Evidence that phosphoinositide response is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation, but not linked with excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle

Phosphoinositide metabolism is known to be associated with neuronal or humoral stimulation of excitable cells. The present study examined whether the phosphoinositide response is involved in such events using isolated rat papillary muscles labeled with [3H]inositol. It was found that neither increase in the stimulation frequencies (0-2 Hz) nor prolongation of the pulse duration (10-70 msec) altered the labeling of phosphoinositides and the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates in this preparation. However, phenylephrine, a known alpha 1-agonist, was capable of provoking the breakdown of phosphoinositides associated with a positive inotropic effect in this preparation. We report the evidence that phosphoinositide response is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation, but not linked with excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle.     

Metabolism of inositol phosphates in parotid cells: implications for the pathway of the phosphoinositide effect and for the possible messenger role of inositol trisphosphate

Rat parotid acinar cells were used to investigate the time course of formation and breakdown of inositol phosphates in response to receptor-active agents. In cells preincubated with [3H]inositol and in the presence of 10 mM LiCl (which blocks hydrolysis of inositol phosphate), methacholine (10(-4)M) caused a substantial increase in cellular content of [3H]inositol phosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate and [3H]inositol trisphosphate. Subsequent addition of atropine (10(-4) M) caused breakdown of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate and little change in accumulated [3H]inositol phosphate. The data could be fit to a model whereby inositol trisphosphate and inositol bisphosphate are formed from phosphodiesteratic breakdown of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol phosphate respectively, and inositol phosphate is formed from hydrolysis of inositol bisphosphate rather than from phosphatidyl-inositol. Consistent with this model was the finding that [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate levels were substantially increased in 5 sec while an increase in [3H]inositol phosphate was barely detectable at 60 sec. These results indicate that in the parotid gland the phosphoinositide cycle is activated primarily by phosphodiesteratic breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides rather than phosphatidyl-inositol. Also, the results show that formation of inositol trisphosphate is probably sufficiently rapid for it to act as a second messenger signalling internal Ca2+ release in this tissue.     

Maitotoxin stimulates phosphoinositide breakdown in neuroblastoma hybrid NCB-20 cells

1. Maitotoxin (MTX) was an extraordinarily potent stimulant of phosphoinositide breakdown in the neuroblastoma hybrid NCB-20 cells. 2. Maximal responses were obtained at 0.25-0.5 ng MTX/ml, and resulted in increased formation of [3H]inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates. Increased formation of [3H]inositol bis- and trisphosphate was observed as early as 15 sec after the addition of MTX. 3. MTX-induced phosphoinositide breakdown in NCB-20 cells was not antagonized by organic (nifedipine, methoxyverapamil) or inorganic (Mn2+, Co2+, Cd2+) calcium channel blockers. However, the response on phosphoinositide breakdown was completely eliminated in the absence of extracellular calcium. 4. The results suggest that MTX either directly stimulates phosphoinositide breakdown in a calcium-dependent manner or acts indirectly through calcium channels insensitive to organic/inorganic calcium channel blockers.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and cyclic AMP stimulate phosphoinositide turnover in skeletal muscle cells. Interaction between two second messenger systems

