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Assembly and structural organization of pigment-protein complexes in membranes of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides.

The B875 and B800-850 light-harvesting pigment-protein complexes of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides are characterized further by lithium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at 4 degrees C. Bacteriochlorophyll a was shown in reconstruction studies to remain complexed with its respective binding proteins during this procedure. From distributions in these gels, a quantitative description for the arrangement of the complexes is proposed. Assembly of the complexes was examined in delta-aminolevulinate-requiring mutant H-5 after a shift from high- to low-light intensity. After 10 h of delta-[3H]aminolevulinate labeling, the specific radioactivity of bacteriochlorophyll in a fraction containing putative membrane invaginations reached the maximal level, while that of the mature photosynthetic membrane was at only one-third this level. This suggests that membrane invaginations are sites of preferential bacteriochlorophyll synthesis in which completed pigment-proteins exist transiently. Analysis of the 3H distribution after electrophoretic separation further suggests that photosynthetic membranes grow mainly by addition of B800-850 to preformed membrane consisting largely of B875 and photochemical reaction centers. These results corroborate the above model for the structural organization of the light-harvesting system and indicate that the structurally and functionally discrete B800-850 pool is not completely assembled until all B875 sites for B800-850 interactions are occupied.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

Natural tritiated moisture levels in air vary with atmospheric pressure.

Natural HTO levels in air at ground level were measured on 100 days during 1979-80. Levels of between 6-140 Bq m-3 of air were observed and found to have a correlation with atmospheric pressure. Lithium chloride was used to absorb moisture, which was then recovered by distillation with xylene prior to liquid scintillation counting using a Triton X-100 cocktail. HTO in the air of a reactor hall and HTO in seawater were also measured by this method.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗

Current status of whole-body counting as a means to detect and quantify previous exposures to radioactive materials. Whole-body Counting Working Group.

This report discusses the principles, techniques, and application of whole-body counting with respect to previous radiation exposure. Whole-body counting facilities are located nationwide and have a wide range of capabilities. A listing of these facilities is provided in Appendix A. However, only a few facilities are truly state-of-the-art and have the sophisticated capabilities required to attempt detection of low-level activity in vivo. Measurements made many years after exposure can be extremely difficult to interpret. The precision and accuracy of resulting dose estimates are functions of such factors as the assumptions made concerning intake, time since intake, radionuclide metabolism, and level of intake. The indiscriminate application of metabolic models to current body contents or minimum detectable amounts of radionuclides with relatively short effective half-lives (such as 137Cs) can lead to absurd results when used as a basis for calculating intakes 25 and 40 y ago. Skull counting for 90Sr-90Y and 239,240Pu can set upper limits on possible uptakes and radiation doses, but in the case of 239,240Pu, the limits are rather high. In both cases, the accuracy of the limits depends on the metabolic models used in the calculations. These models (ICRP 1979) were developed to set safety standards for the intakes of radionuclides by workers and are not intended to be used to back-calculate uptakes and radiation doses from measurements made long after the uptake. There are, therefore, large uncertainties in any conclusions derived from these calculations. The experience gained over the years with whole- and partial-body counting has consistently shown that they are of little use in determining body contents of radionuclides resulting from exposure to weapons debris decades earlier. The development of new detectors such as an array of lithium-drifted silicon devices offers some hope of lowering the minimum detectable amount (MDA) for Pu and Am, but such detectors are still several years from routine application and do not represent current state-of-the-art. Furthermore, it is doubtful that such improvements will be sufficient to meet the need of assessing radiation exposures that occurred decades earlier.

Accidents↗

[Calculation of spectroscopic parameters of highly doped Er3+ in lithium niobate].

A highly doped Er3+: LiNbO3 (concentration 6 mol%) crystal was grown successfully by Czochralski method. The crystal is higher than that of the lowly doped Er3+ in LiNbO3 crystal, which is helpful to improve absorption coefficient of the grown the pumping efficiency. The absorption spectra at two unpolarized directions (X and Z) and two polarized directions (E parallel Z, E perpendicular Z) were measured. Using the Judd-Ofelt theory, and according to the measured absorption spectra, the intensity parameters omegalambda of Er3+ were fitted. The results of root-mean square (r. m. s) deviation show that the error of polarized fitting is less than that of unpolarized one. Thus fluorescence transition probabilities (Ajj), radioactive lifetime (tau), fluorescence branching ratio (beta), and integrated emission cross section (sigmap) were calculated and accepted according to the polarized results, and were also discussed and compared with the ones reported in the literature.

