Protein kinase C enhances growth hormone releasing factor (1-40)-stimulated cyclic AMP levels in anterior pituitary. Actions of somatostatin and pertussis toxin

The brain peptide human growth hormone releasing factor (1-40) (GRF), which stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the anterior pituitary, is the predominant hormone signal for pituitary growth hormone (GH) release. Activators of protein kinase C such as teleocidin and 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) double the cyclic AMP accumulation induced by GRF, with no apparent effect on GRF potency; an inactive 4-alpha-PMA has no such action in cultured anterior pituitary cells. This PMA potentiation can be measured as early as 60 s, is maximal by 15 min, and wanes such that by 3-4 h there is no such amplifying effect of PMA. PMA, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, and teleocidin ED50 values for potentiating GRF activity are similar to those obtained for direct protein kinase C activation. The major inhibitory peptide somatostatin reduced both GRF- and GRF + PMA-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Pertussis toxin totally blocked this somatostatin action without affecting the degree of maximal GRF potentiation achieved with PMA. Thus, the pertussis toxin target(s) are required for somatostatin inhibition of the cyclic AMP generating system, but may not be involved in the PMA potentiation of GRF-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation.     

Cyclic AMP metabolism in mouse parotid glands properties of adenylate cyclase,protein kinase and phosphodiesterase

Catecholamines induce unique growth and secretory responses in salivary glands. An analysis of three enzyme activities involved in cyclic AMP metabolism was carried out to identify the specificity of these responses for salivary glands.Although parotid adenylate cyclase has an unusually high specific activity, its kinetic properties and responses to NaF, guanine nucleotides, and isoproterenol are similar to other tissues not stimulated to grow after isoproterenol stimulation. Solubilized adenylate cyclase was separated from other membrane proteins by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels. There was a single broad peak of activity with a pI of 5.9. Parotid protein kinase has a subcellular distribution and substrate preference similar to hepatic protein kinase. Activation by cyclic AMP is also similar to that reported for other tissues, with a K_a of 1.2·10^?7 M. Parotid cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphoriesterases are a heterogeneous group of enzymes with relatively low specific activity as compared with mouse pancreas, liver and brain. Isoelectric focusing of supernatant phosphodiesterases revealed at least six peaks of enzyme activity in the pI range of 4–6.Previous reports of a large increase in parotid cyclic AMP levels after in vivo administration of catecholamines and specific growth and secretion could be the result of a relatively high specific activity adenylate cyclase associated with low specific activity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases.     

Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and prostacyclin inhibit membrane phospholipase activity in platelets.

[¹⁴C]-Arachidonic acid is incorporated mainly into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine of horse platelet membranes. Treatment of washed platelets with thrombin leads to a rapid loss of radioactivity from these phospholipids. The liberated [¹⁴C]-arachidonate is immediately transformed into hydroxyacids and thromboxanes. Treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors or prostacyclin, a newly discovered prostaglandin that stimulates platelet adenylate cyclase, prevents the action of thrombin on phospholipid break-down as well as on platelet aggregation. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP does not affect the metabolism of exogenous [¹⁴C]-arachidonic acid. Cyclic AMP may thus play a crucial role in the regulation of platelet phospholipase acitivity, and this could explain at least in part the inhibition of aggregation caused by substances which, like prostacyclin, raise the levels of cyclic AMP.     

Suppression of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in murine melanoma cells by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

The effect of the potent tumor promoter 12-0-tetradeconylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the cyclic AMP metabolism of B16 mouse melanoma cells was examined. TPA (10^?7M) slightly increased the growth rate and inhibited melanin production by these cells. Although TPA had little effect on basal or hormone stimulated cyclic AMP levels, it did significantly suppress cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity from treated cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Other phorbol ester and non-phorbol ester tumor promoters also suppressed cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity while the non-promoter, phorbol, did not alter cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity.     