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has previously been shown to coexist with acetylcholine in spinal cord motoneurons and to stimulate adenylate cyclase in skeletal muscle cells. We now demonstrate that in cultured chick myotubes whose phosphoinositides have been labeled with [3H]inositol, CGRP enhanced the accumulation of [3H]inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates. Rat CGRP-I (rCGRP) (0.1 microM) elicited a transient increase in [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, as well as a more sustained elevation of [3H]inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate levels. In the presence of Li+, rCGRP evoked an approximately 3-fold increase of [3H]inositol monophosphate levels, which persisted for up to 1 h. This effect of rCGRP was concentration-dependent, the half-maximal response being obtained at 1 nM. Since rCGRP also accelerated the rate of synthesis of [3H]inositol-containing lipids, it appears that the peptide acts by stimulating phosphoinositide turnover in chick myotubes. Agents that either mimic or elevate intracellular cyclic AMP also enhanced the synthesis of [3H]inositol-containing lipids, and the accumulation of inositol phosphates, suggesting that the effects of rCGRP are mediated, at least in part, via the activation of adenylate cyclase. This hypothesis was strengthened by the non-additivity of the inositol phosphate responses elicited by rCGRP and other cAMP-mobilizing agents, and by the sensitivity of these responses to various pharmacological treatments. The present results provide an example of positive interaction between cAMP and the phosphoinositide signaling system. They further suggest that a coexisting neuropeptide may exert pleiotropic actions upon its target cell by stimulating multiple signal transduction pathways.     

Enhanced arterial contractility to noradrenaline in diabetic rats is associated with increased phosphoinositide metabolism.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the increased contractile responsiveness of aortae from male rats with 12-14 week streptozotocin-induced diabetes to noradrenaline is associated with alterations in phosphoinositide metabolism. The contractile response to noradrenaline (10 microM) in both the presence and absence of extracellular calcium was significantly enhanced in aortae from diabetic rats. No significant differences were found between control and diabetic arteries in the basal incorporation of 32P and [3H]myo-inositol into phosphoinositides, or in the basal accumulation of [32P]phosphatidic acid and [3H]inositol phosphates. However, noradrenaline (10 microM) caused significantly greater breakdown of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and formation of [32P]phosphatidic acid and [3H]inositol phosphates in diabetic aortae than in control preparations. The production of [3H]inositol phosphates induced by noradrenaline was selectively reduced by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin, in both control and diabetic tissues. These results indicate that phosphoinositide metabolism in response to noradrenaline via stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors is enhanced in aortae from chronic streptozotocin-diabetic rats. The increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol production that presumably results could be responsible, at least in part, for the enhanced contractile response of aortae from diabetic rats to noradrenaline.     

Effect of calcium overload on the phosphoinositide breakdown in the rat left ventricular papillary muscle

We investigated the effect of Ca²⁺ overload on the phospholipase C-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in the rat left ventricular papillary muscle. Ca²⁺ overload on the papillary muscle was induced by treatment with 0.3 mM ouabain in Ca²⁺-containing medium following either Ca²⁺-containing or Ca²⁺-free superfusion. The phosphoinositide breakdown was evaluated by determining accumulations of [³H]inositol phosphates ([³H]IPs) in the tissues prelabeled with [³H]inositol. Ca²⁺ repletion following Ca²⁺-free superfusion resulted in a rapid but small increase in resting tension that was not followed by contracture, nor was it associated with a significant increase in [³H]IPs accumulations. Treatment with ouabain following Ca²⁺-containing superfusion increased resting tension after a lag period of several minutes and produced contracture associated with an increase in [³H]IPs accumulations. The ouabain induced increases in resting tension, and accumulations of [³H]IPs were significantly potentiated by prior Ca²⁺-free superfusion instead of Ca²⁺-containing superfusion. There was a significant positive correlation between increases in resting tension and the phosphoinositide breakdown. The increased resting tension and the accumulations of [³H]IPs were not antagonized by treatments with prazosin plus atropine or indomethacin, but were abolished by superfusion with Ca²⁺-free buffer solution. Although the enhanced phospholipase C-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphoinositides appears to be a consequence rather than a cause of increased intracellular Ca²⁺, such a biochemical change may provoke a positive feedback mechanism to develop the muscle contracture through the putative intracellular messenger action of inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol.Abbreviations [³H]IPs [³H]Inositol Phosphates - IP Inositol Phosphate - IP₂ Inositol Bisphosphate - IP₃ Inositol Trisphosphate - PI Phosphatidylinositol - PI-4-P Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate - PI-4,5-P₂ Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate - PRZ Prazosin - ATR Atropine - INDO Indomethacin - min Minutes     