Algorithms↗

[Analysis of diagnostic X-Ray units in Poland in view of patients' exposure to ionizing radiation].

An analysis of diagnostic X-ray units in Poland is presented. The air-kerma on the X-ray table was measured for X-ray parameters used routinely during lumbo-sacral spine radiography in a standard patient. The measurements were performed using TLD made of lithium-fluoride. The dose received by patients in different X-ray departments is sometimes higher than two orders of magnitude from 0.14 mGy to 72.11 mGy for the same examination. The dose can be significantly reduced if the cassettes with amplyfying foils, made from rare earth components, are used.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗

Aryl triflates and [11C]/(13C)carbon monoxide in the synthesis of 11C-/13C-amides.

Palladium(0)-mediated carbonylation reactions using aryl triflates, amines, and a low concentration of [(11)C]carbon monoxide were used in the syntheses of 13 (11)C-labeled amides. Lithium bromide was used as an additive to facilitate the reaction. The (11)C-labeled products were obtained with decay-corrected radiochemical yields in the range of 2-63%. The radiochemical purity of the final products exceeded 98%. As an example, a reaction starting with 1.79 GBq [(11)C]carbon monoxide gave 0.38 GBq of LC-purified N-isopropyl-4-nitro-[(11)C]benzamide within 27 min from the start of the carbonylation reaction (54% decay-corrected radiochemical yield). The specific radioactivity of this compound was 191 GBq/micromol, 35 min after the end of a 10 microAh bombardment. N-Benzylisoquinoline-1-((13)C)carboxamide was prepared and analyzed by NMR for confirmation of the labeling position. The triflates 16, 20, 21, and 22 were synthesized from the corresponding alcohols and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride. The reference compounds 30a and 30b were prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acids and benzylamine. The other nine reference compounds 32a to 32i were synthesized from the respective acid chlorides and amines. The presented report shows that the sometimes more easily obtainable aryl triflates can be a useful alternative to the commonly used aryl halides in palladium(0)-mediated synthesis of (11)C/(13)C-amides.

Journal Article↗

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor occupancy determines the fraction of the responsive pool of inositol lipids hydrolysed in rat pituitary tumour cells.

We report that there are distinct thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-responsive and -unresponsive pools of inositol (Ins) lipids in rat pituitary tumour (GH3) cells, and present evidence that the size of the responsive pool is determined by the number of activated TRH-receptor complexes. By use of an experimental protocol in which cycling of [3H]Ins is inhibited and resynthesis occurs with unlabelled Ins only, we were able to measure specifically the effects of TRH on the hydrolysis of the Ins lipids present before stimulation. A maximally effective dose of TRH (1 microM) caused a time-dependent decrease in 3H-labelled Ins lipids that attained a steady-state value of 42 +/- 1% of the initial level between 1.5 and 2 h. After 2 h, even though there was no further decrease in 3H-labelled Ins lipids, and no increase in [3H]Ins or [3H]Ins phosphates, turnover of Ins lipids, as assessed as incorporation of [32P]Pi into PtdIns, continued at a rate similar to that in cells incubated without LiCl or unlabelled Ins. These data indicate that Ins lipid turnover was not desensitized during prolonged TRH stimulation. Depletion of lipid 3H radioactivity by TRH occurred at higher TRH doses on addition of the competitive antagonist chlordiazepoxide. Addition of 1 microM-TRH after 3 h of stimulation by a sub-maximal (0.3 nM) TRH dose caused a further decrease in 3H radioactivity to the minimum level (40% of initial value). We propose that the TRH-responsive pool of Ins lipids in GH3 cells is composed of the complement of Ins lipids that are within functional proximity of activated TRH-receptor complexes.

Animals↗

Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by serotonin in C6 glioma cells.

