The action of local anaesthetics on lipolysis and on adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate content in isolated rat fat-cells

1. Local anaesthetics inhibited hormone-stimulated lipolysis in isolated rat fat-cells. The most potent anaesthetic was dibucaine, which inhibited adrenaline-stimulated lipolysis by 50% at a concentration of 0.16mm. 2. The amount of inhibition produced by a given concentration of anaesthetic was very similar with adrenaline, theophylline and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, at submaximal and maximal concentrations. 3. The inhibitory effect of dibucaine on lipolysis was apparent within 5 min and was constant over 1h. 4. Dibucaine inhibited basal, adrenaline-stimulated and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake at concentrations 6-10-fold higher than those inhibiting lipolysis. 5. The effects of dibucaine on lipolysis and glucose uptake were reversed after removal of anaesthetic and washing of cells. 6. Dibucaine further elevated the concentration of cyclic AMP in the presence of adrenaline or adrenaline plus theophylline. 7. Dibucaine had no effect on ATP content at concentrations causing 80% inhibition of lipolysis, but lowered ATP content at higher concentrations. 8. The relative potency of different local anaesthetics as inhibitors of hormone-stimulated lipolysis paralleled their potency as inhibitors of ion movements in other systems. 9. The possibility is discussed that Ca(2+) ions are involved in the regulation of lipolysis, and that local anaesthetics inhibit lipolysis by interfering with Ca(2+) translocation.     

The role of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in the regulation of insulin release by isolated rat islets of Langerhans

1. Concentrations of cyclic AMP (adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate) and rates of insulin release were measured in islets of Langerhans isolated from rat pancreas and incubated for various times in the presence of glucose, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, caffeine, theophylline, adrenaline and diazoxide. 2. Caffeine and theophylline produced small but significant increases in both cyclic AMP and release of insulin when they were incubated in the presence of 10mm-glucose. 3. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine produced a marked increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP in the presence of 5mm- and 10mm-glucose. However, insulin release was stimulated only in the presence of 10mm-glucose. 4. In response to rising concentrations of extracellular glucose (5-20mm) there was no detectable increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP even though there was a marked increase in the rate of insulin release. 5. In response to 10mm-glucose insulin release occurred in two phases and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine potentiated the effect of glucose on both phases. The intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP remained constant with glucose and rose within 10min to its maximum value with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. 6. Adrenaline and diazoxide inhibited insulin release and lowered the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP when islets were incubated with glucose or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. 7. It is suggested that glucose does not stimulate insulin release by increasing the concentration of cyclic AMP in islet cells. However, the concentration of cyclic AMP in islet cells may modulate the effect of glucose on the release process.     

The effects of glucagon and insulin on adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate concentrations in an organ culture of mature rat liver

1. A modified radioimmunoassay for cyclic AMP was developed from the method of Steiner et al. (1969). Cyclic [(3)H]AMP was used as the radioactive tracer. Free and antibody-bound nucleotides were separated by adsorption of protein to Millipore filters. The assay was used to measure amounts of cyclic AMP down to 0.1pmol in 50mul. 2. The effect of glucagon on cyclic AMP content in pieces of mature rat liver maintained for 6 days in organ culture was studied. 3. Cyclic AMP content in the tissue reached a maximum in 5-15min and then decreased. This may have been partly due to an inhibitor of glucagon action formed in the tissue. Small amounts of cyclic AMP were released into the incubation medium. 4. The maximal increase in cyclic AMP content produced by glucagon decreased over 6 days in culture. However, liver pieces cultured for 2 and 6 days were more sensitive to low concentrations of glucagon than were fresh liver pieces. Glucagon concentrations for half-maximal effects were approx. 1mum and 0.05mum for fresh liver and 2-day cultured liver respectively. 5. Insulin (3.5mum) lowered the cyclic AMP content by 30% in the presence of a submaximal glucagon concentration in liver cultured for 2 days. No effect of insulin was demonstrated on fresh liver pieces. 6. Insulin and glucagon were rapidly destroyed by fresh liver pieces.     