The effects of fatty acids on phosphoinositide synthesis and myo-inositol accumulation in exocrine pancreas

The effects of arachidonic acid (20:4) on phosphoinositide turnover were examined in rat pancreatic acinar cells prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol. Arachidonic acid (50 microM) increased the accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, but not that of [3H]inositol monophosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate, or [3H]inositol trisphosphate. By contrast, 10 microM carbamoylcholine increased the accumulation of all four compounds. A combination of arachidonic acid plus carbamoylcholine caused a selective and marked accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, which was abolished by 10 mM LiCl. Arachidonic acid (10-100 microM) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into phosphoinositides and markedly depressed carbamoylcholine-induced increases in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into inositol phospholipids. Several other unsaturated and saturated fatty acids failed to elicit a synergistic response with carbamoylcholine in stimulating myo-[3H]inositol accumulation and did not retard the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into phosphoinositides. The fact that eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5), but not arachidic acid (20:0), mimicked the depressant effect of arachidonate on phosphoinositide labeling suggests that the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid, rather than chain length, is important for inhibition of phosphoinositide synthesis. The arachidonate-induced decrease in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation was accompanied by a reduction in the steady state level of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The mass of arachidonic acid liberated in response to carbamoylcholine was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the time course of stimulated arachidonate accumulation paralleled that of inositol phosphate accumulation and amylase release. These observations suggest that in exocrine pancreas, endogenous arachidonic acid serves as a negative feedback regulator of phosphoinositide turnover.     

The incorporation of [myo-2-3H] inositol into phosphatidyl inositol of stimulated rat pancreas

The 'phospholipid effect' involves agonist induced breakdown of phosphatidyl inositol (PI) or its phosphorylated derivates with increased incorporation of 32P or [myo-2-3H] inositol during resynthesis. In rat pancreas pancreozymin and bethanecol resulted in the standard dose dependent increased incorporation of 32P into PI which was paralleled by increased amylase secretion. By contrast the incorporation of [myo-2-3H] inositol into PI was significantly decreased by pancreozymin whereas bethanecol had no effect. However, pancreozymin caused a 30% decrease in labelled PI irrespective of whether it was prelabelled with 32P or [myo-2-3H] inositol. Thus in rat pancreas, pancreozymin resulted in the standard agonist induced breakdown of pre-labelled PI but inhibited the incorporation [2-3H-myo] inositol during the resynthetic phase.     

Modulation of Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis by NaF and Aluminum in Rat Cortical Slices

NaF stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat cortical slices. The production of [3H]inositol monophosphate was rapid for the first 15 min of incubation with NaF, followed by a plateau. The major product detected was [3H]inositol monophosphate, although significant amounts of [3H]inositol bisphosphate and [3H]inositol trisphosphate were also produced. The stimulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate production by NaF was concentration dependent between 2 and 20 mM NaF. Addition of 10 or 100 microM AlCl3 or aluminum maltol did not alter the effect of NaF, whereas at 500 microM, these aluminum preparations resulted in significant inhibition. Increasing the concentration of K+ from 5 to 20 mM potentiated [3H]inositol monophosphate production induced by carbachol but not by NaF. Incubation with 1 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a phorbol ester, inhibited carbachol-induced, but not NaF-induced, [3H]inositol monophosphate production. These results further support the hypothesis that a guanine nucleotide binding protein that can be activated by NaF is involved in phosphoinositide hydrolysis in brain. The use of NaF provides a means to bypass receptors to study intracellular regulatory sites of phosphoinositide metabolism without disrupting cells.     