5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin or 5-HT) stimulated the incorporation of 32Pi into phosphatidylinositol (PI) but not into polyphosphoinositides in C6 glioma cells with an EC50 of 1.2 X 10(-7) M. The phosphoinositide response was blocked by the 5-HT2 antagonists ketanserin and spiperone but inhibited only partly by methysergide and mianserin. Atropine, prazosin, and yohimbine did not block the response, whereas fluphenazine and haloperidol did so partially but also inhibited basal incorporation by approximately 30%. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetralin did not cause stimulation. Incubation with 5-HT (1 microM) for 1 h increased the incorporation of [2-3H]myoinositol into all phosphoinositides but not into inositol phosphates (IPs). Li+ alone at 10 mM increased labeling in inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and trisphosphate (IP3), whereas labeling in IP and phosphoinositides remained unaltered. Addition of 5-HT had no effect on this increase. Mn2+ at 1 mM enhanced labeling in PI, PI-4-phosphate, lyso-PI, glycerophosphoinositol, and IP, but the presence of 5-HT again did not cause further stimulation. 5-HT also stimulated the release of IPs in cells prelabeled with [2-3H]myo-inositol, incubated with LiCl (10 mM) and inositol (10 mM), and then exposed to 5-HT (1 microM). Radioactivity in IP2 and IP3 was very low, was stimulated approximately 50% as early as 30 s, and remained elevated for at least 20 min. Radioactivity in IP was at least 10 times as high as in IP3 but was increased only from 3 min on with a peak at 20 min, when the elevation was approximately 40 times that in IP3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

In vivo and in vitro biotransformation of the lithium salt of gamma-linolenic acid by three human carcinomas.

Lipid metabolism has been considered recently as a novel target for cancer therapy. In this field, lithium gamma-linolenate (LiGLA) is a promising experimental compound for use in the treatment of human tumours. In vivo and in vitro studies allowed us to assess the metabolism of radiolabelled LiGLA by tumour tissue and different organs of the host. In vitro studies demonstrated that human pancreatic (AsPC-1), prostatic (PC-3) and mammary carcinoma (ZR-75-1) cells were capable of elongating GLA from LiGLA to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and further desaturating it to arachidonic acid (AA). AsPC-1 cells showed the lowest delta5-desaturase activity on DGLA. In the in vivo studies, nude mice bearing the human carcinomas were given Li[1-(14)C]GLA (2.5 mg kg(-1)) by intravenous injection for 30 min. Mice were either sacrificed after infusion or left for up to 96 h recovery before sacrifice. In general, the organs showed a maximum uptake of radioactivity 30 min after the infusion started (t = 0). Thereafter, in major organs the percentage of injected radioactivity per g of tissue declined below 1% 96 h after infusion. In kidney, brain, testes/ovaries and all three tumour tissues, labelling remained constant throughout the experiment. The ratio of radioactivity in liver to tumour tissues ranged between 16- and 24-fold at t = 0 and between 3.1- and 3.7-fold at 96 h. All tissues showed a progressive increase in the proportion of radioactivity associated with AA with a concomitant decrease in radiolabelled GLA as the time after infusion increased. DGLA declined rapidly in liver and plasma, but at a much slower rate in brain and malignant tissue. Seventy-two hours after the infusion, GLA was only detected in plasma and tumour tissue. The sum of GLA + DGLA varied among tumour tissues, but it remained 2-4 times higher than in liver and plasma. In brain, DGLA is the major contributor to the sum of these fatty acids. Data showed that cytotoxic GLA and DGLA, the latter provided either by the host or by endogenous synthesis, remained in human tumours for at least 4 days.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Synthesis of affinity ligands and radioactive probes for isolation and study of myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding proteins.

To synthesize an affinity matrix for isolation of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding proteins, racemic 3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde was oxidized and converted to a mixture of trans-3,4-di-hydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester isomers, which was phosphorylated and separated into (+-)-(1R,3R,4R)- and (+-)-(1R,3S,4S)-trans-3,4-bis[(diphenoxyphosphoryl)oxy]cyclohex an e-1- carboxylic acid methyl esters. Each of these racemic compounds was hydrogenolyzed and reacted with ethylenediamine to give a monoamide, N-(2-aminoethyl)-bis(phosphonyloxy)cyclohexane-1-carboxamide, that was coupled to cyanogen bromide activated Sepharose 4B to provide the desired affinity matrices. The intermediate trans-3,4-bis[(diphenoxyphosphoryl)oxy]cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester was also reduced with lithium borotritide to give the (hydroxy[3H]methyl)cyclohexane derivative, which was phosphorylated and hydrogenolyzed to yield trans-3,4-bis(phosphonyloxy)-1-[(phosphonyloxy)[3H]methyl]cy clohexane, a radiolabeled analogue of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. The carboxamide was also coupled to 4-azidosalicylic acid, and the product was iodinated to provide a 125I-radiolabeled photoactivatable cross-linking derivative of cyclohexanediol bisphosphate.

