Forskolin Stimulation of Cyclic AMP Accumulation in Rat Brain Cortex Slices Is Markedly Enhanced by Endogenous Adenosine

Stimulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in rat cortex slices by 1 microM forskolin (F) was markedly reduced (96%) by treatment with adenosine deaminase (ADA). The effect of ADA was progressively less at higher concentrations of F, but still inhibited the response by 50% at 100 microM F. ADA-mediated inhibition of the cAMP response to 1 microM F was completely reversed by 5 microM 2-chloroadenosine (CA), an ADA-resistant analogue. Stimulation by F (controls) and F plus CA (ADA treated) in cortex slices was significantly inhibited by 200 microM caffeine (CAF) and by 10 microM 8-phenyltheophylline. cAMP accumulation in ADA-treated cortex slices stimulated with CA at concentrations from 5 to 100 microM was markedly enhanced by 1 microM F. Neither ADA treatment nor 200 microM CAF significantly affected cAMP accumulation in slices stimulated by 1 microM vasoactive intestinal polypeptide or adenylate cyclase in membranes stimulated by 1 microM F. CAF (1 mM) did not significantly increase basal cAMP levels in cortex slices, whereas 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine caused a significant 80% increase and 100 microM rolipram enhanced cAMP levels by 4.5-fold. F-stimulated cAMP accumulation (1 microM) in cortex slices was inhibited 98% by 1 mM CAF and 49% by 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and was enhanced 2.5-fold by 100 microM rolipram. These data have been interpreted to indicate that the stimulation of cAMP accumulation in rat cortex slices by 1 microM F is predominantly due to synergistic interaction with endogenous adenosine and that the inhibition of this response by CAF is largely due to blockade of adenosine receptors.     

GABAB Receptor-Mediated Enhancement of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Stimulated Cyclic AMP Production in Slices of Rat Cerebral Cortex

Basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated accumulations of cyclic AMP were measured in slices of rat cerebral cortex. Neither gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) nor the selective GABAB receptor agonist (-)-baclofen stimulated basal cyclic AMP accumulation, whereas VIP caused a large dose-dependent increase in cyclic AMP levels. However, in the presence of 100 microM (-)-baclofen, the effects of VIP on cyclic AMP accumulation were significantly enhanced, with the responses to 1 microM and 10 microM VIP being approximately doubled. The enhancing effects of (-)-baclofen was dose related (1-1,000 microM), but an enhancing effect was not observed with 100 microM (+)-baclofen. In the presence of the GABA uptake inhibitor nipecotic acid (1 mM), GABA caused a similar dose-related enhancement of the VIP response. The ability of either GABA or (-)-baclofen to augment VIP-stimulated production of cyclic AMP was not mimicked by the GABAA, agonists isoguvacine and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol (THIP) and was not antagonized by the GABAA antagonist bicuculline. The putative GABAB antagonist 5-aminovaleric acid (1 mM) significantly reduced the effect of (-)-baclofen. The ability of (-)-baclofen to enhance VIP-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP was observed in slices of rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. These results indicate that GABA and (-)-baclofen can enhance VIP-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP in rat brain slices via an interaction with specific GABAB receptors.     

Stimulatory effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on cyclic AMP production in rat peritoneal macrophages.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulated cyclic AMP production in rat peritoneal macrophages. The stimulatory effect of VIP was dependent on time, temperature and cell concentration, and was potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). At 15 degrees C, the response occurred in the 0.1-1000 nM range of VIP concentrations. Half maximal stimulation of cellular cyclic AMP (ED50) was obtained at 1.2 +/- 0.5 nM VIP, and maximal stimulation (about 3-fold basal level) was obtained between 100-1000 nM. The cyclic AMP system of rat peritoneal macrophages showed a high specificity for VIP. The order of potency observed in inducing cyclic AMP production was VIP greater than rGRF greater than hGRF greater than PHI greater than secretin. Glucagon, insulin, pancreastatin and octapeptide of cholecystokinin did not modify cyclic AMP levels at concentrations as high as 1 microM. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol increased the cyclic AMP production and show additive effect with VIP. Somatostatin inhibits the accumulation of cyclic AMP in the presence of both vasoactive intestinal peptide and isoproterenol. The finding of a VIP-stimulated cyclic AMP system in rat peritoneal macrophages, together with the previous characterization of high-affinity receptors for VIP in the same cell preparation, strongly suggest that VIP may be involved in the regulation of macrophage function.     