Studies of kidney plasma membrane adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase

Porcine kidney cortex was utilized for the preparation of plasma-membrane-enriched and soluble cytoplasmic (cytosol) fractions for the purpose of examining the relative properties of cyclic [³H]AMP receptor and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activities of these preparations. The affinity, specificity and reversibility of cyclic [³H]AMP interaction with renal membrane and cytosol binding sites were indicative of physiological receptors.Binding sites of cytosol and deoxycholate-solubilized membranes were half-saturated at approx. 50nM and 100 nM cyclic [³H]AMP. Native plasma membranes exhibited multiple binding sites which were not saturated up to 1 mM cyclic [³H]AMP. Modification of the cyclic phosphate configuration or 2′-hydroxyl of the ribose moiety of cyclic AMP produced a marked reduction in the effectiveness of the cyclic AMP analogue as a competitor with cyclic [³H]AMP for renal receptors. The cyclic [³H]AMP interaction with membrane and cytosol fractions was reversible and the rate and extent of dissociation of bound cyclic [³H]AMP was temperature dependent. With the plasma-membrane preparation, dissociation of cyclic [³H]AMP was enhanced by ATP or AMP.Assay of both kidney subcellular fractions for protein kinase activity revealed that cyclic AMP enhanced the phosphorylation of protamine, lysine-rich and arginine-rich histones but not casein. The potency and efficacy of activation of renal membrane and cytosol protein kinase by cyclic AMP analogues such as N⁶-butyryl-adenosine cyclic 3′,5′-monophosphate or N⁶,O²-dibutyryl-adenosine cyclic 3′,5′-monophosphate supported the observations on the effectiveness of cyclic AMP analogues as competitors with cyclic [³H]AMP in competitive binding assays.This study suggested that the membrane cyclic [³H]AMP receptors may be closely associated with the membrane-bound catalytic moiety of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase system of porcine kidney.     

Action of cyclic nucleotide analgoues in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Cyclic nucleotide analogues have been tested for their ability to cause the morphological conversion of Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture, as well as for effects on cyclic AMP-related enzymes. The ability of the analogues to inhibit the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity and to activate the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in cell extracts has been measured. Cell cultures were incubated with the analogues and the effects on morphology, intracellular level of cyclic AMP, and in vivo protein kinase activation were determined. All analogues which induced the morphological conversion also caused in vivo activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Only N⁶,O^2′-dibutryl and N⁶-monobutyryl cyclic AMp caused caused on increase in intracellular cyclic AMP, presumably through inhibition of the intracellular cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. The increase in cyclic AMP appears to cause the protein kinase activation. However, analogues such as 8-bromo and 8-benzylthio cyclic AMP do not cause any change in intracellular cyclic AMP level and appear to activate the intracellular cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase directly.     

Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and stimulation of protein phosphorylation in response to adenosine in C-1300 murine neuroblastoma

DEAE-cellulose chromatography of the 20,000g supernatant fraction of homogenates of C-1300 murine neuroblastoma (clone N2a) yields one major and two minor peaks of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Assessment of the endogenous activation state of the enzyme(s) reveals that the enzyme is fully activated by the treatment of whole cells with adenosine (10 μM) in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Ro 20 1724 (0.7 mM). This treatment produces a large elevation in the cyclic AMP content of the cells. The treatment of whole cells with adenosine alone (1–100 μM) or Ro 20 1724 alone (0.1–0.7 mM) produces minimal elevations in cyclic AMP but nevertheless causes significant activations of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The autophosphorylation of whole homogenates of treated and untreated cells was studied using [γ-³²P] ATP, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Treatments which activate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase selectively stimulate the incorporation of ³²P into several proteins. This stimulation is most prominent in the 15,000-dalton protein band. The addition of cyclic AMP to phosphorylation reactions containing homogenate of untreated cells stimulates the phosphorylation of the same protein bands. These results indicate that adenosine may have regulatory functions through its effect on the cyclic AMP: cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase system.     