Calcium Channels↗

A theoretical model for event statistics in microdosimetry. II: Nonuniform distribution of heavy ion tracks.

A microdosimetry model, described in Part I, applies to the case of a convex site immersed in a uniform distribution of heavy particle tracks, and assumes no restrictions in site geometry or the kind of randomness. In Part II, this model is extended to include nonuniform distributions of particle tracks. This situation is relevant to the study of microdosimetry, for example, in boron neutron capture, in irradiation experiments using heavy ion particle beams, where the sources of particle tracks are external to the cell, or in irradiation from internally incorporated particle-emitting radionuclides, such as environmental radon or occupational exposure to radioactive materials. The formalism developed permits the calculation of statistical properties, track length distributions, and microdosimetric spectra for convex sites where the "inner" and "outer" concentrations of sources may be different, or for tracks originating on the surface of a convex site. Expressions applicable to the case of surface-distributed sources of tracks are presented that may represent situations such as boron compounds bound to the membrane of a cellular nucleus in boron neutron capture. A series of Monte Carlo calculations and analytical solutions, illustrating the case of spherical site geometry, are presented and compared. Finally, microdosimetric spectra and specific energy averages are calculated for alpha and lithium particles originating from thermal neutron capture in 10B, showing their dependence on 10B localization (extra-site, uniform, intra-site, or surface-distributed).

Biophysical Phenomena↗

Olanzapine. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile.

Multicentre trials in patients with schizophrenia confirm that olanzapine is a novel antipsychotic agent with broad efficacy, eliciting a response in both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Compared with traditional antipsychotic agents, olanzapine causes a lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms and minimal perturbation of prolactin levels. Generally, olanzapine is well tolerated. The pharmacokinetics of olanzapine are linear and dose-proportional within the approved dosage range. Its mean half-life in healthy individuals was 33 hours, ranging from 21 to 54 hours. The mean apparent plasma clearance was 26 L/h, ranging from 12 to 47 L/h. Smokers and men have a higher clearance of olanzapine than women and nonsmokers. After administering [14C]olanzapine, approximately 60% of the radioactivity was excreted in urine and 30% in faeces. Olanzapine is predominantly bound to albumin (90%) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (77%). Olanzapine is metabolised to its 10- and 4'-N-glucuronides, 4'-N-desmethylolanzapine [cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2] and olanzapine N-oxide (flavin mono-oxygenase 3). Metabolism to 2-hydroxymethylolanzapine via CYP2D6 is a minor pathway. The 10-N-glucuronide is the most abundant metabolite, but formation of 4'-N-desmethylolanzapine is correlated with the clearance of olanzapine. Olanzapine does not inhibit CYP isozymes. No clinically significant metabolic interactions were found between olanzapine and diazepam, alcohol (ethanol), imipramine, R/S-warfarin, aminophylline, biperiden, lithium or fluoxetine. Fluvoxamine, an inhibitor of CYP1A2, increases plasma concentrations of olanzapine; inducers of CYP1A2, including tobacco smoke and carbamazepine, decrease olanzapine concentrations. Orthostatic changes were observed when olanzapine and diazepam or alcohol were coadministered. Pharmacodynamic interactions occurred between olanzapine and alcohol, and olanzapine and imipramine, implying that patients should avoid operating hazardous equipment or driving an automobile while experiencing the short term effects of the combinations. Individual factors with the largest impact on olanzapine pharmacokinetics are gender and smoking status. The plasma clearance of olanzapine generally varies over a 4-fold range, but the variability in the clearance and concentration of olanzapine does not appear to be associated with the severity or duration of adverse effects or the degree of efficacy. Thus, dosage adjustments appear unnecessary for these individual factors. However, dosage modification should be considered for patients characterised by a combination of factors associated with decreased oxidative metabolism, for example, debilitated or elderly women who are nonsmokers.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

Synthesis of (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-4-fluorodeprenyl and (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-[N-11C-methyl]-4-fluorodeprenyl and positron emission tomography studies in baboon brain.