Receptor-mediated gonadotropin action in the ovary. Regulatory role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s) in intracellular adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate turnover and gonadotropin-stimulated progesterone production by rat ovarian cells

The regulatory role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s) and cyclic AMP metabolism in relation to progesterone production by gonadotropins has been studied in isolated rat ovarian cells. Low concentrations of choriogonadotropin (0.4-5ng/ml) increased steroid production without any detectable increase in cyclic AMP, when experiments were carried out in the absence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The concentration of choriogonadotropin (10ng/ml) that stimulated progesterone synthesis maximally resulted in a minimal increase in cyclic AMP accumulation and choriogonadotropin binding. Choriogonadotropin at a concentration of 10ng/ml and higher, however, significantly stimulated protein kinase activity and reached a maximum between 250 and 1000ng of hormone/ml. Higher concentrations (50-2500ng/ml) of choriogonadotropin caused an increase in endogenous cyclic AMP, and this increase preceded the increase in steroid synthesis. Analysis of dose-response relationships of gonadotropin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, progesterone production and protein kinase activity revealed a correlation between these responses over a wide concentration range when experiments were performed in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors papaverine, theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine each stimulated steroid production in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of ovarian cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 8-bromo cyclic AMP mimicked the steroidogenic action of gonadotropins and this effect was dependent on both incubation time and nucleotide concentration. Maximum stimulation was obtained with 2mm-dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 8-bromo cyclic AMP, and this increase was close to that produced by a maximally stimulating dose of choriogonadotropin. Other 8-substituted derivatives such as 8-hydroxy cyclic AMP and 8-isopropylthio cyclic AMP, which were less susceptible to phosphodiesterase action, also effectively stimulated steroidogenesis. The uptake and metabolism of cyclic [(3)H]AMP in ovarian cells was also studied in relation to steroidogenesis. When ovarian cells were incubated for 2h in the presence of increasing concentrations of cyclic [(3)H]AMP, the radioactivity associated with the cells increased almost linearly up to 250mum-cyclic [(3)H]AMP concentration in the incubation medium. The (3)H label in the cellular extract was recovered mainly in the forms ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine and inosine, with cyclic AMP accounting for less than 1% of the total tissue radioactivity. Incubation of cyclic AMP in vitro with ovarian cells resulted in a rapid breakdown of the nucleotide in the medium. The degradation products in the medium have been identified as AMP, adenosine and inosine. The rapid degradation of cyclic AMP by phosphodiesterase(s) makes it difficult to correlate changes in cyclic AMP concentrations with steroidogenesis. These observations thus provide an explanation for the previously observed lack of cyclic AMP accumulation under conditions in which low doses of choriogonadotropin stimulated steroidogenesis without any detectable changes in cyclic AMP accumulation.     

Accumulation of inositol phosphates and cyclic AMP in guinea-pig cerebral cortical preparations. Effects of norepinephrine, histamine, carbamylcholine and 2-chloroadenosine