Effects of adenosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate and guanosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate on calcium uptake and phosphorylation in membrane fractions of vascular smooth muscle

The effects of adenosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), guanosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and exogenous protein kinase on Ca uptake and membrane phosphorylation were studied in subcellular fractions of vascular smooth muscle from rabbit aorta. Two functionally distinct fractions were separated on a continuous sucrose gradient: a light fraction enriched in endoplasmic reticulum (fraction E) and a heavier fraction containing mainly plasma membranes (fraction P).While cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP had no effect on Ca uptake in the absence of oxalate, both cyclic nucleotides inhibited the rate of oxalate-activated Ca uptake when used at concentrations higher than 10^?5 M. The addition of bovine heart protein kinase to either fraction produced an increase in the rate of oxalate-activated Ca uptake which was further augmented by cyclic AMP. Cyclic GMP caused smaller stimulations of protein kinase-catalyzed Ca uptake than cyclic AMP.Mg-dependent phosphorylation, attributable to endogenous protein kinase(s), was inhibited in fraction E by low concentrations (10^?8 M) of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. In fraction P, an inhibition by cyclic AMP occurred also at a concentration of 10^?8 M, while with cyclic AMP a concentration of 10^?5 M was required for a similar inhibition. Bovine heart protein kinase stimulated the phosphorylation of the membrane fractions much more than Ca uptake. In fraction E, in the presence of bovine protein kinase, both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP stimulated phosphorylation up to 200%. Under these conditions, no stimulation was observed in fraction P.These results are compatible with the hypothesis that in vascular smooth muscle soluble rather than particulate protein kinases are involved in the regulation of intracellular Ca concentration.     

MODIFICATIONS IN SOLUBLE PROTEIN KINASE AND CYCLIC-AMP BINDING CAPACITY OF DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN

Histone and casein phosphoprotein-kinase activities were determined in rat brain soluble fraction at various stages of development. Cyclic AMP -independent or basal histone kinase activity increased, whereas cyclic AMP -dependent activity decreased in whole soluble fraction with the age. On the contrary, whole soluble cyclic AMP -dependent and -independent casein kinases activities did not show any difference during development. The percentage of activation by cyclic AMP of histone kinase activity and [³H] cyclic- AMP binding activity in the soluble fraction decreased markedly during development. By DEAE-cellulose chromatography the histone kinase was separated mainly into 4 peaks; the fourth peak was strongly stimulated by cyclic AMP . Stimulation by cyclic AMP was higher in the 4-day-old rat brains than in the 9- and 30-day-old. In the 9-day-old rats the ratio of cyclic AMP -dependent histone kinase in respect to the cyclic AMP -independent enzyme was higher than in 4- and 30-day-old rats. Casein kinase activities in the brains of 9- and 30-day-old rats were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography into three peaks of which the third one was stimulated by cyclic AMP . Little, if any, difference was observed for casein kinase during the development. These results suggest that brain histone and casein kinase are different enzymes:     

Somatostatin release from isolated perfused rat stomach.

Gastric somatostatin release from the isolated rat stomach was studied using a perfusion technique. Somatostatin released from the isolated perfused rat stomach was found to be identical in molecular size and immunoreactively with synthetic somatostatin. Infusion of glucagon (10^?7 M) caused biphasic increase of gastric somatostatin release. Gastric somatostatin release was also stimulated by infusion of theophylline (10^?3 M) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10^?3 M). These results indicate the possible involvement of adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system in the regulatory mechanism of gastric somatostatin release.     

Cyclic AMP stimulation of membrane phosphorylation and Ca2+-activated,Mg2+-dependent ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Ca²⁺-activated ATPase (EC 3.6.1.15) in canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was stimulated 50–80% by cyclic adenosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate. The relationship of this stimulation to cyclic AMP-dependent membrane phosphorylation with phosphoester bands was studied. Cyclic AMP stimulation of ATPase activity was specific for Ca²⁺-activated ATPase and was half-maximal at about 0.1 μM which is similar to the concentration required for half-maximal stimulation of membrane phosphorylation by endogenous cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37). Cyclic AMP stimulation of Ca²⁺-activated ATPase was calcium dependent and maximal at calculated Ca²⁺ concentrations of 2.0 μM. Cyclic AMP-dependent Ca²⁺-activated ATPase correlated well with the cyclic AMP-dependent membrane phosphorylation of which 80% was 20 000 molecular weight protein identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In trypsin-treated microsomes, cyclic AMP did not stimulate Ca²⁺-activated ATPase or phosphorylation of the 20 000 molecular weight membrane protein. An endogenous calcium-stimulated protein kinase (probably phosphorylase b kinase) with an apparent K_m for ATP of 0.21–0.32 mM was present and appeared to be involved in the cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the 20 000 molecular weight protein which was calcium dependent. Cyclic guanosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate did not inhibit any of the stimulatory effects of cyclic AMP. These data suggest that the cyclic AMP stimulation of Ca²⁺-activated ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is mediated by the 20 000 molecular weight phosphoprotein product of a series of kinase reactions similar to those activating phosphorylase b.     