The regulation of growth hormone secretion from the isolated rat anterior pituitary in vitro. The role of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate

1. The release of growth hormone from isolated fragments of rat anterior pituitary tissue incubated in vitro was studied by employing a double-antibody radioimmunoassay. 2. In the absence of added stimuli, two phases of hormone release could be distinguished, an early phase of 2h duration and a subsequent late phase. In the early phase, hormone release was rapid but could be significantly decreased by calcium depletion and by 2,4-dinitrophenol whereas the rate of release in the late phase was uninfluenced by these incubation conditions. These results have been interpreted as indicating the existence of a secretory component in the early phase of release. 3. In subsequent experiments, the effects of various agents on the rate of hormone output during the late phase of incubation were investigated. Hormone release was increased by theophylline and by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (N(6)-2'-O-dibutyryl-adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate), the response to both of these agents being related to the concentration of the stimulant employed. 4. The stimulation of growth hormone output by theophylline was significantly decreased by calcium deprivation and by 2,4-dinitrophenol. The response to dibutyryl cyclic AMP was diminished by 2,4-dinitrophenol, iodoacetate and 2-deoxyglucose but not by malonate or colchicine. 5. Arginine, beta-hydroxybutyrate, albumin-bound palmitate and variation in the glucose concentration of the incubation medium over a wide range were without any statistically significant effect on the rate of hormone release from either control pituitary fragments or those subject to secretory stimulation by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 6. It is suggested that the regulation of growth hormone secretion is mediated by cyclic AMP (adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate). The secretion observed in response to cyclic AMP requires the presence of ionized calcium and a source of metabolic energy but is independent of pituitary protein synthesis de novo. The integrity of the glycolytic pathway of glucose metabolism appears to be essential for cyclic AMP-stimulated growth hormone secretion to occur.     

The effect of starvation on phosphodiesterase activity and the content of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in isolated mouse pancreatic islets

1. The concentration of cyclic AMP and the activity of phosphodiesterase were measured in isolated pancreatic islets from fed or 48h-starved mice. 2. Two different phosphodiesterases were detected. Neither the maximum activity nor the K(m) values of these enzymes were changed by starvation. 3. The concentration of cyclic AMP in non-incubated islets was the same in islets from fed and starved mice. 4. Incubation with 3.3mm-glucose for 5-30min had no effect on the concentration of cyclic AMP, irrespective of the nutritional state of the mice. Incubation with 16.7mm-glucose for 5-30min raised the concentration of cyclic AMP by about 30% in islets from fed mice. This rise was prevented by addition of mannoheptulose (3mg/ml). Incubation with 16.7mm-glucose had no effect on the cyclic AMP content in islets from starved mice. 5. In islets from fed mice 10min incubation with 5mm-caffeine had no effect on the concentration of cyclic AMP in the presence of 3.3 or 16.7mm-glucose, whereas the cyclic AMP content was increased approx. 150% in islets from starved mice. 6. After 10min incubation with 1mm-3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine in the presence of 3.3 or 16.7mm-glucose the concentration of cyclic AMP was raised by 250% in islets from fed mice and by 400% in islets from starved mice. 7. A threefold function of glucose in the insulin-secretory process is suggested, according to which the decreased islet glucose metabolism is the primary defect in the insulin-secretory mechanism during starvation.     

The effect of glucose, insulin and noradrenaline on lipolysis and on the concentrations of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate and adenosine 5′-triphosphate in adipose tissue

1. The deoxyfluoro-d-glucopyranose 6-phosphates were prepared from the corresponding deoxyfluoro-d-glucoses and ATP by using hexokinase. 2. 3-Deoxy-3-fluoro- and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-d-glucose 6-phosphate were substrates for glucose phosphate isomerase, and in addition the products of this reaction, 3-deoxy-3-fluoro- and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-d-fructose 6-phosphate respectively, were good substrates for phosphofructokinase. 3. Some C-2-substituted derivatives of d-glucose 6-phosphate were found to be competitive inhibitors of glucose phosphate isomerase. 4. The possible role of the hydroxyl groups in the binding of d-glucose 6-phopshate to glucose phosphate isomerase is discussed.     

