Increased level of prolactin gene sequences in bromodeoxyuridine treated GH cells.

The 5-bromodeoxyuridine-resistant (BrdUrdr) derivative (F1BGH12C1) of prolactin nonproducing (PRL-) rat pituitary tumor cell-subclone GH12C1, synthesize prolactin (PRL) in the presence of the drug. Analysis of nuclear RNA isolated from BrdUrd treated F1BHG12C1 cells demonstrated several high molecular weight RNA PRL sequences, similar to those observed in the nuclear RNA fraction of PRL producing (PRL+) GH3 cells. No such RNAPRL sequences could be detected in nuclear RNA fraction of untreated F1 BGH12C1 cells. PRL sequences in the genome of GH3 (PRL+), GH12C1 (PRL-) and F1BGH12C1 (PRL-, BrdUrdr) GH cells could be identified by blot analysis in 4.8-5.2kb fragment of restriction endonuclease, Hind III digested DNA. Both PRL+ and PRL- cells seem to have approximately the same level of PRL gene sequences in total cell DNA. However Hind III digested DNA of BrdUrd treated F1BGH12C cells revealed the presence of significantly higher levels of PRL gene sequences, in comparison, to that observed in total DNA of untreated cells. The increased level of PRL gene sequences was dependent on the period of drug treatment and a parallel increase in the cytoplasmic RNAPRL sequences was also observed.     

Defective thyroliberin-induced prolactin synthesis and release in a hybrid GH strain

Summary The hybrid GH cell strain, 928-9b, isolated from PRL+ (prolactin [PRL] producing) GH₄Cl and PRL (PRL non-producing) FIBGH12CI cells, has specific TRH (thyroliberin) receptors, yet does not respond to this peptide hormone. Unlike the parent strain, GH₄Cl, TRH does not stimulate synthesis or release of PRL in the hybrid strain. In contrast, treatment of 928-9b cells with another peptide, EGF (epidermal growth factor), stimulates both release and synthesis of PRL. The number of EGF receptors in the hybrid strain (2.5 × 10³/cell) and the affinity of these receptors for ligand (2.2 nM) are comparable to that of the parent strain, GH₄C₁. The EGF dose response curve is also essentially the same for parent and hybrid cells for the enhancement of PRL production. A 3-8-fold enhancement of PRL production is observed and 1/2 maximal enhancement occurs at approximately 5 × 10¹¹ M EGF for both strains. TRH does not have any potentiating effect on EGF-induced stimulation of PRL release or PRL synthesis in the hybrid strain. Although EGF and TRH have similar biological effects in responsive GH cells, binding of one hormone to its receptors does not modulate the binding of the heterologous hormone. These findings demonstrate that more than one effect of TRH is defective in 928-9b cells even though EGF responses are intact. This suggests that 1) TRH-stimulated PRL release and TRH-stimulated PRL production have a common intermediate step, and 2) TRH and EGF have a different mechanism of action in GH cells.     

Characterization of phorbol ester- and diacylglycerol-stimulated secretion in permeable GH3 pituitary cells. Interaction with Ca2+

Prolactin (PRL) release in permeable GH3 pituitary cells was stimulated by the protein kinase C activators 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG). Both agents stimulated secretion at 10 nM Ca2+, but higher [Ca2+] (greater than 0.1 microM) potentiated TPA and OAG action. Maximal potentiation occurred at 1 microM calculated free Ca2+, and a similar value was obtained when the cytoplasmic [Ca2+] was measured with the Ca2+-sensitive dye Quin 2. Release of a secretory sulfated proteoglycan was also stimulated by TPA and OAG in permeable GH3 cells, with characteristics similar to those for PRL release. Trifluoroperazine, polymyxin B, neomycin, and 8-(diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate all inhibited both TPA- and Ca2+-stimulated PRL release, but in each case the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were approximately 2-fold higher for TPA-stimulated release compared to Ca2+-stimulated release. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and guanosine 5'-Q-thiotriphosphate, which stimulate polyphosphoinositide breakdown in permeable cells, were found to be only weak stimulators of PRL release, compared to TPA and exogenous diacylglycerol. However, a much stronger effect of TRH was seen if cells were briefly treated with TRH prior to permeabilization. PRL release from TRH-pretreated permeable cells resembled TPA- and OAG-stimulated secretion, with [Ca2+] greater than 0.1 microM potentiating the effect of TRH pretreatment. These studies support the hypothesis that PRL release in GH3 cells can be stimulated directly by a diacylglycerol-activated secretory mechanism whose activity is modulated by [Ca2+].     

