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M R Boarder

Publications and source records attributed to M R Boarder.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stimulation of phosphatidate synthesis in endothelial cells in response to P2-receptor activation. Evidence for phospholipase C and phospholipase D involvement, phosphatidate and diacylglycerol interconversion and the role of protein kinase C.

To investigate the stimulation of phosphatidic acid formation in bovine aortic endothelial cells by P2-purinergic agonists, we labelled AG4762 cells with [32P]P1 and stimulated in the presence of butanol. Under these conditions phospholipase D generated [32P]phosphatidylbutanol, whereas the [32P]phosphatidic acid from phospholipase C and diacylglycerol kinase was unchanged. The action of various purinergic agonists on both [32P]phosphatidic acid and [32P]phosphatidylbutanol was consistent with the presence of a P2Y receptor. The stimulation of phospholipase D was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and was mostly transient (completed within 3 min), whereas the initial stimulation of phospholipase C was independent of extracellular Ca2+, followed by a Ca(2+)-dependent phase. The agonist stimulation of phospholipase D was dependent on protein kinase C, as judged by its sensitivity to the relatively selective protein kinase C inhibitor Ro 31-8220. These results show that purinergic-receptor-mediated stimulation of phosphatidic acid has three phases: an initial Ca(2+)-independent stimulation of phospholipase C, an early but transient Ca(2+)- and protein kinase C-dependent stimulation of phospholipase D, and a sustained Ca(2+)-dependent stimulation of phospholipase C. Using propranolol to inhibit phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, we provide evidence that phosphatidic acid derived from purinergic-receptor-mediated stimulation of the phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase route can itself be converted back into diacylglycerol.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Stimulation of phosphatidic acid synthesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells in response to activation of P2-purinergic receptors.

In this study we used the bovine thoracic aorta endothelial cell line AG 4762 and primary bovine aortic endothelial cells to investigate the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) in response to activation of P2-purinergic receptors. 2-Methylthio ATP (2MeSATP) stimulated the formation of [32P]-PA in bovine aortic endothelial cells labelled with 32P(i) for 2.5 hr. A comparison of the response to other ATP analogues suggests that this was mediated via a P2Y-purinergic receptor. Using various agonists at 30 microM there was a correlation between the formation of [32P]PA and of total inositol phosphates in the presence of lithium. The 2MeSATP-stimulated accumulation of [32P]PA showed an initial high rate, followed by a more sustained slower rate. The initial response was independent of extracellular calcium while the later response was dependent on calcium influx. The protein kinase C stimulator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) produced only a very small enhancement of [32P]PA accumulation compared to 2MeSATP. The 2MeSATP stimulation of both inositol phosphates and [32P]PA was almost eliminated by the presence of PMA. Using cells prelabelled with [3H]methylcholine 2MeSATP produced only a small non-significant enhancement of [3H]choline formation; PMA by contrast formed a much larger amount of [3H]choline. There was no evidence of a change in [3H]phosphocholine. The dissociation between phospholipase D (PLD) activation and [32P]PA accumulation and the correlation between stimulation of [32P]PA accumulation and phospholipase C (PLC) activation all suggest that, using this protocol for labelling cells, the principle route of the stimulation of formation of [32P]PA is via the activation of PLC followed by metabolism of diacylglycerol (DAG) by DAG kinase. These results show that activation of P2Y-purinergic receptors on aortic endothelial cells leads to the formation of phosphatidic acid and that both PLD and PLC pathways are likely to contribute to this response.

Animals

Role of protein kinase C in the regulation of histamine and bradykinin stimulated inositol polyphosphate turnover in adrenal chromaffin cells.