An effect of insulin on adipose-tissue adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase

1. 3':5'-Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity was measured in homogenates prepared from epididymal fat-pads and isolated fat-cells incubated in the absence and presence of insulin. 2. Homogenates of insulin-treated tissues showed an increase in phosphodiesterase activity compared with controls. No effect of insulin was observed when the hormone was added directly to homogenates. 3. There was kinetic evidence for the presence of two 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in adipose tissue. Insulin raised the maximal velocity of the low-K(m) enzyme and lowered the K(m) of the higher-K(m) enzyme. 4. It is suggested that the effect of insulin on adipose tissue phosphodiesterase accounts for the ability of this hormone to lower cyclic-AMP concentration in the tissue.     

Adenosine as a constituent of the brain and of isolated cerebral tissues, and its relationship to the generation of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate

1. Adenosine was determined in rapidly frozen rat and guinea-pig brain and in guinea-pig cerebral tissues after incubation in vitro. Adenosine concentrations were approx. 2nmol/g wet wt. in frozen tissue, diminished at room temperature, and returned to 2nmol/g on incubation in oxygenated glucose/salines. 2. Superfusion with noradrenaline then increased the tissue's adenosine concentration 2.5-fold, and hypoxia caused an 8-fold increase. 3. Electrical stimulation alone or in the presence of noradrenaline or histamine increased the tissue's adenosine and cyclic AMP, but adenosine concentrations reached their peak later and were maintained for longer than those of cyclic AMP. 4. Superfusion with l-glutamate with and without electrical excitation raised adenosine concentrations to 15-34nmol/g. The increases in cyclic AMP on electrical stimulation, superfusion with glutamate or a combination of these treatments were diminished by addition of adenosine deaminase or theophylline. 5. It is concluded that adenosine can be produced endogenously in cerebral systems, in sufficient concentrations to accelerate an adenosine-activated adenylate cyclase, and by this route can contribute to the cerebral actions of electrical stimulation and of the neurohumoral agents. In certain instances cyclic AMP as substrate contributes to an increase in adenosine.     

A reappraisal of the effects of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate on the function and morphology of the rat prostate gland

1. A comparison was made of the binding of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-3-one) and cyclic AMP in the rat prostate gland. Distinct binding mechanisms exist for these compounds, and cyclic AMP cannot serve as a competitor for the 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone-binding sites and vice versa. In contrast with the results obtained with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, very small amounts of cyclic AMP are retained in nuclear chromatin and the overall binding of this cyclic nucleotide is not markedly affected by castration. 2. Androgenic stimulation does not lead to major increases in the adenylate cyclase activities associated with any subcellular fraction of the prostate gland. Accordingly, changes in the concentration of cyclic AMP in the prostate gland after hormonal treatment are likely to be small, but these were not measured directly. 3. When administered to whole animals in vivo, small amounts of non-degraded cyclic AMP are found in the prostate gland but sufficient to promote an activation of certain carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes in the cell supernatant fraction. The stimulatory effects of cyclic AMP were not evident with cytoplasmic enzymes engaged in polyamine synthesis or nuclear RNA polymerases. These latter enzymes were stimulated solely by the administration of testosterone. 4. By making use of antiandrogens, a distinction can be drawn between the biochemical responses attributable to the binding of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone but not of cyclic AMP. Evidence is presented to suggest that the stimulation of RNA polymerase, ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase is a consequence of the selective binding of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Only the stimulation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase can be attributed to cyclic AMP or other metabolites of testosterone. 5. Overall, this study indicates that the formation of cyclic AMP is not a major feature of the androgenic response and affects only a restricted number of biochemical processes. Certainly, cyclic AMP cannot be considered as interchangeable with testosterone and its metabolites in the control of the function of the prostate gland. This difference is additionally emphasized by the failure of cyclic AMP to restore the morphology of the prostate gland in castrated animals; morphological restoration only follows the administration of androgens.     