Phosphatidylinositol depletion in GH3 rat pituitary cells inhibits sustained responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Reversal with myo-inositol

TRH stimulation of rat pituitary (GH3) cells causes biphasic changes in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) and PRL secretion. It has been proposed, based primarily on indirect evidence, that the first phase effects are mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which releases Ca2+ from cellular stores, and the sustained effects are mediated by 1,2-diacylglycerol, which activates protein kinase C. To determine more directly if inositol lipid hydrolysis leading to protein kinase C activation is involved in the sustained effects of TRH, GH3 cells were depleted of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) by prestimulation and incubation in myo-inositol-free, Li(+)-containing medium. Cells depleted of PtdIns (to 53 +/- 3.2% of control) had unchanged PtdIns 4,5-bisphosphate content, and responded to TRH with a rapid elevation of inositol trisphosphate, and a first phase (or burst) elevation of [Ca2+]i and PRL secretion that was not different from that found in control cells. In contrast, in PtdIns-depleted cells, the prolonged generation of inositol phosphates, which are produced in equimolar amounts with 1,2-diacylglycerol, caused by TRH was virtually abolished, and the second phase (or sustained) elevation of [Ca2+]i and PRL secretion were inhibited by 50% and 40%, respectively. The inhibition of both sustained effects was reversed by adding 100 mM myo-inositol to the medium, which allowed for synthesis of PtdIns. Last, in cells in which protein kinase C was down-regulated by pretreatment with a phorbol ester, the sustained effects of TRH were inhibited also.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serum prolactin in patients with Laron-type dwarfism: effect of insulin-like growth factor I.

Prolactin (PRL) secretion was studied in Laron-type dwarfism (LTD) patients (8 children and 9 adults) in basal condition, after acute insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) or TRH injections and during 2 months of daily IGF-I treatment. Basal PRL was repeatedly higher (12.6 +/- 1.6 micrograms/l) than that in control subjects (7.6 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l, p < 0.05). Acute IGF-I injection caused an immediate slight decrease in serum PRL and growth hormone (GH), followed by a progressive rise to mean peak levels of 33.3 +/- 4.5 micrograms/l again parallel to serum hGH which rose to 86 +/- 20 micrograms/l--a response to the IGF-I-induced hypoglycemia. Intravenous TRH in LTD children induced a marked response in serum PRL, similar to that registered in estrogenized adult females. Serum PRL did not show consistent changes during chronic IGF-I treatment. It is suggested that the higher-than-normal PRL levels and release in LTD patients are due to a drift phenomenon of the mammosomatotropes which produce large amounts of hGH.     

On the mechanism of 5-bromodeoxyuridine induction of prolactin synthesis in rat pituitary tumor cells

GH12C1, a clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells in culture (GH cells), does not produce detectable amounts of prolactin. 5-Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd), the thymidine analogue, at sublethal concentrations (3-5 microgram/ml) induces prolactin synthesis in these cells. BrdUrd also induces prolactin synthesis in F1BGH12C1 cells, a BrdUrd resistant (BrdUrdr) substrain isolated from GH12C1 cells. The F1BGH12C1 strain is not drug dependent, but its resistance to BrdUrd is a stable phenotype. The significant features of the induction of prolactin synthesis in the BrdUrdr strain are the increased net synthesis of prolactin and the shortening of the lag period of prolactin induction. As BrdUrd concentration in the growth medium is increased, the rise in prolactin synthesis parallels the increased incorporation of BrdUrd into DNA. Prolactin synthesis is first detected when BrdUrd replaces 20-25% of the thymidine in DNA. BrdUrd can replace up to 75-80% of the thymidine within 2 d of treatment. Partial starvation of these cells under specified growth conditions does not affect the general growth pattern of the cells, general protein synthesis, and thymidine uptake, but does affect DNA synthesis. When cells are cultured under conditions in which DNA synthesis is preferentially inhibited, BrdUrd does not induce prolactin synthesis, suggestive of a DNA-mediated mechanism of action for the drug.     

