[Prostaglandins, inflammation and arthritis].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Z Naor.
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Cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in rabbit uterine homogenate was inhibited by indomethacin (10 mug/ml; 66% inhibition) or flufenamic and (10 mug/ml; 60%). Indomethacin (100 mug/ml) reduced uterine prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content by 80%, but potentiated the stimulatory action of purified cholera toxin (choleragen; 800%) and of exogenous PGE2 (140%) on cyclic AMP accumulation, probably through its inhibitory effect on cyclic AMP destruction. These findings suggest that endogenous PGE2 is not an essential mediator of choleragen action. By contrast, flufenamic acid abolished choleragen and PGE2 action on cyclic AMP production. Unlabeled PGE2 (10 mug/ml), flufenamic acid, indomethacin, and aspirin (100 mug/ml each) inhibited [3H]PGE2 binding to uterine slices by 78, 73, 62, and 20% respectively. It is concluded that while indomethacin and flufenamic acid have similar effects on prostaglandin biosynthesis and PDE activity, only fenamates have an inhibitory effect on the biological action of exogenous PGE2 and choleragen on the stimulation of cyclic AMP production, probably through the inhibition of the binding of PGE2 and choleragen to its specific receptor sites. The diverse biochemical actions of the above drugs indicate that care has to be taken when using these drugs in analyzing the physiopathological roles of prostaglandins.
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The possibility that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may play a role in luteinizing hormone (LH) release was examined using an in vitro model. Addition of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) to the culture medium stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and LH-release by incubated hemipituitaries, but did not affect the level of PGE2 or prostaglandin synthetase activity in the gland. Aspirin and indomethacin reduced both prostaglandin synthetase activity and PGE2 or prostaglandin synthetase activity in the gland. Aspirin and indomethacin reduced both prostaglandin synthetase activity and PGE2 content in the pituitary, but did not impair the stimulatory action of LH-RH on either cyclic AMP accumulation or LH-release. Flufenamic acid on its own caused LH-release, but the drug abolished the effect of LH-RH on cyclic AMP accumulation. The mechanism of this action of flufenamic acid is not understood. It is concluded that the stimulatory action of LH-RH on pituitary cyclic AMP production and LH release is not mediated by prostaglandins.
The intravenous administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; 100 mug/rat) to immature male and female rats increased the serum level of lutenizing hormone (LH). This effect was prevented by the prior administration of an antiserum to the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. LH release from rat pituitaries in vitro was not stimulated by PGE2 (10 mug/ml). It is inferred that the stimulatory effect of PGE2, on LH release is not a direct one on the pituitary gland, but is exerted at the level of the hypothalamus.
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These studies describe the application of new cytochemical stains that co-localize a biotin-labeled gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analog and FSH or LH in the same field or cell. Pituitary monolayer cells were stimulated with the [D-Lys6] GnRH analog or the same analog labeled with biotin. Biotinylated [D-Lys6] GnRH exhibited a higher affinity and was 7-10 X more potent than unlabeled [D-Lys6] GnRH. The avidin-biotin peroxidase complex technique (ABC) was applied to localize the biotinylated GnRH on the cells with the use of a dense black peroxidase substrate. Specificity tests showed that the stain could be eliminated by competition with unlabeled [D-Lys6] GnRH. The GnRH stain was followed by immunocytochemical stains for LH beta, FSH beta or 25-39ACTH with a different peroxidase substrate (amber or orange-red). Stain for GnRH was found on the surfaces of 16% of the cells and 60-90% of the GnRH stained cells also stained for one of the gonadotropins. Most (90-100%) of the gonadotropes showed stain for GnRH. Our studies demonstrate that a potent biotinylated GnRH analog binds cells that can be identified specifically as gonadotropes.
The hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a key regulator of the reproductive system, triggering the synthesis and release of LH and FSH in the pituitary. GnRH transmits its signal via two specific serpentine receptors that belong to the large group of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here we review the intracellular signaling pathways mediated by the GnRH receptor (GnRHR). In pituitary-derived alpha T3-1 cells, a widely used model for GnRH action, GnRHR signaling includes activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, which provide an important link for the transmission of signals from the cell surface to the nucleus and play a role in the regulation of gonadotropin transcription. Activation of ERK--one of the MAPK cascades--by GnRH in these cells depends mainly on the phosphorylation of Raf1 by PKC, supported by a pathway involving c-Src, dynamin, and Ras. On the other hand, the activation of JNK, another MAPK cascade, involves PKC, c-Src, CDC42/Rac1, and probably MEKK1. The GnRHR is also expressed in non-pituitary cells and was found to be involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation in certain cells. Therefore, GnRHR represents a potential target for GnRH-analogs used for cancer treatment. Interestingly, the signaling mechanism of the GnRHR in other cell types significantly differs from that in pituitary cells. Studies conducted in GnRHR-expressing COS7 cells have shown that GnRHR transmits its signals mainly via Gi, EGF receptor, c-Src, and is not dependent on PKC. Understanding the signaling mechanisms elicited by GnRHR can shed light on the mechanism of action of GnRH in pituitary and extra-pituitary tissues.