Insulin-stimulated phosphoinositide metabolism in isolated fat cells

Treatment of isolated fat cells with insulin produced increases of up to 4.8-fold in the incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidylinositol. This effect of insulin was both time- and dose-dependent with half-maximal stimulation at 30 microunits/ml of insulin. Insulin increased the labeling of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate but not phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate in cells which had been preincubated with [3H]inositol for 90 min. Incubation of the cells in a Ca2+-free buffer increased the basal level of phosphatidylinositol labeling and enhanced the effect of insulin. Glucagon and isoprenaline, both of which stimulate lipolysis, had no effect on phosphatidylinositol labeling but did potentiate insulin-stimulated incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidylinositol. Phosphoinositide breakdown was measured by the accumulation of inositol phosphates. Insulin did not increase the level of the inositol phosphates at all concentrations of the hormone tested. By comparison, phenylephrine and vasopressin were able to stimulate phosphoinositide breakdown. Pretreatment of the cells with insulin enhanced the effect of phenylephrine on inositol phosphates' accumulation, suggesting that insulin may potentiate phenylephrine-mediated phosphoinositide turnover. From these data we conclude that insulin stimulates the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate, but has no effect on phosphoinositide breakdown.     

Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptor-Mediated Phosphoinositide Metabolism in Peripheral Nerve

Few receptor-mediated phenomena have been detected in peripheral nerve. In this study, the ability of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonist carbamylcholine to enhance phosphoinositide (PPI) breakdown in sciatic nerve was investigated by measuring the accumulation of inositol phosphates. Rat sciatic nerve segments were prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol and then incubated either with or without carbamylcholine in the presence of Li+. [3H]Inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP) accumulation contained most of the radioactivity in inositol phosphates, with [3H]inositol bisphosphate ([3H]IP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate ([3H]IP3) accounting for 7-8% and 1-2% of the total, respectively. In the presence of 100 microM carbamylcholine, [3H]IP accumulation increased by up to 150% after 60 min. The 50% effective concentration for the response was determined to be 20 microM carbamylcholine and stimulated IP generation was abolished by 1 microM atropine. Enhanced accumulation of IP2 and IP3 was also observed. Determination of the pA2 values for the muscarinic receptor antagonists atropine (8.9), pirenzepine (6.5), AF-DX 116 (11-[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl] acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one) (5.7), and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidinemethiodide (4-DAMP) (8.6) strongly suggested that the M3 muscarinic receptor subtype was predominantly involved in mediating enhanced PPI degradation. Following treatment of nerve homogenates and myelin-rich fractions with pertussis toxin and [32P]NAD+, the presence of an ADP-ribosylated approximately 40-kDa protein could be demonstrated. The results indicate that peripheral nerve contains key elements of the molecular machinery needed for muscarinic receptor-mediated signal transduction via the phosphoinositide cycle.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulates inositol phosphate production in normal anterior pituitary cells and GH3 tumour cells in the presence of lithium

Phosphatidylinositol (Ptd Ins) breakdown in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was measured after preincubation of both normal rat anterior pituitary cells and GH₃ turnout cells with [³H]inositol by the determination of [³H]inositol phosphate accumulation in the presence of lithium (which inhibits myo-inositol phosphatase). The method employed, which was originally developed for use with tissue slices, was adapted for isolated cells in monolayer culture. In GH₃ cells, TRH stimulated the breakdown of phosphoinositide in a manner similar to that reported previously using alternative methods. Furthermore, in normal male anterior pituitary cells the dose-response profile for TRH stimulation of inositol phosphate accumuJation was found to correlate well with the dose-response profile for TRH stimulation of prolactin secretion. As this response was maintained in the absence of added calcium, the breakdown of phosphoinositide would appear to be implicated as an event preceding calcium mobilization.     

An inhibitor of sweet taste response modulates glucose-induced phosphoinositide breakdown in rat pancreatic islets.