Stimulation of glucose transport in rat adipocytes by insulin, adenosine, nicotinic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Role of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate

Glucose transport into adipocytes of the rat was measured by monitoring the conversion of [1-(14)C]glucose into (14)CO(2). Glucose transport was made rate-limiting by increasing the flux through the pentose phosphate pathway with phenazine methosulphate, an agent that rapidly reoxidizes NADPH. Under these conditions, the observed rate of glucose disappearance from the incubation medium was about 20% higher than the rate of conversion of the C-1 of glucose into (14)CO(2). Apparent rates of glucose transport were significantly increased by insulin, H(2)O(2), adenosine and nicotinic acid. Stimulation of the apparent rate of glucose transport by insulin was dependent on adipocyte concentration, the hormone being most effective at relatively high cell concentrations. Adenosine and nicotinic acid further enhanced the maximum stimulation of glucose transport by insulin. Potentiation of insulin action by adenosine was more pronounced at lower cell concentrations. At relatively high cell concentrations the stimulatory action of insulin was markedly decreased by adenosine deaminase. Stimulation of apparent rates of glucose transport by the compounds noted above were antagonized by agents that increased intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations (theophylline and isoprenaline) and by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Intracellular concentrations of cyclic AMP were significantly lowered when adipocytes were incubated with insulin, H(2)O(2), adenosine or nicotinic acid. These effects were observed under basal conditions or when intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations were elevated by theophylline or isoprenaline. On the basis of the above data, we suggest that insulin, H(2)O(2), adenosine and nicotinic acid may all stimulate glucose transport in rat adipocytes by lowering the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration. These data therefore support the hypothesis that cyclic AMP inhibits glucose transport in rat adipocytes.     

The mode of action of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in mammalian islets of Langerhans. Preparation and properties of islet-cell protein phosphokinase

1. A protein was demonstrated in mammalian islets of Langerhans that after purification appeared as a single component possessing both cyclic-AMP (adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate)-binding and cyclic-AMP-dependent protein phosphokinase activities. 2. The protein had an intrinsic association constant for cyclic AMP of 1.15x10(-8)m, which was similar to the K(m) for cyclic AMP (1.11x10(-8)m) of the protein phosphokinase activity. 3. Incubation of the protein in the presence of cyclic AMP resulted in its dissociation into cyclic-AMP-independent protein phosphokinase (catalytic) and cyclic-AMP-binding (receptor) subunits, which could be separated on Sephadex G-200. 4. The cyclic-AMP-dependent protein phosphokinase was capable of phosphorylating a variety of proteins, the most readily phosphorylated being histone, casein and protein components of sub-cellular fractions prepared from islets of Langerhans. 5. The cyclic-AMP-dependent phosphorylation of histone had a K(m) for ATP of 1.1x10(-5)m. 6. The endogenous protein phosphokinase activity in rat islets incubated with agents that are known to alter the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP was investigated. Theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, agents that raise cyclic AMP concentrations in islets, increased the activity of the protein phosphokinase, whereas adrenaline, which lowers islet cyclic AMP concentrations, decreased its activity. 7. It is suggested that cyclic AMP may exert its effects on insulin release by increasing the activity of a protein phosphokinase and may thereby promote the phosphorylation and activity of a rate-determining component of the secretory mechanism.     