Norepinephrine and serotonin augment by about 2-fold the accumulation of cyclic [3H]AMP elicited by 2-chloroadenosine in [3H]adenine-labeled guinea-pig cerebral cortical slices. Histamine causes a 3-fold augmentation. The first two agents have no effect on cyclic AMP alone, while histamine has only a small effect alone. The augmentation of the 2-chloroadenosine response appears to be mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic, 5HT2-serotonergic and H2-histaminergic receptors. VIP-elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP are also augmented through stimulation of alpha 1-adrenergic, 5HT2-serotonergic and H1-histaminergic receptors. Activation of these amine receptors also increases the turnover of phosphatidylinositols in [3H]inositol-labeled guinea pig cerebral cortical slices. Norepinephrine causes a 5-fold, serotonin a 1.2-fold, and histamine a 2.5-fold increase in accumulations of [3H]inositol phosphates. 2-Chloroadenosine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, baclofen, and somatostatin have no effect on phosphatidylinositol turnover, nor do the last two agents augment accumulations of cyclic AMP elicited by 2-chloroadenosine. The data suggest a possible relationship between turnover of phosphatidylinositol and the augmentations of the cyclic AMP accumulations elicited by biogenic amines in brain slices.     

Corticotropin-Peptide Regulation of Intracellular Cyclic AMP Production in Cortical Neurons in Primary Culture

Previous studies have provided evidence for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) effects on a wide variety of behaviors. However, the precise sites of action and the mechanisms by which these effects may be mediated have yet to be clearly elucidated. Although ACTH was shown to augment cyclic AMP levels in glial cells isolated from whole brain, other studies found little or no effect of ACTH peptides on cyclic nucleotide metabolism in slices of cerebral cortex or homogenates of whole brain. In the present study, our objective was to determine whether ACTH peptides regulate intracellular cyclic AMP levels in neurons of the cerebral cortex in primary culture. ACTH peptides stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis up to threefold in a dose-dependent manner; stimulation was complete within 5-10 min of exposure to agonists. Neurohormone efficacy was augmented by 0.1 microM forskolin (which was virtually ineffective alone); potency was unaffected. The order of potency (EC50) for increasing intracellular cyclic AMP levels was as follows: ACTH (1-24), ACTH (1-17) (10 nM) greater than alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH, beta-MSH) (100 nM) greater than ACTH (1-10) (1 microM) greater than ACTH (4-10) (5 microM). The hexapeptide ACTH (4-9) as well as ACTH (11-24) were inactive at concentrations as high as 10 microM. Other neuropeptides derived from proopiocortin, such as beta-endorphin and Met- and Leu-enkephalin were without effect on basal or hormonally stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Specific Inhibition of Dopamine D-1-Mediated Cyclic AMP Formation by Dopamine D-2, Muscarinic Cholinergic, and Opiate Receptor Stimulation in Rat Striatal Slices

The ability of different receptors to mediate inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation due to a variety of agonists was examined in rat striatal slices. In the presence of 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dopamine D-2, muscarinic cholinergic, and opiate receptor stimulation by RU 24926, carbachol, and morphine (all at 10(-8)-10(-5) M), respectively, inhibited the increase in cyclic AMP accumulation in slices of rat striatum due to dopamine D-1 receptor stimulation by 1 microM SKF 38393. In contrast, these inhibitory agents were unable to reduce the ability of a number of other agonists, including isoprenaline, prostaglandin E1, 2-chloroadenosine, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and cholera toxin, to increase cyclic AMP levels in striatal slices. These results suggest that in rat striatum either dopamine D-2, muscarinic cholinergic, and opiate receptors are only functionally linked to dopamine D-1 receptors or that the D-1 and D-2 receptors linked to adenylate cyclase lie on the cells, distinct from other receptors capable of elevating striatal cyclic AMP levels.     