We studied the effect of a specific-competitive inhibitor of the sucrose taste response, p-nitrophenyl-D-glucopyranoside (PNP-Glu) on insulin release and phosphoinositide metabolism in rat pancreatic islets. The alpha-anomer, but not the beta-anomer, of PNP-Glu at a concentration of 5 mM inhibited insulin release induced by 10 mM glucose. Islets were labeled by exposure for 2 h to 10 uCi of myo-[2-3H] inositol solution supplemented with 2.8 mM glucose. Forty islets were then incubated in the presence of 10 mM LiCl, 1 mM inositol and 10 mM glucose with or without the anomers of PNP-Glu. [3H] radioactivity in the incubation medium remained significantly greater in the presence of the alpha-anomer of PNP-Glu than in the presence of glucose alone after 5- and 20-min incubation. The inositol monophosphate levels in the islets incubated with glucose alone were increased more than in the islets with alpha-anomer. The beta-anomer of PNP-Glu did not change either glucose-induced insulin release or phosphoinositide breakdown. A patch-clamp study revealed that neither anomer affected the glucose-dependent ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels. These results indicate that the anomeric preference for glucose in insulin release in the pancreatic islets is closely associated with phosphoinositide breakdown.     

Long-term atropine treatment lowers the efficacy of carbachol to stimulate phosphatidylinositol breakdown in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats.

The effect of long-term treatment with atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, known to cause up-regulation of receptor numbers, was examined on the muscarinic-receptor-mediated stimulation of phosphoinositide breakdown in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Although the numbers of both M1 muscarinic receptors, as measured by [3H]pirenzepine binding, and M1 and M2 receptors increased in both brain regions, the maximal breakdown of myo-[3H]inositol-labelled phosphoinositides was unaltered in the presence of carbachol at a saturating concentration (10(-2) M). In fact the efficacy of carbachol was decreased in slices from atropine-treated cerebral cortex [EC50 (concentration producing half-maximal effect) = 93 microM] as compared with the saline-treated control (EC50 = 23 microM)(P less than 0.005). Similarly the EC50 value (23 microM) in hippocampal slices from saline-treated rats increased in atropine-treated rats to 126 microM (P less than 0.005). This lowered efficacy of muscarinic stimulation could not be explained in terms of residual atropine in the tissue from treated rats. The noradrenaline- or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine)-stimulated breakdown or the K+ potentiation of the muscarinic-receptor-stimulated breakdown of [3H]phosphoinositides was not affected by the atropine treatment. Chromatography of the released [3H]inositol phosphates shows that atropine treatment did not cause any qualitative change in the pattern of [3H]inositol phosphates released by carbachol stimulation.     

Carbachol and histamine stimulation of guanine-nucleotide-dependent phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat brain cortical membranes.

Guanine nucleotides have been shown to stimulate phosphoinositide breakdown in brain membranes, but no potentiation of such an effect by agonist was demonstrated. We have studied the effect of carbachol and histamine on guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) stimulation of inositol phosphates formation in [3H]inositol-labelled rat brain cortical membranes. In this preparation, GTP[S] enhancement of phosphoinositide hydrolysis required the presence of MgATP and low Ca2+ concentration (100 nM). Carbachol potentiation of the GTP[S] effect was only observed when 1 mM-deoxycholate was also added. Under these conditions, stimulated production of [3H]inositol phosphates was linear for at least 15 min, and [3H]inositol bisphosphate [( 3H]IP2) accounted for approx. 80%, whereas the amount of [3H]inositol trisphosphate [( 3H]IP3) was very low. Stimulation by GTP[S] was concentration-dependent (half-maximal effect at 0.86 microM), and its maximal effect (815% over basal) was increased by 1 mM-carbachol (1.9-fold) and -histamine (1.7-fold). Both agonists decreased the slope index of the GTP[S] concentration/effect curve to values lower than unity, suggesting the appearance of some heterogeneity in the population of guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) involved. The carbachol and histamine effects were also concentration-dependent, and were inhibited by atropine and mepyramine respectively. Fluoroaluminate stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis to a higher extent than GTP[S] plus carbachol, and these stimulations were not additive, indicating that the same polyphosphoinositide phospholipase C-coupled G-protein mediates both effects.     