The mode of action of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in mammalian islets of Langerhans. Effects of insulin secretagogues on islet-cell protein kinase activity

1. Protein kinase activity was measured in islets of Langerhans that had been incubated in the presence of agents known to affect insulin release. 2. Glucagon, theophylline, caffeine and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, agents that raise cyclic AMP concentrations in islet cells and stimulate insulin release, increased protein kinase activity. Adrenaline and diazoxide, agents that decrease cyclic AMP concentrations and inhibit insulin secretion, decreased the activity. 3. The increase in protein kinase activity produced by different concentrations of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine was apparently related to the increase in intracellular concentrations of cyclic AMP. 4. The sulphonylureas, tolbutamide and glibenclamide, agents that increase insulin release, also increased the protein kinase activity; however, leucine, arginine and xylitol, which also stimulate insulin release, were without effect on the kinase activity. 5. Increasing the glucose concentration of the incubation medium from 2 to 20mm had no effect on protein kinase activity. Further, the ability of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine to increase the protein kinase activity was not affected by the glucose concentration of the incubation medium. 6. These results suggest that agents which affect insulin secretion by altering cyclic AMP concentrations may exert their effects on hormone release by altering the activity of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in islet cells.     

Metabolic control mechanisms in mammalian systems. Involvement of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in androgen action

1. The ability of exogenously administered cyclic AMP (adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate) to exert andromimetic action on certain carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes was investigated in the rat prostate gland and seminal vesicles. 2. Cyclic AMP, when injected concurrently with theophylline, produced marked increases in hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and two hexose monophosphate-shunt enzymes, as well as alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity in accessory sexual tissues of castrated rats. The 6-N,2'-O-dibutyryl analogue of cyclic AMP caused increases of enzyme activity that were greater than those induced by the parent compound. 3. Time-course studies demonstrated that, whereas significant increases in the activities of most enzymes occurred within 4h after the injection of cyclic AMP, maximal increases were attained at 16-24h. 4. Increase in the activity of the various prostatic and vesicular enzymes was dependent on the dose of cyclic AMP; in most instances, 2.5mg of the cyclic nucleotide/rat was sufficient to elicit a statistically significant response. 5. Administration of cyclic AMP and theophylline also produced stimulation of enzyme activities in secondary sexual tissues of immature rats. 6. Cyclic AMP and theophylline did not affect significantly any of the enzymes studied in hepatic tissue. 7. Stimulation of various carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes in the prostate gland and seminal vesicles by cyclic AMP was independent of adrenal function. 8. Concurrent treatment with actinomycin or cycloheximide prevented the cyclic AMP- and theophylline-induced increases in enzyme activities in both castrated and adrenalectomized-castrated animals. 9. Administration of a single dose of testosterone propionate (5.0mg/100g) to castrated rats caused a significant increase in cyclic AMP concentration in both accessory sexual tissues. 10. In addition, treatment with theophylline potentiated the effects of a submaximal dose of testosterone (1.0mg/100g) on all those prostatic and seminal-vesicular enzymes that are increased by exogenous cyclic AMP. 11. The evidence indicates that cyclic AMP may be involved in triggering the known metabolic actions of androgens on secondary sexual tissues of the rat.     

Steroidogenesis in isolated adrenocortical cells. Correlation with receptor-bound adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate

Because several groups have recently questioned a mediating role for cyclic AMP in adrenocortical steroidogenesis, we analysed the problem in more detail by measuring three different cyclic AMP pools in cells isolated from decapsulated rat adrenals. Extra-cellular, total intracellular and bound intracellular cyclic AMP were determined by radioimmunoassay in comparison with corticosterone production induced by low corticotropin concentrations. The increase in extracellular and total intracellular cyclic AMP with low corticotropin concentrations was dependent on the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and short incubation times. Bound intracellular cyclic AMP was less dependent on these two parameters. In unstimulated cells cyclic AMP bound to its receptor represents only a small fraction of the total intracellular cyclic AMP. After stimulation by a concentration of corticotropin around the threshold for corticosterone production, an increase in bound cyclic AMP was observed which correlated very well with steroidogenesis both temporally and with respect to corticotropin concentration. This finding was complemented by measuring a concomitant decrease in free receptor sites. Full occupancy of the receptors was not necessary for maximal steroidogenesis. Binding kinetics of cyclic [(3)H]AMP in concentrations equivalent to the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration suggest the presence of at least three different intracellular cyclic AMP pools. These observations are in agreement with a possible role for cyclic AMP as a mediator of acute steroidogenesis induced by low corticotropin concentrations.     