1. The possibility that bradykinin- or histamine-stimulated inositol polyphosphate accumulation may be regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells has been addressed. 2. Initial experiments confirmed that the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) dramatically inhibited agonist-stimulated [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulations in [3H]-inositol prelabelled cells. In contrast, the PKC inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, did not affect this response. 3. Histamine (100 microM) or bradykinin (100 nM) evoked rapid increases in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) mass accumulations (maximal accumulations within 10 s and 30 s, respectively) which declined towards basal values over a 10 min incubation period. TPA (1 microM) significantly attenuated the peak Ins(1,4,5)P3 response to bradykinin and histamine by 30% and 70% respectively. In contrast, TPA did not significantly affect agonist-stimulated Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 responses. 4. Ro 31-8220 (10 microM) significantly enhanced the maximal Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulations elicited by both bradykinin and histamine. 5. The results indicate that the initial Ins(1,4,5)P3 response to either bradykinin or histamine in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells can be attenuated by PKC activation by phorbol ester and enhanced by PKC inhibition by Ro 31-8220. In contrast, agonist-stimulated Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 accumulation does not appear to be affected by these manipulations of PKC activity. Possible bases for differential modulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 are discussed.

Adrenal Medulla

Neuronal "nucleotide" receptor linked to phospholipase C and phospholipase D? Stimulation of PC12 cells by ATP analogues and UTP.

We have investigated the characteristics of the receptor for ATP on neuronal cells and the involvement of phospholipase C and phospholipase D in the effector mechanisms, using PC12 rat phaeochromocytoma cells in culture. We show that the cells respond, with generation of total inositol phosphates, to ATP and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) but not to 2-methylthioadenosine5'-triphosphate (2MeSATP), beta,gamma-methylene ATP, or adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S). The largest response to ATP gamma S was mainly independent of extracellular calcium, had an EC50 of 7.93 +/- 0.76 microM, and was competitively inhibited by the nonspecific antagonist suramin. The pyrimidine nucleotide UTP also elicited a response in these cells. Measurement of [3H]inositol triphosphate showed a rapid rise to maximum (10-15 sec) in response to both ATP gamma S and UTP but no response to 2MeSATP. Cells prelabeled with 32Pi and stimulated in the presence of 50 mM butanol responded to ATP gamma S, ATP, and UTP with enhanced formation of [32P]phosphatidylbutanol as well as [32P]phosphatidic acid, indicating that agonist-stimulated phosphatidic acid occurs by both phospholipase D and phospholipase C activity. The stimulation of phospholipase D was inhibited by the presence of a protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro 31-8220. The dose-response curve for the stimulation by ATP gamma S of phospholipase C was shifted to the right by the presence of UTP, indicating that both compounds act on the same receptors. The data provide the first evidence for the existence of a nucleotide receptor on neuronal cells (insensitive to both purines and pyrimidines) and show that this receptor is linked to both phospholipase C and phospholipase D.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Endothelin-1 stimulation of noradrenaline and adrenaline release from adrenal chromaffin cells.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) stimulated release of both noradrenaline and adrenaline from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells; stimulated release was small compared to that elicited by 50 mM potassium. Sarafotoxin-6b stimulated release to a similar extent as ET-1. The ET-1 stimulated release had an EC50 of about 1 nM. This calcium-dependent release was partially inhibited by nitrendipine (1 microM), but there was no synergistic interaction with the calcium channel agonist BAY K 8644 (1 microM). There was also no synergistic release seen when submaximal stimulation with potassium was combined with ET-1. Stimulation of fura-2 loaded cells with ET-1 produced an unusual timecourse of response which rose slowly to a maximum which was sustained. These results show that ET-1 may stimulate both noradrenaline and adrenaline containing chromaffin cells by a mechanism which, while partially dependent on dihydropyridine sensitive calcium channels, is distinct from the calcium channel agonist or membrane depolarization.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy

Changes in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5- tetrakisphosphate mass accumulations in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells in response to bradykinin and histamine.