Hormonal regulation of prolactin release by human prolactinoma cells cultured in serum-free conditions

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates the prolactin (PRL) release from normal lactotrophs or tumoral cell line GH3. This effect is not observed in many patients with PRL-secreting tumors. We examined in vitro the PRL response to TRH on cultured human PRL-secreting tumor cells (n = 10) maintained on an extracellular matrix in a minimum medium (DME + insulin, transferrin, selenium). Addition of 10(-8) M TRH to 4 X 10(4) cells produced either no stimulation of PRL release (n = 6) or a mild PRL rise of 32 +/- (SE) 11% (n = 4) when measured 1, 2 and 24 h after TRH addition. When tumor cells were preincubated for 24 h with 5 X 10(-11) M bromocriptine, a 47 +/- 4% inhibition of PRL release was obtained. When TRH (10(-8) M) was added, 24 h after bromocriptine, it produced a 85 +/- 25% increase of PRL release (n = 8). This stimulation of PRL release was evident when measured 1 h after TRH addition and persisted for 48 h. The half maximal stimulatory effect of TRH was 2 X 10(-10) M and the maximal effect was achieved at 10(-9) M TRH. When tumor cells were pretreated with various concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), the PRL release was inhibited by 50% with 5 X 10(-11) M T3 and by 80% with 10(-9) M T3. Successive addition of TRH (10(-8) M) was unable to stimulate PRL release at any concentration of T3. The addition of 10(-8) M estradiol for up to 16 days either stimulated or had no effect upon the PRL basal release according to the cases. In all cases tested (n = 4), preincubation of the tumor cells with estradiol (10(-8) M) modified the inhibition of PRL release induced by bromocriptine with a half-inhibitory concentration displaced from 3 X 10(-11) M (control) to 3 X 10(-10) M (estradiol). These data demonstrate that the absence of TRH effect observed in some human prolactinomas is not linked to the absence of TRH receptor in such tumor cells. TRH responsiveness is always restored in the presence of dopamine (DA) at appropriate concentration. This TRH/DA interaction seems specific while not observed under T3 inhibition of PRL. Furthermore, estrogens, while presenting a variable stimulatory effect upon basal PRL, antagonize the dopaminergic inhibition of PRL release.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced spike and plateau in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations in pituitary cells. Relation to prolactin release

Using the acetoxymethyl ester of "Quin 2," a fluorescent Ca2+-indicator, we have loaded prolactin (PRL)-producing rat pituitary cells with non-toxic concentrations of Quin 2 and quantitated changes in cytosolic free calcium concentration ( [Ca2+]i) during stimulation of PRL release by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and 40 mM K+. TRH induced a biphasic response, with an immediate (less than 1 s) spike in [Ca2+]i from basal levels (350 +/- 80 nM) to a peak of 1-3 microM, which decayed rapidly (t 1/2 = 8 s) to a near basal nadir, then rising to a plateau in [Ca2+]i of 500-800 nM. The TRH-induced spike phase was attenuated but not abolished by prior addition of EGTA, while the plateau phase was eliminated by EGTA. Addition of 40 mM K+ caused an immediate spike in [Ca2+]i to 1-3 microM which equilibrated slowly (t 1/2 = 1 min) directly to a plateau of 600-800 nM. The K+-induced spike and plateau phases were both abolished by prior addition of EGTA. The biphasic nature of TRH action on [Ca2+]i parallels the biphasic actions of TRH on 45Ca2+ fluxes and the biphasic release of PRL by GH cells in suspension. These findings provide evidence that Ca2+-dependent agonist-mediated increases in [Ca2+]i and hormone release are linked, and may generally have two modes: an acute "spike" mode, dependent primarily on redistribution of intracellular Ca2+ stores; and a sustained "plateau" mode, dependent on influx of extracellular Ca2+.     

Pertussis toxin blocks the inhibitory effects of somatostatin on cAMP-dependent vasoactive intestinal peptide and cAMP-independent thyrotropin releasing hormone-stimulated prolactin secretion of GH3 cells

It was shown that somatostatin (SRIF) inhibited cAMP-dependent vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated prolactin (PRL) release by a GH3 clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells and decreased basal PRL secretion and inhibited PRL release in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) whose action was independent of prior synthesis of cAMP. Pretreatment of these cells with pertussis toxin prevented SRIF's inhibitory effects on basal and TRH-stimulated hormone secretion as well as its VIP-stimulated responses. The blockade of SRIF's inhibitory effect on the actions of TRH or VIP was dependent on both the duration of preincubation and concentration of the toxin and was correlated with the ability of the toxin to catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of the 39,000-Da membrane protein. It is likely that this pertussis toxin substrate is involved in signal transduction of SRIF on cAMP-dependent actions of VIP and cAMP-independent action of TRH. However, the mechanism of SRIF's action on TRH is not clear, since SRIF did not affect the intracellular responses by TRH, neither intracellular Ca2+ mobilization nor the increase of 1,2-diacylglycerol formation following the breakdown of polyphosphoinositides.     