Involvement of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in lipid mobilization in Locusta migratoria

The rôle of cyclic AMP in hormone-induced lipid mobilization in Locusta migratoria was investigated. Injection of a corpus cardiacum extract into adult female locusts resulted in an increased level of cyclic AMP in the fat body. The cAMP concentration is maximal at about 5 min of incubation and returns to the resting level after about 10 min. The dose-response curve is linear up to about 0.01 corpus cardiacum pair equivalents.Dibutyryl-cyclic AMP mimics the lipid mobilizing effect of corpus cardiacum extract. After flight the cyclic AMP concentration in fat body increased. Injection of corpus cardiacum extract had no effect on flight muscle cyclic AMP concentration.     

The influence on platelet aggregation of drugs that affect the accumulation of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in platelets

1. The involvement of intracellular 3':5'-cyclic AMP in the inhibition of platelet aggregation by prostaglandin E(1), isoprenaline and adenosine has been examined by a radiochemical technique. Platelet-rich plasma was incubated with radioactive adenine to incorporate (14)C radioactivity into platelet nucleotides. Pairs of identically treated samples were taken, one for the photometric measurement of platelet aggregation induced by ADP, the other for estimation of the radioactivity of 3':5'-cyclic AMP. 2. Theophylline, papaverine, dipyridamole and 2,6-bis-(diethanolamino)-4-piperidinopyrimido[5,4d]pyrimidine (compound RA233) were found to inhibit 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from platelets. At concentrations of 3':5'-cyclic AMP greater than 50mum the most active inhibitor was dipyridamole; at 3':5'-cyclic AMP concentrations less than 19mum, papaverine and compound RA233 were more active than dipyridamole. 3. In the presence of compound RA233 (50mum), the effectiveness of prostaglandin E(1) as an inhibitor of platelet aggregation was increased tenfold. Compound RA233 also increased the stimulation by prostaglandin E(1) of the incorporation of radioactivity into 3':5'-cyclic AMP. 4. Compound RA233 (50mum) increased the effectiveness of both adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine as inhibitors of aggregation by 70-100-fold, and in the presence of compound RA233 both adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine stimulated the incorporation of radioactivity into 3':5'-cyclic AMP; the extent of the stimulation was proportional to the logarithm of the nucleoside concentration. 5. Compound RA233 (100-500mum) inhibited platelet aggregation by itself and caused small increases in the radioactivity of 3':5'-cyclic AMP. Partial positive correlations were found between the radioactivity of 3':5'-cyclic AMP in platelets measured at the time of addition of the aggregating agent (ADP) and the extent to which the aggregation was inhibited. 6. The results are interpreted as indicating that adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, isoprenaline, prostaglandin E(1) and drugs that inhibit platelet 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase all inhibit aggregation by a common mechanism involving intracellular 3':5'-cyclic AMP.     

The role of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in the division of WI 38 cells. The cellular response to prostaglandin E1 and the effects of an cyclic adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate analogue and prostaglandin E1 on cell division

Inhibition of growth and DNA synthesis was observed in WI 38 cells incubated with 8-methylthioadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate or prostaglandin E(1). The effect of both compounds on cell growth was reversible. On removal of these compounds from culture media the cells initiated DNA synthesis and divided. In addition, prostaglandin E(1) stimulated cyclic AMP formation in these cells to over 40 times the normal basal value. The increase in cyclic AMP concentration in WI 38 cells after addition of prostaglandin E(1) showed a marked variation. Cells that had recently been treated with trypsin and plated at a lower cell density exhibited a smaller response to addition of prostaglandin E(1) than cells that had divided and reached confluence.     