(R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-alpha-methyl-beta-4-(fluorophenyl)-N-methyl-N- propynylethylamine [R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-4-fluorodeprenyl) were synthesized via the reaction of 4-fluorobenzaldehyde with nitroethane followed by reduction with lithium aluminum hydride to produce racemic 4-fluoroamphetamine, which was resolved by recrystallization with L- or D-N-acetylleucine to yield (R)-(-)-4-fluoroamphetamine or (S)-(+)-4-fluoroamphetamine in greater than 96% enantiomeric excesses and in yields of 42 and 39%, respectively. Alkylation with propargyl bromide gave (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-4-fluoronordeprenyl which was reductively methylated (Borch conditions) to produce (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-4-fluorodeprenyl. Alkylation of (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-4-fluoronordeprenyl with carbon-11 labeled methyl iodide gave (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-[N-11C-methyl]-4-fluorodeprenyl in a radiochemical yield of 30-40%. Comparative PET studies of the two labeled enantiomers in baboons showed a significantly lower retention of radioactivity in the striatum for the (S)-(+) enantiomer relative to the (R)-(-) enantiomer.

Animals↗

A novel mass spectrometry-based assay for GSK-3beta activity.

BACKGROUND: As a component of the progression from genomic to proteomic analysis, there is a need for accurate assessment of protein post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. Traditional kinase assays rely heavily on the incorporation of gamma-P32 radiolabeled isotopes, monoclonal anti-phospho-protein antibodies, or gel shift analysis of substrate proteins. In addition to the expensive and time consuming nature of these methods, the use of radio-ligands imposes restrictions based on the half-life of the radionucleotides and pose potential health risks to researchers. With the shortcomings of traditional assays in mind, the aim of this study was to develop a high throughput, non-radioactive kinase assay for screening Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) activity. RESULTS: Synthetic peptide substrates designed with a GSK-3beta phosphorylation site were assayed with both recombinant enzyme and GSK-3beta immunoprecipitated from NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. A molecular weight shift equal to that of a single phosphate group (80 Da.) was detected by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) in a GSK-3beta target peptide (2B-Sp). Not only was there a dose-dependent response in molecular weight shift to the amount of recombinant GSK-3beta used in this assay, this shift was also inhibited by lithium chloride (LiCl), in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: We present here a novel method to sensitively measure peptide phosphorylation by GSK-3beta that, due to the incorporation of substrate controls, is applicable to either purified enzyme or cell extracts. Future studies using this method have the potential to elucidate the activity of GSK-3beta in vivo, and to screen enzyme activity in relation to a variety of GSK-3beta related disorders.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3↗

The labelling of polyphosphoinositides with [32P]Pi and the accumulation of inositol phosphates in vasopressin-stimulated hepatocytes.

When hepatocytes were incubated with [32P]Pi, the kinetics for the labelling of the monoester phosphate groups of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were similar to each other and slightly slower than that for the labelling of the gamma-phosphate of ATP. Analysis of the water-soluble 3H-labelled materials derived from [3H]inositol-labelled hepatocytes revealed that, in addition to inositol and its mono-, bis- and tris-phosphates (Ins, InsP, InsP2 and InsP3), these cells contained two unidentified radioactive compounds which co-eluted with InsP on anion-exchange chromatography. When [3H]inositol-labelled hepatocytes were stimulated with 0.23 microM-vasopressin in the presence of 10 mM-Li+, there was an accumulation of radioactivity in InsP, InsP2 and InsP3 but not in Ins or the two unidentified compounds. Further analysis of these inositol phosphates by h.p.l.c. revealed that vasopressin also stimulates the accumulation of inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) in these cells. Vasopressin-stimulated InsP and InsP2 accumulations were maximal in the presence of 1-10 mM-Li+ but InsP3 accumulation continued to increase up to 50 mM-Li+. Accumulated inositol phosphates were retained within the cell. Li+ from 1 to 50 mM did not influence the extent of vasopressin-stimulated inositol lipid degradation in hepatocytes. In the absence of Li+, radioactivity in vasopressin-stimulated hepatocytes accumulated almost entirely in free inositol. The vasopressin-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates in the presence of 10 mM-Li+ was abolished by a V1-vasopressin antagonist. Inositol phosphate accumulation was not influenced by ionophore A23187, dimethyl sulphoxide or indomethacin.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Europium-155 in debris from nuclear weapons.