In previous studies it has been shown that both bradykinin and histamine increase the formation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates in adrenal chromaffin cells prelabelled with [3H]inositol and that both these agonists stimulate release of catecholamines by a mechanism dependent on extracellular calcium. Here, we have used mass assays of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] to investigate changes in levels of these two candidates as second messengers in response to stimulation with bradykinin and histamine. Bradykinin increased the mass of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 despite the failure in earlier studies with [3H]inositol-labelled cells to observe a bradykinin-mediated increase in content of [3H]InsP4. Bradykinin elicited a very rapid increase in level of Ins(1,4,5)P3, which was maximal at 5-10 s and then rapidly decreased to a small but sustained elevation at 2 min. The bradykinin-elicited Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 response increased to a maximum at 30-60 s and at 2 min was still elevated severalfold above basal levels. Histamine, which produced a larger overall total inositol phosphate response in [3H]inositol-loaded cells, produced significantly smaller Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 responses compared with bradykinin. The bradykinin stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation was partially dependent on a high (1.8 mM) extracellular Ca2+ concentration, whereas the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 response was almost completely lost when the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was reduced to 100 nM. Changes in the inositol polyphosphate second messengers are compared with the time course of bradykinin-stimulated increases in free intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and noradrenaline release.

Adrenal Glands

Influence of bradykinin on diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid accumulation in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

Earlier studies have shown that bradykinin stimulated release of catecholamines from chromaffin cells by an influx of calcium through dihydropyridine-insensitive channels, and also that bradykinin stimulated (poly)phosphoinositide hydrolysis. To investigate membrane-bound second messengers in chromaffin cells, and to elucidate any role these may play in stimulus-secretion coupling, we have studied the influence of bradykinin on diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid (PA). Using equilibrium labelling of primary cultures of chromaffin cells with [3H]arachidonic acid or [3H]glycerol, we found no influence of bradykinin (10 nM) on labelled diacylglycerol formation, either in the presence or absence of inhibitors of diacylglycerol lipase or kinase. However, when we used cells prelabelled with 32Pi for 2.5 h, we found that bradykinin produced a substantial stimulation of label found in PA, with an EC50 value of about 1 nM. This bradykinin stimulation of [32P]PA formation was only partially dependent on extracellular calcium, in contrast to the smaller response to nicotine, which was completely dependent on extracellular calcium. Short (10 min) pretreatment with tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) almost completely eliminated the bradykinin-stimulated formation of inositol phosphates, but failed to affect bradykinin stimulation of label in PA, suggesting that PA production in response to bradykinin is not downstream of phospholipase C activation. TPA alone failed to stimulate [32P]PA substantially, whereas long-term (24 or 48 h) treatment with TPA failed to attenuate the response to bradykinin. Diacylglycerol kinase inhibitors were also without effect on the bradykinin stimulation of [32P]PA. These results suggest that bradykinin stimulates PA production by a mechanism independent of the activation of protein kinase C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Phosphatidic acid accumulation and catecholamine release in adrenal chromaffin cells: stimulation by high potassium and by nicotine, and effect of a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R 59 022.

Using primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells labelled with 32Pi, we show that stimulation with bradykinin, nicotine, or a depolarising concentration of potassium stimulates the accumulation of [32P]phosphatidic acid. The effects of nicotine and potassium are smaller than the effect of bradykinin, and are dependent entirely on extracellular calcium. The diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R 59 022 attenuates the formation of phosphatidic acid by nicotine and depolarising concentrations of potassium. This inhibitor also blocks the nicotine and potassium stimulation of noradrenaline release from chromaffin cells. Using 45Ca2+ influx studies, we show that the nicotine-evoked calcium influx is also attenuated by R 59 022. These observations contrast with those in another report in which we showed that bradykinin stimulation of either [32P]phosphatidic acid accumulation or noradrenaline release is not affected by R 59 022. It is likely that the calcium influx produced by nicotine and depolarising potassium is blocked by R 59 022 by a mechanism that is independent of its ability to block diacylglycerol kinase. The nicotine- and potassium-stimulated [32P]phosphatidic acid accumulation is a consequence of this calcium influx and presumably reflects calcium activation of either phospholipase C or phospholipase D.

Animals

Lack of phospholipase D activity in chromaffin cells: bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidic acid formation involves phospholipase C in chromaffin cells but phospholipase D in PC12 cells.