The effects of potassium, 5-hydroxytryptamine, adrenocorticotrophin and angiotensin II on the concentration of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in suspensions of dispersed rat adrenal zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata cells

Dispersed rat adrenal cells prepared from both the capsule and the decapsulated gland were used to investigate the effects on cyclic AMP accumulation of known stimuli of steroidogenesis [ACTH (adrenocorticotrophin), angiotensin II, K(+) ions and 5-hydroxytryptamine]. Since glomerulosa-cell preparations from capsular strippings are normally contaminated with a proportion of fasciculata cells, cells purified by fractionation on a bovine serum albumin gradient were also used. The results showed that: (1) ACTH and angiotensin II stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in both fractionated and unfractionated zona fasciculata cells; (2) 5-hydroxytryptamine and an increased extracellular K(+) concentration (from 3.6 to 8.4mm) had no effect on cyclic AMP concentrations in fasciculata cell preparations; (3) the addition of ACTH, angiotensin II, 5-hydroxytryptamine or K(+) to the incubation medium resulted in increased cyclic AMP concentrations in unpurified zona glomerulosa cell preparations; (4) fractionation and hence the virtual elimination of fasciculata contamination, did not affect the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine and increased K(+) concentration. However, the responses to ACTH and angiotensin II were markedly lowered but not abolished. These results strongly suggest a link between cyclic AMP production and steroidogenesis in the zone of the adrenal gland that specifically secretes aldosterone. All four agents used stimulated both steroid output and cyclic AMP accumulation. However, at certain doses of 5-hydroxytryptamine, K(+) and angiotensin II the significant increases in corticosterone output were not accompanied by measurable increases in cyclic AMP accumulation.     

Direct effects of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate and adenosine 5′-monophosphate upon tyrosinase activity

1. The direct actions of cAMP and 5′-AMP upon goldfish integumental and mushroom tyrosine activity were examined.2. cAMP and 5′-AMP produce similar alterations in goldfish enzyme activity, being stimulatory at low concentrations (5′-AMP being more effective than cAMP) and inhibitory at high concentrations.3. Theophylline stimulates goldfish tyrosinase activity.4. Mushroom tyrosinase activity is inhibited by cAMP and by theophylline.5. cAMP and 5′-AMP stimulation of goldfish tyrosinase activity may result from the direct action of these nucleotides on the enzyme in addition to cAMP stimulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.6. 5′-AMP stimulation of goldfish tyrosinase activity may indicate a key regulatory role of this nucleotide in cAMP-mediated events.     

The effect of prostaglandins on ox pituitary content of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate and the release of growth hormone

1. An assay, based on competition between adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cyclic [(3)H]AMP for binding to a rabbit skeletal muscle protein, has been used to measure tissue contents of cyclic AMP. The assay has a sensitivity of 0.05pmol of cyclic AMP. Cyclic GMP and cyclic CMP have 0.5%, and cyclic IMP 6.5%, of the ability of cyclic AMP to displace cyclic [(3)H]AMP from binding protein; AMP, ADP and ATP have no effect. 2. By using this method, the cyclic AMP content of ox pituitary slices exposed to prostaglandin was determined; release of growth hormone was measured by radioimmunoassay. 3. Release of growth hormone was increased by 45min incubation in 1mum-prostaglandin E(2) in the absence of theophylline, or in 10nm-prostaglandin E(2), 0.1mum-prostaglandin A(1) or 1mum-prostaglandin B(1) in the presence of 0.5mm-theophylline. 4. Pituitary cyclic AMP content was increased by 10min incubation in 1mum-prostaglandin E(2) in the absence of theophylline, or in 0.1mum-prostaglandin E(2) in the presence of 0.5mm-theophylline. 5. The maximum increase in cyclic AMP content was observed 10min, and significant changes in growth hormone release 30min, after introduction of prostaglandin E(2). 6. The increase in pituitary cyclic AMP content, but not in the rate of release of growth hormone, was observed in the absence of external Ca(2+). 7. The stimulation of release of growth hormone by prostaglandin was decreased by preincubation of tissue for 2h in colchicine (100mum) or cytochalasin B (10mug/ml). 8. These results support the suggestion that increased release of growth hormone after treatment with prostaglandin is the result of increased tissue cyclic AMP content, and possibly involves a microfilamentous or microtubular protein.