Accumulation of inositol phosphates and cyclic AMP in guinea-pig cerebral cortical preparations: Effects of norepinephrine,histamine, carbamylcholine and 2-chloroadenosine

Norepinephrine and serotonin augment by about 2-fold the accumulation of cyclic [3H]AMP elicited by 2-chloroadenosine in [³H]adenine-labeled guinea-pig cerebral cortical slices. Histamine causes a 3-fold augmentation. The first two agents have no effect on cyclic AMP alone, while histamine has only a small effect alone. The augmentation of the 2-chloroadenosine response appears to be mediated by α₁-adrenergic, 5HT₂-serotonergic and H₂-histaminergic receptors. VIP-elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP are also augmented through stimulation of α₁-adrenergic, 5HT₂-serotonergic and H₁-histaminergic receptors. Activation of these amine receptors also increases the turnover of phosphatidylinositols in [³H]inositol-labeled guinea pig cerebral cortical slices. Norepinephrine causes a 5-fold, serotonin a 1.2-fold, and histamine a 2.5-fold increase in accumulations of [³H]inositol phosphates. 2-Chloroadenosine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, baclofen, and somatostatin have no effect on phosphatidylinositol turnover, nor do the last two agents augment accumulations of cyclic AMP elicited by 2-chloroadenosine. The data suggest a possible relationship between turnover of phosphatidylinositol and the augmentations of the cyclic AMP accumulations elicited by biogenic amines in brain slices.     

Plasma from uninephrectomized rats stimulates production of inositol trisphosphates and inositol tetrakisphosphate in renal cortical slices.

Metabolism of inositol phosphates in renal cortical slices was investigated in vitro after addition of plasma from uninephrectomized or sham-operated rats. Plasma from uninephrectomized rats stimulated production of InsP3 (inositol trisphosphate) when obtained within the first 3 h after uninephrectomy. With different amounts of added plasma a graded response of InsP3 production was obtained. This effect could be prevented by 0.1 microM-TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate). When analysis of inositol phosphates was performed by h.p.l.c., plasma from uninephrectomized rats stimulated a rapid increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 radioactivity, whereas the increase in inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and Ins(1,3,4)P3 radioactivity was slower. Plasma from uninephrectomized rats decreased cyclic AMP concentration in renal cortical slices. Similar effect was obtained when slices were incubated with TPA (0.05 microM). Plasma from uninephrectomized rats increased cyclic GMP concentration in renal cortical slices, but this effect was abolished when extracellular Ca2+ had been chelated with 4 mM-EGTA. Results indicate that plasma from uninephrectomized rats stimulates phospholipase C, increases cyclic GMP concentration and decreases cyclic AMP concentration in renal cortical slices. Increases in cyclic GMP depend on extracellular Ca2+, whereas the decrease in cyclic AMP concentration is mediated by protein kinase C.     

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

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

Expression of A1 Adenosine Receptors Modulating Dopamine-Dependent Cyclic AMP Accumulation in the Chick Embryo Retina

Dopamine and 2-chloroadenosine independently promoted the accumulation of cyclic AMP in retinas from 16-day-old chick embryos. The two compounds added together either in saturating or subsaturating concentrations were not additive for the accumulation of the cyclic nucleotide in the tissue. This fact was shown to be due to the existence of an adenosine receptor that mediates the inhibition of the dopamine-dependent cyclic AMP accumulation in the retina. Adenosine inhibited, in a dose-dependent fashion, the accumulation of cyclic AMP induced by dopamine in 12-day-old chick embryo retinas, with an IC50 of approximately 1 microM. This effect was not blocked by dipyridamole. N6-(l-Phenylisopropyl)adenosine, (l-PIA) was the most potent adenosine analog tested, showing an IC50 of 0.1 microM which was two orders of magnitude lower than its stereoisomer d-PIA (10 microM). The maximal inhibition of the dopamine-elicited cyclic AMP accumulation by adenosine and related analogs was 70%. The inhibitory effect promoted by adenosine was blocked by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) or by adenosine deaminase. Adenine was not effective; whereas ATP and AMP promoted the inhibition of the dopamine effect only at very high concentrations. Apomorphine was only 30% as effective as dopamine in promoting the cyclic AMP accumulation in retinas from 11- to 12-day-old embryos and 2-chloroadenosine did not interfere with the apomorphine-mediated shift in cyclic AMP levels. In the retinas from 5-day-old posthatched chickens dopamine and apomorphine were equally effective in eliciting the accumulation of cyclic AMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