The role of lipid-bound second messengers in the regulation of neurotransmitter secretion is an important but poorly understood subject. Both bovine adrenal chromaffin cells and rat phoeochromocytoma (PC12) cells, two widely studied models of neuronal function, respond to bradykinin by generating phosphatidic acid (PA). This putative second messenger may be produced by two receptor-linked pathways: sequential action of phospholipase C (PLC) and diacylglycerol kinase (DAG kinase), or directly by phospholipase D (PLD). Here we show that bradykinin stimulation of chromaffin cells prelabelled (24 h) with 32Pi leads to production of [32P]PA which is not affected by 50 mM butanol. However, bradykinin stimulation of PC12 cells leads to [32P]PA formation, all of which is converted to phosphatidylbutanol in the presence of butanol. When chromaffin cells prelabelled with [3H]choline were stimulated with bradykinin there was no enhancement of formation of water soluble products of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis. When chromaffin cells were permeabilised with pneumolysin and incubated in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP, the formation of [32P]PA was still stimulated by bradykinin. These results show that, although both neuronal models synthesize PA in response to bradykinin, they do so by quite different routes: PLC/DAG kinase for chromaffin cells and PLD for PC12 cells. The observation that neither bradykinin nor tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate stimulate PLD in chromaffin cells suggests that these cells lack PLD activity. The conservation of PA formation, albeit by different routes, may indicate an essential role of PA in the regulation of cellular events by bradykinin.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Characterization of endothelin receptors on a human neuroblastoma cell line: evidence for the ETA subtype.

1. Specific binding sites for synthetic endothelin (ET) isoforms were studied on intact cells of the SK-N-MC cell line, derived from a human neuroblastoma. 2. [125I]-ET-1 (2.5 x 10(-11) M) specifically bound to a single class of binding sites on these cells (Hill coefficient of 1.06 +/- 0.04, n = 3) with an apparent Kd of 1.4 +/- 0.3 x 10(-9) M and a Bmax of 3.1 +/- 1.0 pmol mg-1 protein. [125I]-ET-3 (2.5 x 10(-11) M), did not specifically bind to SK-N-MC cells. 3. The binding of [125I]-ET-1 was competitively inhibited by other ET isoforms, the order of potency being ET-1 greater than sarafotoxin S6b greater than ET-3. 4. Association of 1 nM [125I]-ET-1 at 37 degrees C reached apparent equilibrium at 60-80 min, with half-maximal binding being achieved at 12 min. 5. Dissociation was measured after both 10 min and 60 min of association with 64% and 30% respectively of specifically bound [125I]-ET-1 dissociating. The actual amounts of [125I]-ET-1 dissociated were similar in both cases. 6. Incubation of [125I]-ET-3 with SK-N-MC cells at 37 degrees C for 60 min did not result in significant degradation of this peptide. However, [125I]-ET-1 was broken down by incubation with SK-N-MC cells, the pattern of degradation of dissociable [125I]-ET-1 (and that found in the supernatant) being different from that of non-dissociable [125I]-ET-1. 7. ET-1 concentration-dependently induced an increase in total inositol phosphate accumulation in subconfluent (but not in confluent) cultures of SK-N-MC cells (EC50 = 6.43 +/- 1.9 x 1010M). ET-3 was without effect. 8. These results show that ET-1 specifically binds to SK-N-MC cells with the characteristics of an ETA receptor. Our earlier finding that adrenal chromaffin cells express an ETB receptor indicates the existence of multiple ET receptor types on neuronal cells.

Adrenal Glands

Characterization of the endothelin binding site on bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells: comparison with vascular smooth muscle cells. Evidence for receptor heterogeneity.