Relationship between hormonal activation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, fluid secretion and calcium flux in the blowfly salivary gland.

The addition of 5-hydroxytryptamine to the isolated blowfly salivary gland stimulates fluid secretion, transepithelial calcium transport and the breakdown of 32P- or 3H-labelled phosphatidylinositol The breakdown of [32P]phosphatidylcholine and [32P]-phosphatidylethanolamine was not stimulated by 5-hydroxytryptamine. In salivary glands incubated with myo-[2-3H]inositol for 1--3 h, more than 95% of the label retained by the tissue was in the form of phosphatidylinositol. The addition of 5-hydroxytryptamine resulted in an increase in the accumulation of label in intracellular inositol 1:2-cyclic phosphate, inositol 1-phosphate and free inositol along with an increase in the release of [3H]inositol to the medium and saliva. The release of [3H]inositol to the medium served as a sensitive indicator of phosphatidylinositol breakdown. The release of [3H]inositol was not increased by cyclic AMP or the bivalent-cation ionophore A23187 under conditions in which salivary secretion was accelerated. The stimulation of fluid secretion by low concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine was potentiated by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, which had no effect on inositol release. The stimulation of fluid secretion by 5-hydroxytryptamine was greatly reduced in calcium-free buffer, but the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol continued at the same rate in the absence of calcium. These results support the hypothesis that breakdown of phosphatidylinositol by 5-hydroxytryptamine is involved in the gating of calcium.     

Electroconvulsive Shock Increases α1b-but Not α1a-Adrenoceptor Binding Sites in Rat Cerebral Cortex

Repeated administration of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) increases [3H]prazosin binding to alpha 1-adrenoceptors in rat cerebral cortex. In contrast, [3H]WB4101 binding in cortex has been reported to be unchanged after ECS. [3H]Prazosin labels two alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes, termed alpha 1a and alpha 1b, whereas [3H]WB4101 labels the alpha 1a subtype preferentially. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ECS increases one or both alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat cerebral cortex. We found that treatment of rats with ECS once daily for 10-12 days increased [3H]prazosin binding in cortex by about 25% but did not significantly alter [3H]WB4101 binding to alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Measurement of alpha 1a and alpha 1b receptors by competition analysis of the selective alpha 1a antagonist 5-methylurapidil against [3H]prazosin and measurement of [3H]prazosin binding in homogenates preincubated with chlorethylclonidine, which alkylates alpha 1b binding sites, also indicated that the ECS-induced increase in alpha 1-adrenoceptors is confined to the alpha 1b subtype. In contrast to its effect on [3H]prazosin binding, ECS did not increase phosphoinositide hydrolysis as measured by [3H]inositol 1-phosphate accumulation in slices of rat cerebral cortex stimulated by either norepinephrine or phenylephrine. The failure of ECS to increase [3H]inositol 1-phosphate accumulation stimulated by phenylephrine, which is a partial agonist for this response, suggests that spare receptors do not account for the apparent absence of effect of ECS on alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis.     

Stimulatory and Inhibitory Effects of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate on 3H-Inositol Polyphosphate Accumulation in Rat Cortical Slices

The actions of the excitatory amino acid N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on the accumulation of 3H-inositol polyphosphate isomers in rat cerebral cortex slices have been examined over short (less than 5 min) incubation periods. NMDA caused the dose-dependent accumulation of only [3H]inositol monophosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate (maximal effect between 0.3 and 1 mM), with no increase in [3H]inositol trisphosphate ([3H]InsP3) and [3H]inositol tetrakisphosphate ([3H]InsP4). HPLC analysis confirmed this, showing no increases in the breakdown products of [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. When present with the muscarinic agonist carbachol (1 mM), high concentrations of NMDA (1 mM) could almost totally inhibit carbachol-induced accumulation of 3H-inositol polyphosphates. In contrast, at lower concentrations of NMDA (10 microM), the inhibitory effect was replaced with a synergistic accumulation of inositol polyphosphates, especially [3H]InsP4 and [3H]InsP3. The inhibitory effects of NMDA were only apparent when extracellular Ca2+ was present, although incubation in media with no added Ca2+ resulted in somewhat reduced stimulatory responses to NMDA alone, but suppressed totally the inhibitory effects of 1 mM NMDA and reduced the synergistic effects of 10 microM NMDA on carbachol responses. These studies, therefore, reveal Ca(2+)-dependent effects of NMDA indicative of indirect mechanisms of action and show that care must be made in interpreting the effects of NMDA on phosphoinositide metabolism unless the inositol polyphosphate composition has been fully characterised.     

