In vitro stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis in the rat pancreas by carbamylcholine, caerulein and secretin

Rat pancreas pieces spontaneously released PGE₂ (2.3 ng/100 mg × 45 min) and PGF_2α (7.6 ng/100 mg × 45 min). This release corresponds probably to a neo-synthesis since it was abolished by indomethacin. Carbamylcholine (≥ 10 μM), caerulein (≥ 10 nM) and secretin (≥ 10 nM) stimulated the release of PGE₂ and PGF_2α : the concentrations of stimulators required to increase PGs release were thus much higher than those which trigger enzyme secretion. Atropine specifically inhibited the cholinergic stimulation, whereas indomethacin blocked the stimulatory effects of all secretagogues. Stimulation of PGE₂ and PGF_2α release was reduced in a Ca⁺⁺-free medium, abolished by EGTA and mimicked by the ionophore A23187, underscoring the crucial role of Ca⁺⁺ in the regulation of PGs synthesis by the pancreas. Neither PGE₂ nor PGF_2α stimulated enzyme secretion in this system and indomethacin did not inhibit the secretory effect of carbamylcholine. Increased synthesis of prostaglandins in response to pancreatic secretagogues does not appear to be involved in the process of enzyme secretion.     

Stimulation of phosphoinositide breakdown in rat pancreatic islets by glucose and carbamylcholine

In the presence of Li⁺, glucose, 2-ketoisocaproate and carbamylcholine induced the rapid formation of ³H-inositol phosphates in rat pancreatic islets prelabelled with ³H-inositol. The production of labelled inositol phosphates continued up to 20 min of incubation. Glibenclamide and ionophore A23187 had no significant effect on labelled inositol phosphate production. The effects of carbamylcholine and to a lesser extent, glucose were found to persist in the absence of added Ca²⁺, but both were strongly inhibited by excess EGTA. In general, the rise in ³H-inositol phosphate production was associated with a fall in lipid bound radioactivity, although the latter was found to occur more slowly, and was of a smaller magnitude than labelled inositol phosphate formation. The results suggest that nutrient secretagogues and cholinergic agonists stimulate hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in pancreatic islets by a phospholipase C mechanism. This effect is Ca²⁺-dependent, but probably not triggered by increased Ca²⁺ uptake into the islet.     

Antigen induced alterations in splenic prostaglandin and cyclic nucleotide levels in NZB mice.

Studies were undertaken in order to determine if NZB mice injected with sheep erythrocyte antigens would respond by showing elevated splenic prostaglandin and cyclic nucleotide levels similar to that observed in normal mice. The results show that young NZB mice can respond to sheep erythrocytes by yielding increased levels of splenic PGF2alpha and cAMP. However, because of increased basal levels of PGF2alpha and cAMP, the net increase observed is lower than that observed with normal mice. In old NZB mice exhibiting signs of disease (splenomegaly) and in which defects in immune competence are known to occur, the injection of SRBC results in in no increase in splenic PGF2alpha levels and a decrease in cAMP levels. These animals also have greatly elevated basal levels of PGF2alpha, cAMP, and cGMP. It is concluded that the cellular immune defect in NZB mice is reflected by their faulty metabolic responses to sRBC. Also, the altered basal levels of PG and cyclic nucleotides may be related to the altered cellular immune competence. The latter conclusion is supported by the reduced capacity of spleen cells from young NZB mice to respond to PGE by increasing cAMP levels and by the lack of an effect of inhibitors of PG synthesis on the immune response to sRBC in both young and old NZB mouse spleen cell cultures.     

Stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis in rabbit gastric antral mucosal slices by desferrioxamine in vitro.

Desferrioxamine is an iron-chelating agent used in the treatment of iron overload. It is a powerful inhibitor of iron-dependent radical reactions. The effect of desferrioxamine of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and metabolism in rabbit gastric antral mucosal slices has been examined. Desferrioxamine significantly enhanced the production of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. The formation of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGE2 and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2 alpha was also increased slightly by desferrioxamine. The addition of Fe3+ or Al3+ blocked the stimulatory action of desferrioxamine on PGE2 and PGF2 alpha production. Desferrioxamine appears to be stimulating the activity of PG cyclooxygenase through the removal of endogenous antral mucosal iron. These results suggest that desferrioxamine has the potential to increase the PG levels in gastric mucosa by primarily stimulating PG biosynthesis. The possibility that desferrioxamine may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of ischemic injury in the stomach is discussed.     

Stimulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by products of phosphatidylinositol metabolism catalyzed by phospholipase A2

Products of phospholipase A₂-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylinositol, and unsaturated fatty acid are very effective stimulators of a partially purified bovine brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. More than 10-fold of calcium-independent stimulation can be achived by lysophatidylinositol or oleic acid. The degree of stimulation is comparable to that by calcium-mediated calmodulin. The other lysophospholipid which shows comparable stimulation is lysophosphatidylserine although at a higher concentration. Diacylphosphoglycerides are inactive. Kinetic studies showed that lysophosphatidylinositol, like calmodulin, increased the V_max without affecting the apparent K_m for adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate (cAMP).     

Stimulation of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and phosphatidylcholine synthesis by calcium in rat hepatocytes

The effects of Ca2+, ionophore A23187, and vasopressin on CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase were investigated. Cytidylyltransferase is present in the cytosol and in a membrane-bound form on the microsomes. Digitonin treatment caused release of the cytosolic form rapidly. Addition of 7 mM Ca2+ to hepatocyte medium resulted in a 3-fold decrease in cytidylyltransferase released by digitonin treatment (1.7 +/- 0.1 nmol/min per mg compared to 5.1 +/- 0.2 nmol/min per mg in the control). Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, partially overcame this effect of Ca2+. Ionophore A23187 and vasopressin both mimicked the effect of Ca2+ and resulted in a decrease in cytidylyltransferase release (2.4 +/- 0.1 nmol/min per mg and 2.5 +/- 0.2 nmol/min per mg, respectively) compared to control (3.4 +/- 0.1 nmol/min per mg). In agreement with the digitonin experiments, incubation with 7 mM Ca2+ resulted in a decrease in cytidylyltransferase in the cytosol (from 4.0 to 1.2 mol/min per mg) and a corresponding increase in the microsomes (from 0.6 to 2.4 nmol/min per mg). Verapamil partially blocked this translocation caused by Ca2+. Ionophore A23187 and vasopressin also caused translocation of the cytidylyltransferase from the cytosol to the microsomes. The addition of Ca2+ also resulted in an increase in PC synthesis. With 7 mM Ca2+ in the medium, the label associated with PC increased to 3.8 +/- 0.1.10(6) dpm/dish from 2.7 +/- 0.1.10(6) dpm/dish after 10 min. PC degradation was also affected, since 7 mM Ca2+ in the medium resulted in an increase in LPC formation both in the cell and the medium. We conclude that high concentrations of calcium in the hepatocyte medium can cause a stimulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and PC synthesis in cultured hepatocytes.     

Evidence for receptor-linked activation of phospholipase D in rat parotid glands. Stimulation by carbamylcholine, PMA and calcium.

In order to test if phospholipase D (PLD) activity exists in the rat parotid gland, we took advantage of the fact that, in the presence of ethanol, PLD generates phosphatidylethanol (PEth) via a transphosphatidylation reaction. Lipid extracts of parotid acini prelabelled with [3H]myristic acid were analyzed by thin layer chromatography to determine [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEth) formation. Carbamylcholine (1 mM) stimulated [3H]PEth formation in the presence of 2% ethanol, this effect was completely inhibited by atropine (10 microM). PMA (0.1-1 microM) and ionomycine (10 microM) also caused [3H]PEth generation. We conclude that a phospholipase D activity is present in the rat parotid gland and is regulated by muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Protein kinase C and calcium could also modulate this activity. This report provides the first evidence for the existence and receptor-linked regulation of phospholipase D in an exocrine gland, the rat parotid gland.     

Stimulation of cyclic AMP production in the rat ovary by luteinizing hormone: Independence of prostaglandin mediation

In cubation of intact juvenile rat ovaries with luteinizing hormone (LH; 10 μ g/ml) for 20 min caused a ten-fold rise in cyclic AMP concentration, without increasing the activity of “prostaglandin synthetase” in the tissue. Flufenamic acid [N-(α,α,α- trifluoro-m-tolyl) anthranilic acid], aspirin or indomethacin (100 μ g/ml of each added to the incubation medium) inhibited “prostaglandin synthetase” activity by 90%, 97% and 70%, respectively, but did not prevent the stimulatory effect of LH on cyclic AMP formation. Prostaglandin E₂ (10 μ g/ml) also stimulated cyclic AMP formation in vitro, but this action was abolished by flufenamic acid. These findings argue against the hypothesis proposed in the literature that prostaglandins of the E-type are essential for the LH effect on ovarian adenylate cyclase and thus serve as obligatory mediators of cyclic AMP-dependent actions of LH on the ovary.     

The metabolism of sialic acids in isolated rat colonic mucosal cells.

The activities of ten enzymes involved in sialic acid metabolism were measured in colonic mucosal cells from rats and compared with those in liver. A methodology was devised that enabled all ten enzyme activities to be evaluated in a single rat colon preparation. Enzyme assays with radioactively labelled substrates were developed for maximum sensitivity, and the identification of substrates and products was carefully checked to assess the contribution of contaminants to enzyme reactions with low activity. The activities of most enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) from UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine were found to be more than 20-fold lower than those in liver. The activities of CMP-NeuAc synthase, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 2-epimerase, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine kinase, sialyltransferase and sialidase were similar to or 2-4-fold lower than in liver. The biosynthesis of NeuAc via its 9-phosphate was demonstrated in the 100 000 g supernatant of colonic-cell homogenates by enzymic assay and precursor experiments with N-acetyl[14C]-mannosamine. No alternative route for NeuAc formation could be detected. The 100 000g supernatant fractions of liver, kidney and colonic mucosal cells utilized N-acetyl[14C]mannosamine with differing efficiencies. Radioactive products identified as sialic acid biosynthetic intermediates amounted to 49%, 0.04% and 5.6% of added precursor in liver, kidney and colon respectively. Catabolism of labelled precursor to non-hexosamine products was high in kidney and colonic mucosal-cell fractions.     

Differential effects of intracellular calcium elevating agents on adrenergic-stimulated cyclic nucleotide and melatonin synthesis in rat pinealocytes.

In this study, the role of elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and activation of protein kinase C on adrenergic-stimulated cyclic nucleotide accumulation and melatonin synthesis in rat pinealocytes was investigated. It was found that whereas KCl, ionomycin, and ouabain, three Ca(2+)-elevating agents, had a potentiating effect on adrenergic-stimulated cyclic AMP response, their effects on melatonin synthesis were inhibitory. Similar inhibition was also observed when dibutyryl cyclic AMP was used to stimulate melatonin synthesis. By determining intracellular Ca2+ directly, it was found that the enhancing effects of these agents on the cyclic AMP response but not their inhibitory effects on melatonin synthesis paralleled their abilities to elevate intracellular Ca2+. In comparison, activation of protein kinase C significantly enhanced the adrenergic-stimulated cyclic AMP response and, to a lesser degree, the adrenergic-stimulated N-acetyltransferase and melatonin levels. These results indicate that (i) Ca(2+)-elevating agents have opposite effects on adrenergic-stimulated cyclic AMP and melatonin production; (ii) a post cyclic AMP event of importance to melatonin synthesis is inhibited by these agents; and (iii) the mechanism of inhibition may not be directly related to their effect on intracellular Ca2+.     

Pyrimidine metabolism and sugar nucleotide synthesis in rat liver.

With radioactive precursors, the labelling kinetics of the soluble pyrimidine nucleotides and of RNA were measured in rat liver to determine the contribution of the metabolic flows through synthesis de novo and the salvage pathway. To separate and quantify all pyrimidine nucleotides, an h.p.l.c. technique was developed using anion-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. The concentrations of cytidine nucleotides were in the range of 30-45 nmol/g wet weight, and the concentrations of the uridine phosphates and of the UDP-sugars were approx. 6 and 20 times higher respectively. After a single injection of [14C]orotic acid and of [3H]cytidine, the specific radioactivities were determined as a function of time. The 14C/3H ratio was calculated and gave a good indication of the involvement of the different flows. It could be concluded that UTP derived from synthesis de novo and from the salvage pathway is not completely mixed before being utilized. The flow of the salvage pathway is relatively more directed to RNA synthesis in the nucleus and that of synthesis de novo to cytoplasmic processes. For CTP it could also be concluded that the flow of the salvage pathway was relatively more directed to RNA synthesis in the nucleus. Because of the nuclear localization of the enzyme CMP-NeuAc (N-acetylneuraminate) synthase, special attention was paid to CMP-NeuAc. However, a conclusion about a location about the synthesis of CMP-NeuAc could not unequivocally be drawn, because of the small differences in 14C/3H ratio and the different values for the CDP-lipids.     

Effective use of rabbit gastric antral mucosal slices in prostaglandin synthesis and metabolism studies

Intact slice preparations of rabbit stomach (antral mucosa, corporal mucosa, antral muscle and corporal muscle) were incubated and the released prostaglandins (PGs) were measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using 9-anthryldiazomethane for derivatization. With respect to total PG production, the highest amounts were generated by antral mucosal slices. Antral mucosal slices produced PGE2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, thromboxane B2, PGF2 alpha and PGD2 (in descending order of magnitude) and possessed a high capacity for producing 13,14-dihydro-15-keto derivatives of both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. Studies utilizing aspirin, EGTA or Ca2+ revealed that PG release by antral mucosal slices in the present in vitro system reflects a composite of the activities of phospholipase A3, PG cyclooxygenase and PG-metabolizing enzymes. These results show that antral mucosal slices will be useful in physiological and pharmacological studies on PG synthesis and metabolism of the stomach.     

Cyclic nucleotide metabolism in rat colonic epithelial cells with different proliferative activities

Cyclic nucleotide metabolism was examined in rat distal colonic epithelial cells with different proliferative activities. Lower crypt cells had DNA synthetic rates 7-10-fold higher than surface cells. Without a phosphodiesterase inhibitor proliferative cells had reduced basal cyclic AMP-, cyclic GMP-, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios, as well as blunted cyclic AMP responses to prostaglandin E2 and vasoactive intestinal peptide compared to superficial cells. In the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, basal cyclic AMP and responses to prostaglandin E2 and vasoactive intestinal peptide of proliferative cells exceeded values in superficial cells. This correlated with higher membrane adenylate cyclase activity in the proliferative cells. By contrast, particulate and soluble guanylate cyclase activities of superficial cells were higher than in proliferative cells. The apparent high Km soluble and particulate cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities of proliferative cells were 4-7-fold higher than those in superficial cells. Moreover, the apparent low Km soluble activity was absent in superficial cells. Thus, an altered rate of nucleotide degradation may mediate reduced cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in proliferative versus superficial cells. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP, prostaglandin E2 or vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of colonic segments. Thus, reduced cyclic AMP in lower crypt cells may be a determinant of their greater proliferative activity.     

Phospholipid metabolism modulates cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in rat heart microsomes

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in rat heart microsomes is attributable to several isoenzymatic forms: a cyclic AMP-specific, a cyclic GMP-specific, and a cyclic GMP-stimulated enzyme. Incubation of microsomes with an exogenous phospholipase C (C. welchii) induced a marked stimulation (+126%) of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and a moderate stimulation (+49%) of cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase in the membrane-bound fraction. Besides, a notable fraction of activity was solubilized by the treatment. A parallel decrease in the activating effect of cyclic GMP on the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP was observed in the membranes (down to 18% of the control effect). It resulted from a marked stimulation of the basal activity, while the activated level was unaffected. The treatment by an exogenous phospholipase D induced more moderate modifications. The addition to microsomes of oleyl,acetyl-glycerol, but not of long chain-diacylglycerols, partly reproduced the phospholipase C effect. Phosphatidate also induced variations in phosphodiesterase activity, and could thus participate in the phospholipase effects. These results suggest that endogenous phospholipases, the activity of which is modulated by hormonal stimuli, might influence phosphodiesterase activity in cardiac membranes by producing phospholipid metabolites, with potential consequences on heart contractility.     

Stimulation of phosphatidic acid of calcium influx and cyclic GMP synthesis in neuroblastoma cells

Phosphatidic acid added to the medium markedly elevated intracellular cyclic GMP content in cultured neuroblastoma N1E 115 cells. There was a significant elevation of cyclic GMP with 1 micrograms/ml and a maximum (70-fold) elevation with 100 micrograms/ml of phosphatidic acid. Other natural phospholipids did not increase, or increased only slightly, the cyclic GMP content in the cells. The elevation of cyclic GMP content by phosphatidic acid was absolutely dependent on extracellular calcium. Phosphatidic acid stimulated the influx of calcium into neuroblastoma cells 2- to 5-fold. The pattern of the calcium influx induced by phosphatidic acid was comparable to that of cyclic GMP elevation. The stimulation of calcium influx by phosphatidic acid was also observed in cultured heart cells, indicating that phosphatidic acid acts as a calcium ionophore or opens a specific calcium-gate in a variety of cell membranes. Treatment of neuroblastoma cells with phospholipase C increased 32Pi labeling of phosphatidic acid, stimulated the influx of calcium, and elevated the cyclic GMP content in the cells. Thus exogenous as well as endogenous phosphatidic acid stimulates the translocation of calcium across cell membranes and, as a consequence, induces the synthesis of cyclic GMP in the neuroblastoma cells.