The lithium-drifted germanium detector enables determination of europium-155 on a routine basis in environmental samples contaminated with debris from nuclear weapons. From measurements of europium-155, cesium-144, and strontium-90 in air filters collected between 1961 and 1966, the yield of europium-155 from weapons was estimated at 1400 atoms per 10(6) fissions, which is close to the yield of europium-155 from fast fission of uranium-238.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗

Pathways of transepithelial potassium movement in the epithelium of distal colon in man.

1. Methods for studying the kinetics of movement of radioactive tracers across human distal colonic epithelium have been developed for use in vivo and applied to examination of transepithelial transfers of potassium. 2. During absorption of 43K from the lumen, two potassium pools, A and B, in the epithelium were identified, having mean turnover half-times of 16 and 87 min respectively. On average about 50% of the potassium lumen-to-plasma flux and most, if not all, of the potassium plasma-to-lumen flux took place through pool A. The transcellular pathway (equated with pool B) appeared to be of relatively little significance in transepithelial movement of potassium in the human distal colon. 3. Sodium and chloride movements were unaffected when lithium was present in the luminal solution, but the potassium secretion rate was nearly trebled due to increased plasma-to-lumen flux through the fast turnover pool A. 4. The permeability of the epithelium to potassium, as judged by the plasma-to-lumen fluxes, greatly exceeded that to sodium. This appeared to depend on a special highly selective potassium channel which differed from the shunt pathway in possessing definite capacity.

Adult↗

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) rapidly stimulates the formation of inositol phosphates and diacyglycerol in rat granulosa cells: further evidence for the involvement of Ca2+ and protein kinase C in the action of GnRH.

GnRH provokes a phospholipid response in rat granulosa cells that has been characterized by increased incorporation of radioactive precursors into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol, and by depletion of 32P-prelabeled polyphosphoinositides. In this report, rat granulosa cells from mature Graafian follicles were incubated with GnRH under various conditions to follow the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides and the generation of the metabolic byproducts of phospholipase C action. Granulosa cells were prelabeled for 3 h with myo[2-3H]inositol. GnRH provoked rapid (10 sec) and sustained (up to 60 min) increases in the levels of inositol monophosphates, inositol bisphosphates, and inositol trisphosphates (IP3). Time-course studies revealed that IP3 was formed more rapidly than inositol bisphosphate and inositol monophosphate after GnRH treatment. The response to GnRH was concentration dependent (maximal at 10 ng/ml) and was prevented by a specific GnRH antagonist. Lithium chloride (1-10 mM) greatly enhanced the GnRH-provoked accumulation of all [3H]inositol phosphates, presumably by inhibiting the action of inositol phosphate phosphatases. No changes were observed in the levels of free [3H] inositol and [3H]phosphatidylinositol in GnRH-treated cells. However, treatment with both lithium and GnRH for 30 min significantly reduced the levels of free [3H]inositol and [3H] phosphatidylinositol. In the presence of lithium, the rate of hormone-stimulated inositol phosphate formation was not altered by 30 min of prior treatment with GnRH, indicating that phospholipase C activity is not readily desensitized. GnRH also increased the formation of diacylglycerol (DAG), another product of phospholipase C action. In cells prelabeled with [3H] arachidonic acid, GnRH significantly increased levels of DAG in incubations lasting 2-5 min. Concomitant increases in [3H] phosphatidic acid were also observed in GnRH-treated cells. In conjunction with these studies, intracellular free Ca2+ levels were measured by Quin 2 fluorescence. GnRH and its agonistic analog rapidly increased (5 sec) cytosolic free Ca2+ levels (approximately double). The results demonstrate that an early event in the action of GnRH is the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides by a phospholipase C-dependent mechanism. The products resulting from this action of GnRH, i.e. IP3 and DAG, may serve as intracellular mediators for the mobilization of intracellular calcium, or the activation of protein kinase C and arachidonic acid release.

Animals↗