Specific binding sites for synthetic endothelin (ET) isoforms, ET-1 and ET-3 were studied in a bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cell-rich preparation, and compared to those on A10 cells, a vascular smooth muscle cell line. Both [125I]ET-1 and [125I]ET-3 (2.5 x 10(-11) M) specifically bound to a single class of binding sites on the chromaffin cell preparation (apparent Kd 2.3 x 10(-10) and 1.4 x 10(-10) M, respectively), and the binding of both peptides was inhibited competitively by unlabeled ET-1, ET-3 and sarafotoxin S6b to an equal degree (IC50 values in the range 1.2 x 10(-10) to 3.1 x 10(-10) M). In contrast, only [125I]ET-1 (2.5 x 10(-11) M) specifically bound to A10 cells, to a single class of binding sites with apparent Kd of 1.5 x 10(-10) M. The same concentration of [125I]ET-3 displayed no evidence of specific binding. The binding of [125]ET-1 to A10 cells was inhibited competitively by unlabeled ET isoforms with the following order of potency: ET-1 (IC50, 3.1 x 10(-10) M) greater than Sarafotoxin S6b (IC50, 3.1 x 10(-9) M) greater than ET-3 (188 x 10(-9) M). ET-1 and ET-3 dose-dependently induced an increase in total inositol phosphate accumulation (the EC50 value of ET-1 was 1.3 x 10(-9) M). Neither ET-1 nor ET-3, up to 100 nM, affected the total inositol phosphate content of chromaffin cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Influence of phorbol esters, and diacylglycerol kinase and lipase inhibitors on noradrenaline release and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in chromaffin cells.

1. We have investigated the modification of catecholamine efflux and inositol phosphate formation in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) and inhibitors of diacylglycerol kinase (R 59,022) and diacylglycerol lipase (RG 80267), the two principal pathways of diacylglycerol metabolism. 2. TPA (1 nM to 1 microM) elicited a slow, calcium-dependent, sustained release of noradrenaline, which was partially blocked by the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (-)-202,791 and potentiated by the channel enhancer (+)-202,791. 3. R 59,022 enhanced noradrenaline efflux at 30 and 50 microM, while the lipase inhibitor RG 80267 failed to elicit release. 4. Neither R 59,022 nor RG 80267 affected bradykinin- or histamine-stimulated release, but both drugs substantially attenuated nicotine- and high K(+)-stimulated release. 5. Pretreatment for 10 min with TPA (but not the relatively inactive 4-methoxy TPA) or the non-phorbol protein kinase C stimulator mezerein potently inhibited bradykinin- and histamine-stimulated accumulation of total [3H]-inositol phosphate; inhibition of [3H]-inositol phosphate formation was also seen with 24 h TPA treatment. 6. Neither R 59,022 nor RG 80267, separately or together, affected bradykinin-stimulated [3H]-inositol phosphate formation. 7. Thus while the mechanism exists for inhibition of formation of inositol phosphates by stimulation of protein kinase C, these studies failed to show that this mechanism is activated by agonists acting on phospholipase C linked receptors.

Adrenal Medulla

Role of phosphoinositide turnover and cyclic AMP accumulation in prostaglandin-stimulated noradrenaline release from cultured adrenal chromaffin cells.

Prostaglandins (PGs) E1, E2 and F2 alpha stimulated release of noradrenaline from chromaffin cells; the most potent was PGF2 alpha with an EC50 of about 0.1 microM. The rank order of potency for release, and the EC50 for each PG, was the same as that for stimulation of (poly)phosphoinositide turnover. PGE1-stimulated release was dependent on extracellular calcium and sensitive to dihydropyridine calcium channel agonists and antagonists at 1 microM, but unlike release stimulated by 50 mM extracellular potassium was not sensitive to verapamil or diltiazem at 10 microM. The PGs also enhanced the turnover of inositol phospholipids, but the PGE1-stimulated formation of inositol phosphates was small compared to that produced by bradykinin, which stimulates a similar degree of release. Unlike release, the stimulation of inositol phosphate formation by PGs was not dependent on the addition of calcium to the medium. In down-regulation experiments, involving 2 hr preincubation with 30 microM PGE1, release in response to the three PGs was attenuated, whereas the release response to bradykinin and nicotine was unaffected. However, the stimulation of (poly)phosphoinositide turnover by PG was not down-regulated by prior exposure to PGE1. This dissociation of the inositol phosphate response suggests that release in response to PGs is not downstream of stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. A further series of experiments is reported which shows that release is not a consequence of increased rate of cyclic AMP synthesis. It seems likely that PG stimulation of noradrenaline release is a result of calcium entry through dihydropyridine-sensitive channels by a mechanism independent of these two second messenger systems.