Voltage-dependent calcium channels in pituitary cells in culture. II. Participation in thyrotropin-releasing hormone action on prolactin release

Depolarization of membrane potential by high external K+ activates Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in GH4C1 cells (Tan, K.-N., and Tashjian, A. H., Jr. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 418-426). The involvement of this channel in thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) action on prolactin (PRL) release was assessed by comparing the pharmacological characteristics of TRH-induced PRL release with PRL release due to high K+. Two components of TRH-stimulated PRL release were detected. The major component (approximately equal to 75%) was dependent on external Ca2+ concentration and was inhibited by voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blockers in a manner quantitatively similar to high K+-stimulated PRL release. The minor component (approximately equal to 25%) of TRH-stimulated PRL release was insensitive to voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blockers and could occur in the presence of low external Ca2+ (10(-5)-10(-7) M). Neither voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blockers nor depletion of medium Ca2+ prevented the action of TRH on mobilizing cell-associated 45Ca2+ from GH4C1 cells. Divalent cations that permeate voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (Sr2+ and Ba2+) substituted for Ca2+ in supporting high K+- and TRH-stimulated PRL release while Mg2+, a nonpermeant cation, did not. We conclude that TRH stimulates PRL release by increasing [Ca2+]i through at least two mechanisms: one requires only low [Ca2+]o, the second involves Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. This latter mechanism accounts for approximately equal to 75% of maximum TRH-induced PRL release.     

Mediation by calcium of thyrotropin--releasing hormone action on the prolactin promoter via transcription factor pit-1.

Mediation by Ca2+ of TRH action on the PRL promoter was investigated by both additivity and pharmacological studies and by techniques that probe more gene-proximal events. TRH required the presence of Ca2+ in the medium for stimulation of transient expression in GH3 cells of a PRL-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (PRL-CAT) construct containing proximal PRL promoter sequences [(-187)PRL-CAT]. Chronic 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate down-regulation of cellular protein kinase C did not block induction of expression of (-187)PRL-CAT by either Ca2+ or TRH. In studies with Ca2+ blockers, the Ca2+ flux inhibitors cobalt ion and nimodipine blocked induction of (-187)PRL-CAT expression by either Ca2+ or TRH. On the other hand, the Ca2+ immobilizers 1,2-bis(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyltetraester and 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate blocked induction of expression of this construct by Ca2+ but not by TRH, suggesting that TRH regulation of the PRL promoter may be dependent on Ca2+ fluxes but insensitive to Ca2+ immobilization. We have shown previously that the PRL promoter pit-1 binding site 1P is a TRH response element. In the present studies, Ca2+ regulation studies with 5'-deletion mutants of (-204)PRL-CAT showed that (-75)PRL-CAT, containing the single pit-1 binding site 1P, also contains a Ca2+ response element. The observation that two copies of a site 1P oligomer transferred a Ca2+ response to either of the two minimal constructs (-39)PRL-CAT or (-39)mouse metallothionein-CAT showed that site 1P is an independent Ca2+ response element. Analysis of site 1P mutants yielded a strong correlation between the ability to bind pit-1 and to transfer a Ca2+ response. In addition, coexpression of a mutant pit-1 possessing reduced trans-activational activity strongly inhibited TRH regulation of (-187)PRL-CAT and partially blocked Ca2+ regulation of this construct. We conclude that Ca2+ mediates TRH action on the PRL promoter, and that pit-1 represents a gene-proximal mediator in this signalling pathway.     

Effects of phorbol ester on GH, TSH and PRL release by superfused rat adenohypophysis

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), one of the potent tumor promoting agents, on GH, TSH and PRL release by rat adenohypophyseal dispersed cells and fragments, using a superfusion technique. TPA (10(-6) to 10(-5) M) stimulated GH release from acutely dispersed rat adenohypophyseal cells. Neither TSH nor PRL was affected, but both were increased by TRH in a dose-dependent fashion (10(-9) to 10(-7) M). In fragments, TPA (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) elicited a dose-related release of GH. Exposure of the fragments to 10(-6) M TPA for 5 min promptly caused a 5-fold increase in GH release which continued for at least 40 min after stopping the stimulation. The addition of somatostatin (SRIF) (10(-7) M) decreased basal GH release and abolished GH release induced by 10(-6) M TPA. In contrast to GH, neither TSH nor PRL release was affected by TPA, but both were stimulated by TRH. These results indicate 1) that GH release is more sensitive to stimulation with TPA in normal rat anterior pituitaries in vitro than the release of TSH and PRL, and 2) that SRIF abolishes TPA-induced GH release.     