Detection of inhibition of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide transformylase by thioinosinic acid and azathioprine by a new colorimetric assay.

The role of insulin in modulating phosphoinositide breakdown and accumulation of inositol phosphates was investigated in isolated rat pancreatic islets by using GPAIS (guinea-pig anti-insulin antiserum) that neutralizes effects of insulin in the medium. At either 3.0 mM- or 16.7 mM-glucose or 3.0 mM-glucose plus 10 microM-arecaidine propargyl ester (muscarinic receptor agonist), GPAIS (but not control serum) was able to increase InsP2 and InsP3, but not InsP, in myo-[3H] inositol-prelabelled islets. The effect of GPAIS on 3H incorporation into InsP3 was dose-dependent, with a half-maximal effect at a concentration able to bind 4004 +/- 163 microunits of insulin. A specific mass assay of the biologically relevant isomer Ins (1,4,5)P3 revealed a huge increase (greater than 3-folf). Formation of PtdIns, PtdInsP and PtdInsP2 was not affected by GPAIS. This is indirect evidence for an effect of insulin on inositide metabolism, and therefore endogenously released insulin may have led to an underestimation in earlier studies of effects of insulinotropic substances on inositol phosphate accumulation.     

Lithium-induced accumulation of inositol 1-phosphate during cholecystokinin octapeptide- and acetylcholine-stimulated phosphatidylinositol breakdown in dispersed mouse pancreas acinar cells

Dispersed mouse pancreas acinar cells were prepared in which phosphatidylinositol had been labeled with myo[2-3H]inositol. During incubation with 0.3 microM cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) for 15 min, there was a loss of [3H]phosphatidylinositol radioactivity (23%) and a 3-fold gain in trichloroacetic acid-soluble radioactivity. Replacement of NaCl by up to 58 mM LiCl did not significantly affect the amount of CCK-8-stimulated [3H]phosphatidylinositol breakdown or the gain in acid-soluble radioactivity. However, in normal medium, the product of phosphatidylinositol breakdown was almost all inositol, whereas in Li+-containing medium, the product was almost all inositol 1-phosphate. Similar results were obtained with acetylcholine which, in the presence of Li+, gave a dose-responsive increase in inositol 1-phosphate over the concentration range of 0.1 to 10 microM. No increased accumulation of [3H]inositol diphosphate or [3H]inositol triphosphate was detected in stimulated cells. Time courses in the presence of Li+ indicated that the formation of inositol 1-phosphate preceded the formation of inositol. Addition of up to 50 mM myoinositol to the incubation medium showed no diluting effect on the amount of [3H]inositol 1-phosphate found. The accumulation of inositol 1-phosphate is presumably due to the known ability of Li+ to inhibit myoinositol 1-phosphatase. The results provide clear evidence that stimulated phosphatidylinositol breakdown involves a phospholipase C type of phosphodiesterase activity. 1.25 mM Li+ gave half-maximal inositol 1-phosphate accumulation. This is close to the range of plasma Li+ levels which is used therapeutically in psychiatric disorders. In unstimulated cells, [3H]inositol 1-phosphate accumulation in the presence of Li+ corresponded to a breakdown rate for [3H]phosphatidylinositol of 2 to 3%/h.