Synaptic membrane proteins as substrates for cyclic AMP-stimulated protein phosphorylation in various regions of rat brain

Synaptosomal plasma membranes from mammalian brain contain protein kinase activity which phosphorylates endogenous membrane proteins and is stimulated by cyclic AMP. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis it was shown that at least ten proteins in the synaptosomal plasma membrane fraction could be phosphorylated by endogenous cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase activity. The number of proteins whose phosphorylation was stimulated by cyclic AMP was strongly influenced by the pH and Mg²⁺ concentration used in the phosphorylation reaction. A complex pattern of cyclic AMP-stimulated protein phosphorylation was obtained only with synaptosomal plasma membranes and a crude microsomal fraction. Mitochondrial and myelin fractions exhibited no cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase activity. Investigation of the distribution of substrates for cyclic AMP-stimulated phosphorylation among various brain regions failed to reveal any regional differences.     

Independent modulation of hepatic protein kinase activities

The effects of hormonal status on protein kinase activity was examined in homogenates of rat liver. Protein kinase activity was evaluated from incorporation of ³²P from [γ-³²P]ATP into protamine or histone as receptor substrates. Protamine phosphorylation in the presence or absence of cyclic AMP exceeded histone phosphorylation by at least a factor or two. Hypophysectomy markedly increased protamine phosphorylation in the presence or absence of saturating amounts of cyclic AMP. In contrast, hypophysectomy only slightly increased cyclic AMP independent phosphorylation of histone. These results could not be accounted for by differences in ATPase or protein phosphase activities. Cortisone (2 mg/day × 3) decreased total protein kinase activity in livers of hypophysectomized rats when protamine was substrate, but had no effect on the total activity toward histone. Growth hormone (100 μg/day × 3) significantly increased histone, but not protamine phosphorylation in livers of hypophysectomized rats. Administration of 5 μg of triiodothyronine/day to hypophysectomized rats also markedly increased the phosphorylation of histone, but not protamine when saturating amounts of cyclic AMP were present. These results support the hypothesis that liver may contain more than one type of protein kinase activity and that the different protein kinase activities can be separately affected by hormones. Such control distal to cyclic AMP might allow selective modulation of cyclic AMP-dependent processes in cells which carry out more than one such process.     

Ligation of restriction endonuclease-generated DNA fragments using immobilized T4 DNA ligase

Phosphorylation of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase within leukemic cells has been demonstrated, using ³²P labelling of intact cells in culture, followed by immunoprecipitation of the cellular extracts using an anti-terminal transferase antiserum. The phosphate linkage was found to involve serine and threonine residues. Purified calf thymus terminal transferase served as a substrate for cyclic AMP independent protein kinase obtained from leukemic cells. Phosphorylation $\text{in vitro}$ of terminal transferase was accompanied by increased activity and decreased inhibition by excess ribo-ATP. These results indicate that terminal transferase is a physiologic cyclic AMP independent protein kinase substrate, and that this reaction may be important in its control.     

The uptake of cyclic AMP by human erythrocytes and its effect on membrane phosphorylation.