Adrenal Medulla

Comparison of P2 purinergic receptors of aortic endothelial cells with those of adrenal medulla: evidence for heterogeneity of receptor subtype and of inositol phosphate response.

Vascular endothelial cells from different parts of the circulation are known to show different functional responses, presumably corresponding to physiological roles. Previous studies have shown that ATP acts on P2 purinergic receptors of endothelial cells of major blood vessels, stimulating the formation of inositol phosphates. Here we have compared the action of ATP and congeners acting on endothelial cells of bovine thoracic aorta with cells derived from the microvasculature of bovine adrenal medulla. With measurement of total inositol phosphates, cells from the aorta showed a rank order of agonist potency of 2-methylthio-ATP greater than adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) greater than ADP greater than ATP greater than beta, gamma-imido-ATP greater than beta, gamma-methylene-ATP, consistent with action at receptors of the P2Y subtype. However, with adrenal cells the rank order of potency was ATP gamma S greater than ATP greater than beta, gamma-imido-ATP greater than ADP greater than beta, gamma-methylene-ATP = 2-methylthio-ATP. This profile is not consistent with either P2X or P2Y receptors. When the nature of this inositol phosphate response was analyzed with anion exchange chromatography, it was found that the aortic cells showed an inositol trisphosphate stimulation that peaked within a few seconds and rapidly declined, whereas the response of the adrenal medulla cells continued to rise through 5 min. Analysis of isomers of inositol phosphates revealed a different pattern of metabolism between the two cell types, which may account for the different time course of response. With adrenal cells, ATP at low micromolar concentrations caused a dose-dependent increase in levels of cyclic AMP and had a greater than additive effect on cyclic AMP levels when combined with submaximal stimulation by prostaglandin E2. These results suggest the presence of a P2Y receptor on aortic endothelial cells, with an 'atypical' purinocepter, i.e., neither P2X nor P2Y, on adrenal cells. Furthermore, they show that activation of P2 receptors on the two cell types has different functional consequences.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Characterization of endothelin-1 stimulation of catecholamine release from adrenal chromaffin cells.

Addition of endothelin-1 (ET-1) to primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells causes a significant enhancement of norepinephrine and epinephrine efflux, with an EC50 of about 1 nM. A maximally effective concentration of endothelin (10 nM) gives a transient increase in noradrenaline release within 5 min. The amounts of noradrenaline and adrenaline released by ET-1 was smaller than the release elicited by maximally effective concentrations of bradykinin or prostaglandin E2. These results raise the possibility that the vascular endothelium may stimulate release from chromaffin cells by production of ET-1.

Adrenal Medulla

Evidence for a dihydropyridine-sensitive and conotoxin-insensitive release of noradrenaline and uptake of calcium in adrenal chromaffin cells.

1. It has been suggested that neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) may be divided into dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive (L) and DHP-insensitive (N and T), and that both the L and the N type channels are attenuated by the peptide blocker omega-conotoxin. Here the effects of omega-conotoxin on release of noradrenaline and uptake of calcium in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were investigated. 2. Release of noradrenaline in response to 25 mM K+, 65 mM K+, 10 nM bradykinin or 10 microM prostaglandin E1 was not affected by omega-conotoxin in the range 10 nM-1 microM. 3. 45Ca2+ uptake stimulated by high K+ and prostaglandin was attenuated by 1 microM nitrendipine and enhanced by 1 microM Bay K 8644; these calcium fluxes were not modified by 20 nM omega-conotoxin. 4. With superfused rat brain striatal slices in the same medium as the above cell studies, release of dopamine in response to 25 mM K+ was attenuated by 20 nM omega-conotoxin. 5. These results show that in these neurone-like cells, release may be effected by calcium influx through DHP-sensitive but omega-conotoxin-insensitive VSCC, a result inconsistent with the suggestion that omega-conotoxin blocks both L-type and N-type neuronal calcium channels.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy