Calmodulin plays a dominant role in determining neurotransmitter regulation of neuronal adenylate cyclase

Ca2+, through the mediation of calmodulin, stimulates the activity of brain adenylate cyclase. The growing awareness that fluctuating Ca2+ concentrations play a major role in intracellular signalling prompted the present study, which aimed to investigate the implications for neurotransmitter (receptor) regulation of enzymatic activity of this calmodulin regulation. The role of Ca2+/calmodulin in regulating neurotransmitter-mediated inhibition and stimulation was assessed in a number of rat brain areas. Ca2+/calmodulin stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in EGTA-washed plasma preparations from each region studied--from 1.3-fold (in striatum) to 3.4-fold (in cerebral cortex). The fold-stimulation produced by Ca2+/calmodulin was decreased in the presence of GTP, forskolin, or Mn2+. In EGTA-washed membranes, receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase was strictly dependent upon Ca2+/calmodulin stimulation in all regions, except striatum. A requirement for Mg2+ in combination with Ca2+/calmodulin to observe neurotransmitter-mediated inhibition was also observed. In contrast, receptor-mediated stimulation of activity was much greater in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin. The findings demonstrate that ambient Ca2+ concentrations, in concert with endogenous calmodulin, may play a central role in dictating whether inhibition or stimulation of adenylate cyclase by neurotransmitters may proceed.     

Indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-acetylaspartic acid isolated from seeds of Heracleum laciniatum Horn

Seeds from mature flowers of Heracleum laciniatum were collected locally (Tromsø, Norway). Seed coats were removed and the seeds were analyzed for their content of free, free plus ester-conjugate, and total indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by quantitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seeds contained high levels of free and amide-linked IAA relative to other dicotyledonous seeds for which values have been published. The major amide conjugate in this material was identified as indole-3-acetylaspartate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of its bis-methyl ester.     

Cloning and sequence analyses of cDNAs encoding vasotocin and isotocin precursors of chum salmon,Oncorhynchus keta: evolutionary relationships of neurohypophysial hormone precursors

Summary The nucleotide sequences of cloned cDNAs were used to determine the primary structures of the precursors of vasotocin (sVT) and isotocin (sIT) from the hypothalamus of the chum salmon,Oncorhynchus keta. Two different cDNAs were obtained for each of sVT and sIT precursors (sVT-I and sVT-II; sIT-I and sIT-II). Both sVT and sIT precursors were found to contain a signal peptide and hormone that is connected to a neurophysin by a Gly-Lys-Arg sequence. Northern and Southern blot analyses showed that the sVT and sIT genes are expressed by the same chum salmon hypothalamus, but not by the liver and kidney. Microheterogeneity was found in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of sVT precursors between our results and the previously reported data (Heierhorst et al. 1990). The conspicuous difference is the occurrence of a stop codon in the middle of sVT-II cDNA. The carboxyl termini of both sVT and sIT neurophysins are about 30 amino acids longer than neurophysins of toad and mammalian neurohypophysial hormone precursors. Although these extended regions do not contain a glycosylation site, they show striking similarity with the glycopeptide moiety (copeptin) of toad vasotocin and mammalian vasopressin precursors. The central portion of the neurophysins shows highest homology among corresponding regions of sVT and sIT precursors. Moreover, calculation of nucleotide substitution rates suggests that a recent gene conversion may have occurred which encompasses the exon that encodes the central segment of the sVT and sIT precursors. A possible pathway for the evolution of precursor molecules of neurohypophysial hormones is discussed.Abbreviations AVP vasopressin - C carboxyl - h human - IT isotocin - MT mesotocin - N amino - OXT oxytocin - S chum salmon - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - t toad - VT vasotocin     

Effects of prolonged sodium restriction on the morphology and function of rat adrenocortical autotransplants

Summary Regenerated adrenocortical nodules were obtained by implanting fragments of the capsular tissue of excised adrenal glands into the musculus gracilis of rats (Belloni et al. 1990). Five months after the operation, operated rats showed a normal basal blood level of corticosterone, but a very low concentration of circulating aldosterone associated with a slightly increased plasma renin activity (PRA). Regenerated nodules were well encapsulated and some septa extended into the parenchyma from the connective-tissue capsule. The majority of parenchymal cells were similar to those of the zonae fasciculata and reticularis of the normal adrenal gland, while zona glomerulosa-like cells were exclusively located around septa (juxta-septal zone; JZ). In vitro studies demonstrated that nodules were functioning as far as glucocorticoid production was concerned, while mineralocorticoid yield was very low. Prolonged sodium restriction significantly increased PRA and plasma aldosterone concentration, and provoked a marked hypertrophy of JZ, which was due to increases in both the number and average volume of JZ cells. Accordingly, the in vitro basal production of aldosterone and other 18-hydroxylated steroids was notably enhanced. The plasma level of corticosterone, as well as zona fasciculata/reticularis-like cells and in vitro production of glucocorticoids by regenerated nodules were not affected. These findings, indicating that autotransplanted adrenocortical nodules respond to a prolonged sodium restriction similar to the normal adrenal glands, suggest that the relative deficit in mineralocorticoid production is not due to an intrinsic defect of the zona glomerulosa-like JZ, but is probably caused by the impairment of its adequate stimulation under basal conditions. The hypothesis is advanced that the lack of splanchnic nerve supply and chromaffin medullary tissue in regenerated nodules may be the cause of such an impairment.     

Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural characterization of endocrine cells in chicken proventriculus

Summary The endocrine cells of the chicken proventriculus were investigated immunocytochemically, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique on paraffin and semithin sections for light microscopy, and immunogold staining in osmium-fixed material for electron microscopy. The fixation procedure also allowed a detailed ultrastructural investigation. Twenty-three antisera were tested and 7 immunoreactive cell-types were identified: D-cells containing somatostatin-like peptide; EG-cells immunoreactive to anti-glucagon, anti-GLP1 and antineurotensin; NT-cells labelled only with anti-neurotensin; BN-cells containing bombesin-like material; ENK-cells showing met-enkephalin immunoreactivity; EC-cells reactive to anti-serotonin; and APP-cells positive to anti-avian pancreatic polypeptide. In addition, enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, were also detected by electron microscopy. The presence of ENK-cells and the ultrastructure of these and NT-cells are described for the first time in chicken proventriculus, and glucagon, GLP1 and neurotensin are shown to be colocalized in the EG-cells.     

肾上腺皮质激素对心房钠尿肽基因表达的促进作用

给完整的及切除肾上腺的雌性 Wistar 大鼠分別注射地塞米松、去氧皮质酮或地塞米松加去氧皮质酮;冷酚法提取心房总 RNA,用α-~(32P)标记的大鼠心房肽 cDNA 探针与之杂交。完整大鼠接受地塞米松和切除肾上腺后接受地塞米松加去氧皮质酮的大鼠,心房肽基因转录产物增加2倍,其余组无显著变化。结果提示糖皮质激素可促进心房肽基因表达,但此作用依赖于盐皮质激素的同时存在,单纯盐皮质激素不能增强该基因的表达。     

Action of neurotensin on size, composition, and growth of pancreas and stomach in the rat

Since the gastrointestinal peptide neurotensin has a stimulatory effect on the secretion of the exocrine pancreas and an inhibitory effect on secretion and motility of the stomach, we investigated whether chronic parenteral administration of neurotensin would affect pancreatic and gastric growth. We therefore infused synthetic neurotensin subcutaneously (dose, 43 and 282 pmol X kg-1 X min-1) in 20 Wistar rats for 2 weeks using Alzet osmotic minipumps and compared pancreatic weight, DNA, RNA, protein, lipase, amylase, pancreatic polypeptide and insulin with these parameters in 10 control rats from the same litter with subcutaneously implanted plastic cylinders approximately the size of the minipumps. In another experiment, synthetic neurotensin (836 pmol X kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally three times a day for 3 days in 12 rats. Thereafter, we measured pancreatic DNA and in vitro incorporation of [3H]thymidine into pancreatic DNA. These effects were compared with the actions of caerulein and normal saline. Long term infusion of the high neurotensin dose induced an increase of pancreatic weight (control: 0.87 g, neurotensin: 1.02 g) and of DNA (control: 2.5 micrograms; neurotensin: 3.5 micrograms) and pancreatic polypeptide (control: 2.4 ng; neurotensin: 7.4 ng) contents, whereas pancreatic protein, RNA, amylase and lipase contents were not stimulated. In relation to DNA, these parameters even were significantly depressed. Insulin remained unchanged. Intraperitoneal injection of neurotensin induced an increase of pancreatic DNA content and stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA (control: 11 000 dpm/g; neurotensin: 15 800 dpm/g pancreas). Moreover, long-term neurotensin infusion with the high dose led to a rise in protein concentration and an increase in the thickness of the gastric antrum; antral DNA concentration was insignificantly stimulated. Parenteral neurotensin in the doses and at the times administered, led therefore, to hyperplasia of the pancreas and induced growth of the gastric antrum. It is concluded that neurotensin can act as a trophic factor on pancreas and gastric antrum of the rat. It remains to be determined whether this represents a physiological effect of neurotensin.     

Reproductive and metabolic hormones during estrus after fasting in Holstein heifers

The estrous cycles of 23 Holstein heifers were synchronized with three prostaglandin F₂α (PG) injections at 0600 h 11 d apart, designated as Days ?11, 0 and 11. Twelve of the animals were randomly assigned to receive no solid food (Group F) from Day 6 to 14, while the other animals remained on full feed to serve as controls (Group C). Jugular blood samples were collected at 6-h intervals beginning with PG injection at 0600 h on Day 0 until 1800 h on Day 4 and at 0600, 1200 and 1700 h on Day 8 through 10. Samples were collected again at 6-h intervals from PG Day 11 (0600 h) until 1800 h on Day 15. Period 1 was defined as those samples collected from Day 0 through 4.5, Period 2 from Day 7 through 10, Period 3 from Day 11 through 14.25, and Period 4 from Day 14.5 through 15. Plasma growth hormone concentrations were increased (P<0.01) in F as compared with C animals during Periods 2, 3 and 4. Plasma concentrations of prolactin (P<0.01) were decreased in F as compared with C animals during Periods 2 and 3. Plasma urea concentrations were increased (P<0.01) in F as compared with C animals during the first 3 d of the fast (Period 2) but were decreased (P<0.01) during the remainder of the experiment (Periods 3 and 4). Thus, fasting was effective in altering several metabolic parameters. Although plasma progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations remained similar (P>0.05) between F and C animals, plasma estradiol-17β concentrations decreased in F as compared with C animals during Periods 2, 3 and 4. No differences (P>0.05) between F and C animals were found in duration to LH peak after PG injection, estrous behavior, or pregnancy rates. Results from this study indicate that fasting reduced plasma estradiol-17β concentrations during estrus but did not alter occurrence of estrus or pregnancy rate.     

Hormonal changes associated with leaf senescence in cotton (Gossypium barbadense)

To study the hormonal regulation of foliar senescence in cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L. cv. Giza 68, long staple), the sequential changes in gibberellins (GAs), indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) were examined in the cotyledons from the completion of expansion through senescence (days 12-24 after sowing). The onset of senescence could be detected on day 20, the stage of maximum accumulation of leaf metabolites. At this stage, free GAs quickly lost more than 40% of their initial activity. Further decrease of free GAs was then characteristically observed in the senescent leaves. A remarkable increase in free IAA and free ABA between days 18 and 20 immediately followed by nutrient depletion, suggests the contribution by both hormones to the senescence system. The definite drop in free IAA below its initial level occurred on day 24, when most of the leaf protein and chlorophyll were already broken down.     

Different hormonal requirements for androgen-independent growth of normal and tumor epithelial cells from rat prostate

Summary The proliferation of isolated normal prostate epithelial cells from rat and man is androgen-independent and requires cholera toxin, insulin, dexamethasone, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and one or more polypeptide factors that are concentrated in bovine neural tissue. The active agents in the neural tissue extract are heparin-binding polypeptides (prostatropins), the predominant form of which has a molecular weight of 17400 and an acetylalanine at the aminoterminus. Prostatropins supported a half-maximal increase in normal prostate epithelial cell number at 50 picomolar. The proliferation of primary and serially-cultured epithelial cells from androgen-responsive Dunning R3327 rat prostate tumors was also androgen-independent, but exhibited dramatic alterations in response to hormones that stimulated normal cell proliferation. At low cell density, androgen-independent growth of isolated tumor-derived epithelial cells was independent on cholera toxin, was stimulated by dexamethasone, required insulin andeither EGFor prostatropin. The presence of either EGF or prostatropin masked the response to the other factor. In the absence of EGF, purified prostatropins supported a half-maximal increase in tumor cell number at 7 picomolar. Endogenous production of EGF-like and prostatropin-like factors or both was suggested by the reduced requirement for EGF and prostatropin at high prostate tumor cell density. These results suggest that anti-hormonal therapies against prostate tumor growth should be based on intervention with the activity of insulin (or insulin-like factors) or simultaneous intervention with both EGF and prostatropin (or their homologues). This work was supported by NIH grants CA 37589 and HL 33847, and grant 1718 from the Council for Tobacco Research. Editor’s Statement This paper is the first report of the comparison of the hormone requirements of primary cultures of normal and tumor prostate epithelial cells from the same system.