Evidence for a role of calmodulin in the regulation of prolactin gene expression

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates prolactin (PRL) gene expression in GH3 cells in a Ca2+-dependent manner (White, B. A., and Bancroft, F. C. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4618-4622). The present report shows that the phenothiazine, calmidazolium (compound R 24571), blocks the ability of EGF plus Ca2+ to increase levels of PRL mRNA. Calmidazolium inhibition of this response is dose dependent in the range of 0.05-1.00 microM. Total inhibition of the response was consistently obtained at a level of calmidazolium (0.5 microM) that had no effect on total cytoplasmic RNA synthesis, total cytoplasmic protein synthesis, cell viability, or extent of EGF plus Ca2+-induced cell aggregation. The drug inhibited the increase in PRL mRNA when given immediately before or 48 h after treatment with EGF plus Ca2+. Another calmodulin inhibitor, W13, similarly blocked the ability of EGF plus Ca2+ to stimulate PRL mRNA, whereas the less active analog, W12, had little effect. These results implicate Ca2+-binding proteins such as calmodulin in the mechanism of action of EGF in GH3 cells, and, therefore, provide further evidence for a role of intracellular Ca2+ in the regulation of the expression of a specific eukaryotic gene, the PRL gene.     

Opposing actions of Bay K 8644 enantiomers on calcium current, prolactin secretion, and synthesis in pituitary cells.

Dihydropyridine (DHP) Ca2+ channel modulators were used to explore the relationship between voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and PRL secretion, synthesis, and mRNA in PRL-secreting pituitary cells. Optical isomers of the Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644 produced stereospecific and opposing effects on L-type Ca2+ current, PRL release, and synthesis in GH3 and GH4C1 cells. (-)-Bay K 8644 (R5417) behaved as a pure agonist, enhancing Ca2+ current several-fold while shifting the current-voltage curve 10-15 mV in the hyperpolarizing direction. The agonist effect was independent of holding potential, but decreased during prolonged Ba2+ or Ca2+ entry. R5417 produced a concentration-dependent increase in acute PRL release and enhanced PRL production by GH cells several-fold during a 72-h period. (+)-Bay K 8644 (R4407) behaved as a weak Ca2+ channel antagonist, inhibiting L-type Ca2+ current, KCl-stimulated PRL secretion, and PRL production at concentrations of 0.5-5 microM. These two isomers produced similar effects on PRL production by normal rat pituitary cells in dispersed culture. R5417 (500 nM) increased PRL produced in 72 h to 233 +/- 8% of the control value. R4407 reduced this quantity by 36 +/- 9%. The effects of the DHPs on PRL mRNA levels were consistent with the effects observed for acute secretion and hormone production. The agonist R5417 increased PRL mRNA 147 +/- 5% over a 30-h period, and the potent DHP Ca2+ channel blocker nimodipine inhibited PRL mRNA production 2-fold. These results demonstrate that racemic Bay K 8644 interacts with L-type Ca2+ channels in normal and transformed pituitary cells as a mixed agonist-antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Rundown of GH3 cell K+ conductance response to TRH following patch recording can be obviated with GH3 cell extract

GH3/B6 pituitary cells release prolactin (PRL) in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). Electrophysiological assays of individual GH3 cells with sharp high-resistance microelectrodes have revealed complex effects of TRH on membrane excitability consisting of a transient hyperpolarization (1), which is thought to result from activation of Ca-dependent K+ conductance (2), followed by a prolonged phase of spontaneous, Ca-dependent action potential activity (3). Using the whole-cell patch recording (WCR) technique (4), we have found that these TRH actions on GH3 excitability rapidly rundown following patch recording. When the supernatant from osmotically lysed GH3 cells was added to the WCR patch pipette, the K+ conductance response was not only promoted but well-maintained. The results indicate that diffusible factors mediate these TRH actions and further, that the WCR technique should be useful in identifying different second messengers and elucidating their roles in membrane excitability and PRL secretion.