The effects of time and cyclic AMP concentration on cyclic AMP uptake and membrane phosphorylation were studied using intact human erythrocytes. The rate of uptake of cyclic [³H]AMP was nearly linear with respect to cyclic AMP concentration. The amount taken up was small compared to the extracellular cyclic AMP concentration, but was sufficient to significantly increase the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration. Incubation with cyclic AMP resulted in increased incorporation of ³²P_i into several phosphorylated membrane peptides of the intact erythrocytes. Although cyclic AMP altered the distribution of radioactivity among the membrane components, the total amount of incorporation was not increased. The effect of cyclic AMP on phosphorylation of membrane peptides was observed with extracellular cyclic AMP concentrations as low as 1 μm and was most pronounced in incubations of 1 to 4 h. These results indicate that cyclic AMP can enter erythrocytes in sufficient amounts to alter the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases, or to alter the rate of turnover of certain phosphorylated membrane peptides.     

Further studies on the properties of the rabbit reticulocyte adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase I

The properties of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase I isolated from rabbit reticulocytes were further investigated. The enzyme catalyzes the phosphorylation of histone in the presence of ATP and Mg²⁺ and this reaction is stimulated by cyclic AMP. The pH optimum of the reaction was between 8.5 and 9.0, when assayed in the presence of cyclic AMP. No distinct pH optimum was observed in the absence of the cyclic nucleotide. The K_m values for ATP appeared to be very similar whether it was determined in the presence (K_m = 1.7 × 10⁻⁴m) or absence (K_m = 2.5 × 10⁻⁴m) of cyclic AMP. The rate of heat inactivation of the catalytic activity and the cyclic AMP binding activity of kinase I were found to be dependent on the presence of Mg²⁺, ATP, and/or cyclic AMP. In the presence of cyclic AMP, the rate of inactivation of the catalytic activity of kinase I at 53 ° was accelerated. On the other hand, the cyclic AMP binding activity appeared to be protected from heat inactivation by the cyclic nucleotide. When both ATP and Mg²⁺ were present in the heating mixture, no loss of catalytic and binding activities of kinase I were observed even up to 8 min of heating at 53 °. The cyclic AMP binding activity of kinase I was almost completely inhibited by mercuric acetate at a concentration of 1 mm, while the loss in catalytic activity was only 50%. These results substantiate our previous observation that kinase I contains two nonidentical subunits, a catalytic subunit and a cyclic AMP binding subunit.     

Characteristics of magnesium-dependent, Ca2+ -stimulated endogenous protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of basic proteins in myelin isolated from rat brain stem white matter

Purified myelin fraction isolated from rat brain white matter contained Mg²⁺-dependent protein kinase capable of phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins. The Mg²⁺-supported kinase was markedly stimulated (two- to fivefold) by micromolar concentrations of free Ca²⁺ with and without Triton X-100 in the assay, the degree of stimulation being greater with the detergent present. Cyclic AMP, on the other hand, failed to show any effect on phosphorylation of myelin in the absence of Triton X-100 and in the presence of Triton caused only 25–30% stimulation. The phosphorylation reaction was temperature dependent and exhibited a pH optimum at pH 6.5. Apparent affinity toward MgATP^2? was found to be about 70 μm and Ca²⁺ had no effect on this parameter. Dependence on MgCl₂ of myelin phosphorylation indicated the presence of high- and low-affinity sites toward Mg²⁺; Ca²⁺ appeared to influence the low-affinity site. Maximal level of phosphorylation was attained by 10–15 min at 30 °C and it declined at longer incubation times due to phosphatase activity present in the preparation. Stimulatory effect of Ca²⁺ on phosphorylation was not due to inhibition of phosphatase activity. Dephosphorylation experiments showed that neither cyclic AMP nor Ca²⁺ influenced the myelin phosphatase activity. Autoradiographic analysis revealed that phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins accounted for nearly 90% of total myelin phosphorylation. This was supported by the observation that the HCl extract of myelin contained 85% of total activity and comigrated with purified myelin basic proteins. Basal and Ca²⁺-stimulated phosphorylation of basic proteins were due to phosphorylation of serines mainly, although threonine was phosphorylated to a minor extent. Within myelin, Ca²⁺ and cyclic AMP kinases are differentially bound. It appears that the myelin kinase (studied in vitro) is primarily influenced by Ca²⁺ rather than cyclic AMP. Inhibitors (Type I and Type II) of cyclic nucleotide-stimulated protein kinases had no effect on the Ca²⁺-stimulated phosphorylation although basal and cyclic AMP-stimulated phosphorylation was inhibited, indicating that the Ca²⁺ kinase is a separate and distinct enzyme from the cyclic AMP-stimulated and basal kinase(s). Also, leupeptin, a protease inhibitor, did not influence basal, cyclic AMP-stimulated, or Ca²⁺-stimulated myelin phosphorylation, indicating that under the conditions used protease(s) did not alter the myelin kinase activity. The potential significance of phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins and the stimulatory action of Ca²⁺ on this reaction are discussed.     

Ca2+-independent stimulation of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase by calmodulin

Calmodulin purified from bovine brain markedly stimulated cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase from pig lung in the presence of cyclic GMP. This stimulation by calmodulin did not require Ca²⁺ and was dose-dependent up to optimal amounts, but the extent of stimulation decreased at concentrations over the optimal condition. The concentrations of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP producing half-maximal stimulation were 4.5 × 10^?8 M and 5.0 × 10^?6 M respectively, under optimal conditions. Calmodulin increased maximum velocity without altering the Km for ATP. These effects of calmodulin on cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase were similar to those of the stimulatory modulator described by Kuo and Kuo (J. Biol. Chem. $\text{251}$, 4283–4286, 1976). Ouf findings indicate that calmodulin regulates enzyme activity both Ca²⁺-dependently and independently.     

Activation of protein kinase(s) by glucagon and cyclic AMP in the rat liver: Relationship to metabolic effects

Although it is known that protein kinases are activated by cyclic AMP, the role of the activated kinase in the gluconeogenic response to cyclic AMP is not known. Therefore, we examined whether the inhibition of the gluconeogenic resposne in the liver is due to an interference with the activation of protein kinase in the following situations: (1) adrenalectomy, (2) Na⁺-free perfustae, (3) administration of local anesthetic. We measured protein kinase activity indirectly by measureing incorporation of ³²P into proteins of the perfused liver, and directly by measuring the enzyme activity. We found no significant inhibition of activation of protein kinase in teh above experimental conditions. It seems that in the intact liver, activation of protein kinase by itself is not sufficient to evoke metabolic responses.In order to clarify whether teh requirement for ion redistribution is specific for the gluconeogenic response or not, the lipolytic and antilipogenic effects of glucagon and cyclic AMP were examined. Na⁺-free persurfate, local anesta high K⁺ did interfere with the lipolytic and antilipogenic responses to these agents just as it interfered with the fluconeogenic response. It is likely that ion redistribution evoked by glucagon and cyclic AMP is essential to the expression of most, if not all, metabolic effects.     

Somatostatin promotes glucose generation of Ca2+oscillations in pancreatic islets both in the absence and presence of tolbutamide

Many cellular processes, including pulsatile release of insulin, are triggered by increase of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺. This study examines how somatostatin affects glucose generation of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ oscillations in mouse islets in absence and presence of tolbutamide blockade of the K_ATP channels. Ca²⁺ was measured with dual wavelength microflurometry in isolated islets loaded with the indicator Fura-2. Rise of glucose from 3 to 20 mM evoked introductory lowering of Ca²⁺ prolonged by activation of somatostatin receptors. During continued superfusion exposure to somatostatin triggered oscillations mediated by periodic increase from the basal level (absence of tolbutamide) or by periodic interruption of an elevated level (presence of tolbutamide). In the latter situation the oscillations were transformed into sustained elevation by activation of muscarinic receptors (acetylcholine) or increase of cyclic AMP (IBMX, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, forskolin). The observed effect of cyclic AMP raises the question whether high proportions of the glucagon-producing α-cells promote steady-state elevation of Ca²⁺. In support for this idea somatostatin was found to trigger glucose-induced Ca²⁺ oscillations essentially in small islets that contain very few α-cells. The results indicate that somatostatin promotes glucose generation of Ca²⁺oscillations with similar characteristics both in the absence and presence of functional K_ATP channels.