agents tested, nipecotic acid came nearest to reproducing the effect of GABA, in that the major effect was on [3H]IP2 accumulation. The effects of 2 mM GABA and 2 mM nipecotic acid were not additive. GABA potentiation of noradrenaline-induced 3H-IP formation was still apparent in the absence of Li+, but the increase of [3H]IP2 content was less than that of [3H]IP1 content.     

A Method to Measure Simultaneously Cyclic AMP and Inositol Phosphate Accumulation in Rat Brain Slices

The simultaneous measurement of the accumulation of cyclic AMP and inositol phosphates in rat cerebral cortical slices is described. After stimulation, the separation of cyclic AMP and inositol phosphates was achieved using ion-exchange chromatography and their concentrations were determined by means of a double-labeling technique, the substrates adenine and inositol being labeled with 14C and 3H, respectively. The recoveries were 70-80% for inositol phosphates and 40-50% for cyclic AMP. To test the applicability of the method, norepinephrine was chosen as an agonist, because it is known to stimulate the production of these two second messengers by interacting with alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. This procedure is an improvement over existing methods, because we obtained the simultaneous formation of 3H-inositol phosphates and [14C]cyclic AMP in a concentration-dependent process. EC50 values were similar for the two, 8.5 +/- 3.9 microM for 3H-inositol phosphates and 20.2 +/- 6.3 microM for [14C]cyclic AMP, and close to the values obtained when each process was studied alone. The action of adrenergic antagonists was also tested. Propranolol blocked the norepinephrine stimulation of [14C]cyclic AMP, but did not inhibit the norepinephrine stimulation of 3H-inositol phosphates. The opposite results were observed with prazosin. Our results suggest that this method could be a useful tool to examine the interaction between these two receptor-coupled effectors.     

α1-Adrenergic Receptors in Neuronal Cultures from Rat Brain: Increased Expression in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

Neuronal cells in primary culture from 1-day-old brains of normotensive, Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats have been utilized to study the expression of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Binding of a selective alpha 1 antagonist, [125I]2-[beta-(4-hydroxy-3-iodophenyl)-ethylaminomethyl]-tetralone ([125I]HEAT) to neuronal membranes prepared from primary brain cultures of WKY and SH rats was 75-80% specific, rapid, and time-dependent although the binding was 1.5-2 times higher in neuronal membranes from SH rat brain cultures. Kinetic analysis of the association and dissociation data demonstrated no significant differences between rat strains. Competition-inhibition experiments provided IC50 values for various antagonists and agonists in the following order: prazosin less than phentolamine less than yohimbine less than phenylephrine less than norepinephrine less than propranolol, suggesting that [125I]HEAT bound selectively to alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Scatchard analysis of the binding data provided straight lines for both strains of rats, indicating the presence of a homogeneous population of binding sites. It also showed that the increase in the binding in neuronal cells from SH rat brains over those from normotensive WKY controls was a result of an increase in the number of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Incubation of neuronal cultures from both strains of rats with phenylephrine, an alpha 1-adrenergic agonist, caused a time- and dose-dependent decrease in the binding of [125I]HEAT. This decrease was due to a decrease in the number of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

γ-Hydroxybutyrate Stimulation of the Formation of Cyclic GMP and Inositol Phosphates in Rat Hippocampal Slices

The presence of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) (300-600 microM) in the incubation medium of rat hippocampal slices led to an increase of intracellular cyclic GMP and inositol phosphates. This phenomenon is dependent on the time and the dose of GHB used and might be the result of the stimulation of GHB receptor sites which are abundant in rat hippocampus. The increase of cyclic GMP and inositol phosphates is blocked by some anticonvulsants and opiate antagonists. These results seems to indicate that, like many substances inducing epileptic phenomena, GHB provokes neuronal depolarization in hippocampus which is accompanied by formation of cyclic GMP and inositol phosphates. The effect of opiate antagonists can be explained by the possible implication of an opiate synapse which mediates GHB effects in rat hippocampus.     

Cholinergic Stimulation of Inositol Phosphate Formation in Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells: Distinct Nicotinic and Muscarinic Mechanisms

The ability of cholinergic agonists to activate phospholipase C in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined by assaying the production of inositol phosphates in cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol. We found that both nicotinic and muscarinic agonists increased the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates (mainly inositol monophosphate) and that the effects mediated by the two types of receptors were independent of each other. The production of inositol phosphates by nicotinic stimulation required extracellular Ca2+ and was maximal at 0.2 mM Ca2+. Increasing extracellular Ca2+ from 0.22 to 2.2 mM increased the sensitivity of inositol phosphates formation to stimulation by submaximal concentrations of 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium iodide (DMPP) but did not enhance the response to muscarine. Elevated K+ also stimulated Ca2+-dependent [3H]inositol phosphate production, presumably by a non-receptor-mediated mechanism. The Ca2+ channel antagonists D600 and nifedipine inhibited the effects of DMPP and elevated K+ to a greater extent than that of muscarine. Ca2+ (0.3-10 microM) directly stimulated the release of inositol phosphates from digitonin-permeabilized cells that had been prelabeled with [3H]inositol. Thus, cholinergic stimulation of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells results in the activation of phospholipase C by distinct muscarinic and nicotinic mechanisms. Nicotinic receptor stimulation and elevated K+ probably increased the accumulation of inositol phosphates through Ca2+ influx and a rise in cytosolic Ca2+. Because Ba2+ caused catecholamine secretion but did not enhance the formation of inositol phosphates, phospholipase C activation is not required for exocytosis. However, diglyceride and myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate produced during cholinergic stimulation of chromaffin cells may modulate secretion and other cellular processes by activating protein kinase C and/or releasing Ca2+ from intracellular stores.     

Protein Kinase C Agonists Increase the Expression of Angiotensin II Receptors in Neuronal Cultures

Previous studies have shown that norepinephrine is important in the regulation of central angiotensin II receptors, an effect mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Because alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation leads to inositol phospholipid hydrolysis and activation of protein kinase C, we have examined a possible role of this enzyme in the regulation of central angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors. In the present study, we have examined the effects of protein kinase C activators, phorbol esters, on the expression of Ang II receptors in neuronal cultures prepared from 1-day-old rat brains. The active phorbol ester phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA) caused time- and concentration-dependent increases in the specific binding of [125I]Ang II to its receptors in neuronal cultures of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat brains. The stimulatory effect of TPA on Ang II receptors was apparent within 15 min and reached a maximum between 1 and 2 h. Ang II specific binding had returned to control levels by 24 h. Various phorbol esters increased [125I]Ang II binding in accordance with their order of potency in stimulating protein kinase C activity. Saturation and Scatchard analysis revealed that the phorbol ester-induced increase in [125I]Ang II binding was due to an increase in the number of Ang II receptors. These observations indicate that activation of protein kinase C results in an increased expression of Ang II receptors in neuronal cultures from both normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat brains. The results suggest a possible role of phosphorylation in Ang II receptor expression in neuronal cultures.     

α1-Adrenergic Receptor Mediates Arachidonic Acid Release in Spinal Cord Neurons Independent of Inositol Phospholipid Turnover

The alpha 1-adrenergic receptor has been shown to mediate the release of arachidonic acid in FRTL5 thyroid cells and MDCK kidney cells. In primary cultures of spinal cord cells, norepinephrine stimulated release of arachidonic acid (from neurons only) and turnover of inositol phospholipids (from neurons and glia) via alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. These two responses were dissociated by treatment with phorbol ester and pertussis toxin, which inhibited production of inositol phosphates with no appreciable effect on release of arachidonic acid. Extracellular calcium was required for release of arachidonic acid, but not for production of inositol phosphates. The calcium channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil inhibited release of arachidonic acid only. However, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), a compound that blocks intracellular calcium release, diminished production of inositol phosphates, but had little effect on release of arachidonic acid. These results suggest that alpha 1-adrenergic receptors couple to release of arachidonic acid in primary cultures of spinal cord cells by a mechanism independent of activation of phospholipase C, possibly via the activation of phospholipase A2.     

Stimulation by Bradykinin, Angiotensin II, and Carbachol of the Accumulation of Inositol Phosphates in PC-12 Pheochromocytoma Cells: Differential Effects of Lithium Ions on Inositol Mono-and Polyphosphates

Rat PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells respond to stimulation with bradykinin, angiotensin II, and carbachol with an increased formation of labeled inositol phosphates after preincubation of the cells with [3H]inositol. Li+ potentiates greatly the agonist-induced increase in amount of inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphate but not the increase in amount of inositol tetrakisphosphate. Separation of the isomers of inositol trisphosphate shows that the lithium-induced increase in amount of inositol trisphosphate is due to potentiation evoked by lithium of the accumulation of inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate.     

Stimulation of Distinct D2 Dopaminergic and α2-Adrenergic Receptors Induces Light-Adaptive Pigment Dispersion in Teleost Retinal Pigment Epithelium

In the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of lower vertebrates, melanin pigment granules aggregate and disperse in response to changes in light conditions. Pigment granules aggregate into the RPE cell body in the dark and disperse into the long apical projections in the light. Pigment granule movement retains its light sensitivity in vitro only if RPE is explanted together with neural retina. In the absence of retina, RPE pigment granules no longer move in response to light onset or offset. Using a preparation of mechanically isolated fragments of RPE from green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, we investigated the effects of catecholamines on pigment migration. We report here that 3,4-dihydoxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) and clonidine each mimic the effect of light in vivo by inducing pigment granule dispersion. Dopamine had a half-maximal effect at approximately 2 nM; clonidine, at 1 microM. Dopamine-induced dispersion was inhibited by the D2 dopaminergic antagonist sulpiride but not by D1 or alpha-adrenergic antagonists. Furthermore, a D2 dopaminergic agonist (LY 171555) but not a D1 dopaminergic agonist (SKF 38393) mimicked the effect of dopamine. Clonidine-induced dispersion was inhibited by the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine but not by sulpiride. These results suggest that teleost RPE cells possess distinct D2 dopaminergic and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors, and that stimulation of either receptor type is sufficient to induce pigment granule dispersion. In addition, forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, induced pigment granule movement in the opposite direction, i.e., dark-adaptive pigment aggregation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)