ucb 11056, a New Potential Nootropic Drug, Amplifies Induced Cyclic AMP Formation in Rat Brain Tissue

ucb 11056 [2-(4-morpholino-6-propyl-1, 3, 5-triazin-2-yl)aminoethanol] induced a significant (～25%) increase in cyclic AMP levels in different brain areas following its intraperitoneal injection. This effect started as early as 2 min postinjection and lasted for 30 min, after which cyclic AMP levels returned to normal. In hippocampal slice preparations in vitro, ucb 11056 exerted a strong potentiation of cyclic AMP levels when it was combined with agents such as norepinephrine, forskolin, and isoproterenol. Only a slight effect on cyclic AMP levels was measured when ucb 11056 was incubated alone with hippocampal slices. The potentiating effect of ucb 11056 on norepinephrine-stimulated cyclic AMP formation was partially reduced when slices were pretreated with yohimbine and totally abolished when slices were treated with propranolol. These combined data indicate that (a) ucb 11056 rapidly increases cyclic AMP levels in the rat brain in vivo and (b) ucb 11056 potentiates stimulated cyclic AMP formation in vitro. The data also suggest that the central effect of ucb 11056 might be via the modulation of cyclic AMP generation, most probably mediated through adenylate cyclase activation mechanisms combined with a weak inhibitory activity on the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity.     

The effects of calcium channel blockers on isoproterenol induced cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate generation in intact human lymphocytes

We have investigated the effects of clinically available calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem) on isoproterenol stimulated cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) generation in intact human lymphocytes. After preincubation of various calcium antagonists with intact lymphocytes at 37 degrees C for 15 minutes, 10 microM nifedipine or verapamil partially inhibited isoproterenol induced cyclic AMP generation in the presence of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) while they alone had no effect on cyclic AMP level at a concentration of up to 100 microM. In contrast, 10 nM-1.0 microM nifedipine, verapamil or diltiazem potentiated cyclic AMP generation induced by isoproterenol in a dose dependent manner. Similar results were observed in the time course studies of cyclic AMP generation. These effects are somewhat similar to the effect of phenothiazine, a calmodulin inhibitor, which, at 10 microM (close to IC50), also potentiated the effects of isoproterenol. In contrast, lanthanum chloride (LaCl3), an extracellular inorganic calcium antagonist, at 1.0 mM, inhibited isoproterenol induced cyclic AMP generation. The biochemical mechanisms underlying these potentiating effects are unknown. It may be partly related to the effect of calcium channel blockers (at least for nifedipine) on preventing beta 2 adrenergic receptor desensitization. This may provide a potential mechanism for the synergistic effect between calcium channel blockers and beta 2 adrenoceptor agonists on bronchial dilatation.     

Secretin Stimulates Cyclic AMP Formation in the Rat Brain

The effects of secretin on cyclic AMP levels in the rat brain were determined. Incubation of rat brain frontal cortex slices with secretin or the structurally related peptides peptide histidine leucine (PHI) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the presence of 10 mM theophylline resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the cyclic AMP levels. The half-maximal increase in cyclic AMP occurred using a 1 microM dose of secretin or a 2 microM dose of PHI or VIP. Preincubation of slices with secretin-(5-27) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the secretin but not VIP- or PHI-stimulated increase in the cyclic AMP content. Also, in receptor binding studies, secretin-(5-27) produced a dose-dependent inhibition (Ki = 400 nM) of 125I-secretin but not of 125I-VIP binding to rat brain membranes. Guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate decreased the affinity of radiolabelled secretin binding as a result of an increased rate of dissociation of bound 125I-secretin. These data suggest that secretin receptors in the rat brain may be coupled to adenylate cyclase in a stimulatory manner and that secretin-(5-27) may function as a central secretin receptor antagonist.     

Phorbol Esters Enhance Neurotransmitter-Stimulated Cyclic AMP Production in Rat Brain Slices

The effect of phorbol esters on cyclic AMP production in rat CNS tissue was examined. Using a prelabeling technique for measuring cyclic AMP accumulation in brain slices, it was found that phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced the cyclic AMP response to forskolin and a variety of neurotransmitter receptor stimulants while having no effect on second messenger accumulation itself. A short (15-min) preincubation period with PMA was required to obtain maximal enhancement, whereas the augmentation was lessened by prolonged exposure (3 h) to the phorbol. The response to PMA was concentration dependent (EC50 = 1 microM) and regionally selective, being most apparent in forebrain, and was not influenced by removal of extracellular calcium or by inhibition of phosphodiesterase or phospholipase A2. Only those phorbols known to stimulate protein kinase C augmented the accumulation of cyclic AMP. Moreover, the membrane substrates phosphorylated by endogenous C kinase and by a partially purified preparation of this enzyme were similar. The results suggest that phorbol esters, by activating protein kinase C, modify the cyclic AMP response to brain neurotransmitter receptor stimulation in brain by influencing a component of the adenylate cyclase system beyond the transmitter recognition site.     

Mediation of Norepinephrine-Stimulated Cyclic AMP Accumulation by Adrenergic Receptors in Hypothalamic and Preoptic Area Slices: Effects of Estradiol

Adrenergic receptor agonists and antagonists were employed to establish (a) which receptor subtypes mediate the cyclic AMP response to norepinephrine in hypothalamic and preoptic area slices from gonadectomized female rats and (b) which receptor subtypes might be modulated by the steroid hormone estradiol. Slice cyclic AMP levels were elevated by the beta receptor agonist isoproterenol, but not by alpha 1 (phenylephrine, methoxamine) or alpha 2 (clonidine) agonists. However, the alpha agonist phenylephrine potentiated the effect of the beta agonist isoproterenol on slice cyclic AMP accumulation. In slices from rats given no hormone treatment, the beta antagonist propranolol inhibited norepinephrine-stimulated cyclic AMP production, while the alpha 1 antagonist prazosin was without effect. In contrast, the cyclic AMP response to norepinephrine in slices from estradiol-treated rats was blocked more effectively by prazosin than by propranolol. Estradiol treatment also attenuated the production of cyclic AMP by the beta agonist isoproterenol. The data suggest (a) that norepinephrine induction of cyclic AMP accumulation in hypothalamic and preoptic area slices is mediated by beta receptors and potentiated by alpha receptor activation and (b) that estradiol depresses beta and increases alpha 1 receptor function in slices from brain regions associated with reproductive physiology.     

Scorpion venom (Leiurus quinquestriatus) elicits accumulations of inositol phosphates and cyclic AMP in guinea pig cortical synaptoneurosomes

Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) venom (ScV) stimulated accumulations of cyclic AMP and turnover of phosphatidylinositol in guinea pig cortical synaptoneurosomes. The concentrations of ScV that were necessary to increase cyclic [3H]AMP accumulation were lower than those required to stimulate formation of [3H]inositol phosphates from phosphatidylinositol. In the presence of 10 microM 2-chloroadenosine, ScV induced a dose-dependent synergistic accumulation of cyclic AMP with an EC50 value that was comparable to the EC50 required for stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover. Tetrodotoxin partially inhibited cyclic AMP accumulations elicited by ScV indicating that at least part of such responses are due to activation of voltage-dependent sodium channel. Tetrodotoxin virtually completely blocked formation of inositol phosphate stimulated by ScV. High concentrations of Mg2+ (30 mM) did not block responses to ScV indicating that release of neurotransmitters was not involved. Membrane potential changes could not be detected at concentrations of ScV that triggered the biochemical responses. Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover by ScV appears to depend on an increase in influx of Na+ in synaptoneurosomes, presumably due to slowing of the inactivation of voltage-dependent sodium channels by alpha-scorpion toxin, a component of ScV. At least in part, the stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by ScV correlates with increases in phosphatidylinositol turnover.     

Cannabinoid Receptors and Modulation of Cyclic AMP Accumulation in the Rat Brain

The mechanism by which cannabinoid compounds produce their effects in the rat brain was evaluated in this investigation. Cannabinoid receptors, quantitated by [3H]CP-55,940 binding, were found in greatest abundance in the rat cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and striatum, with smaller but significant binding also found in the hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. Using rat brain slice preparations, we evaluated the effect of desacetyllevonantradol on basal and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in the regions exhibiting the greatest cannabinoid receptor density. Desacetyllevonantradol (10 microM) reduced cyclic AMP levels in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum. In the cerebellum, however, the response to desacetyllevonantradol was biphasic with cyclic AMP accumulation being decreased at lower and increased at higher concentrations. Desacetyllevonantradol reduced cyclic AMP accumulation in isoproterenol-stimulated slices in the cortex and cerebellum, but not in the hippocampus. Cells that responded to vasoactive intestinal peptide with an increase in cyclic AMP accumulation in the hippocampus and cortex also responded to desacetyllevonantradol. The modulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by desacetyllevonantradol could be attenuated following stereotaxic implantation of pertussis toxin, supporting the involvement of a G protein in the cannabinoid response in the brain. However, other actions of cannabinoid compounds may also affect the cyclic AMP levels in brain slice preparations.     

Comparison of capsaicin and substance P induced cyclic AMP accumulation in spinal cord tissue slices

Capsaicin (CAP) caused a time, concentration and Ca++ dependent increase in cyclic AMP accumulation in tissue slices from rat and guinea pig spinal cord. The CAP-induced increase occurred uniquely in slices from dorsal cord of both rat and guinea pig and the increase was significantly greater in dorsal cord slices from guinea pig vs rat spinal cord. CAP mediated release of substance P does not appear to mediate the CAP-induced increase in cyclic AMP accumulation since the increase in cyclic AMP is significantly less with substance P and the substance P antagonist [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]-substance P does not antagonize the CAP-induced increase. The CAP-induced increase in cyclic AMP accumulation appears to be a direct effect. Structural requirements for this effect are both the substituted aromatic and alkyl side chain portion of the CAP molecule. The present results suggest that CAP has the ability to interact with sites in dorsal spinal cord which are linked to the synthesis of cyclic AMP, which could modulate spinal processing of nociceptive information.     

Activation of Cyclic AMP-Generating Systems in Brain Membranes and Slices by the Diterpene Forskolin: Augmentation of Receptor-Mediated Responses

The diterpene forskolin markedly activates adenylate cyclase in membranes from various rat brain regions and elicits marked accumulations of radioactive cyclic AMP in adenine-labeled slices from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, superior colliculi, hypothalamus, thalamus, and medulla-pons. In cerebral cortical slices, forskolin has half-maximal effects at 20-30 microM on cyclic AMP levels, both alone and in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor ZK 62771. The presence of a very low dose of forskolin (1 microM) can augment the response of brain cyclic AMP-generating systems to norepinephrine, isoproterenol, histamine, serotonin, dopamine, adenosine, prostaglandin E2, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Forskolin does not augment responses to combinations of histamine-norepinephrine adenosine-norepinephrine, or histamine-adenosine. For norepinephrine and isoproterenol in rat cerebral cortical slices and for histamine in guinea pig cerebral cortical slices, the presence of 1 microM-forskolin augments the apparent efficacy of the amine, whereas for adenosine, prostaglandin E2, and vasoactive intestinal peptide, the major effect of 1 microM-forskolin is to increase the apparent potency of the stimulatory agent. In rat striatal slices, forskolin reveals a significant response of cyclic AMP systems to dopamine and augments the dopamine-elicited activation of adenylate cyclase in rat striatal membranes. The activation of cyclic AMP systems by forskolin is rapid and reversible, and appears to involve both direct activation of adenylate cyclase and facilitation and/or enhancement of receptor-mediated activation of the enzyme.