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The neurotransmitter role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the rat and guinea-pig ureter: effect of a calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonist and species-related differences in the action of omega conotoxin on calcitonin gene-related peptide release from primary afferents.

In the rat and guinea-pig isolated ureter electrical field stimulation of intrinsic nerves (10 Hz for 10 s) produces transient inhibition of evoked (20 mM KCl or 0.1-1 microM neurokinin A) rhythmic contractions by releasing transmitter(s) from peripheral endings of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents. The C-terminal fragment of human calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37) blocked the inhibitory effect of electrical field stimulation as well as that produced by exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide, while leaving unaffected the inhibitory response to isoprenaline. Human calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37) was devoid of any inhibitory activity of its own but enhanced the amplitude and frequency of KCl-evoked rhythmic contractions in the rat ureter, probably by antagonizing the inhibitory effect of endogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide released by KCl. Omega conotoxin fraction GVIA, a peptide which possesses a potent blocking activity of N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels, prevented the inhibitory response to electrical stimulation in the guinea-pig ureter, while leaving the response unaffected in the rat ureter. Conotoxin had no effect toward the inhibition produced by exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide indicating its prejunctional site of action, demonstrated previously in the guinea-pig ureter [Maggi et al. (1990) Neurosci, Lett. 114, 203-206]. Dermorphin, an amphibian peptide with potent agonist activity on mu-type opioid receptors, inhibited the response to electrical stimulation in the guinea-pig ureter but had no effect in the rat ureter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

N-terminal truncation of salmon calcitonin leads to calcitonin antagonists. Structure activity relationship of N-terminally truncated salmon calcitonin fragments in vitro and in vivo.

Structural requirements for binding to the bone calcitonin (CT) receptor and for CT bioactivity both in vitro and in vivo were assessed for a series of N-terminally truncated, N alpha-acetylated, fragments of salmon calcitonin (sCT). Sequential deletion of amino acid residues from the amino-terminus of [Ala7]sCT-(2-32) peptide amide first led to partial agonists and, upon deletion of residues 1 to 7, to a high affinity antagonist, N alpha-acetyl-sCT-(8-32)-NH2. The presence of two separate domains within the sCT sequence is proposed: (I) a binding domain comprising residues 9-32 and (II) an activation domain requiring residues 3 to 6. N alpha-acetyl-sCT-(8-32)-NH2, in several bioassays including plasminogen activator release from LLC-PK1 cells (pA2 = 7.31), cAMP production in UMR-106-06 cells (pA2 = 7.81) and in the fetal rat long bone resorption assay showed potent antagonistic properties.

Acetylation

Effects of cerebral lesions on binding sites for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in the rat nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area.

Binding site densities of [125I]-labelled salmon calcitonin and human calcitonin gene-related peptide were investigated in the rat nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area by means of quantitative autoradiography following selective brain lesions. [125I]salmon calcitonin and [125I]human calcitonin gene-related peptide binding sites were highly concentrated in the accumbens, whereas the ventral tegmental area only contained [125I]salmon calcitonin binding sites. Unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the ventral tegmental area did not alter [125I]salmon calcitonin and [125I]human calcitonin gene-related peptide binding site densities in the ipsilateral accumbens, while it produced a significant decrease in [125I]salmon calcitonin binding sites in the lesioned ventral tegmental area (-50%). In contrast, following unilateral injection of quinolinic acid into the accumbens, the densities of [125I]salmon calcitonin and [125I]human calcitonin gene-related peptide binding sites were significantly decreased in the lesioned accumbens (-57% and -56%, respectively), while [125I]salmon calcitonin binding site densities were not modified in the ipsilateral ventral tegmental area. The present study clearly suggests that [125I]salmon calcitonin and [125I]human calcitonin gene-related peptide binding sites are located on intrinsic neurons but not on the dopaminergic nerve terminals in the accumbens. Moreover, a certain proportion of [125I]salmon calcitonin binding sites could be present on dopaminergic cell bodies in the ventral tegmental area.

Animals

Calcitonin reserve and the differentiated response to calcitonin in osteoporosis.

The authors followed up the effect of calcium and calcitonin administration on phosphorus-calcium balance and on calcium retention, in correlation with the level of endogenous calcitonin, in 20 patients of perimenopause age (40-50 years), with radiologically confirmed osteoporosis. Calcium retention after loading with calcium gluconate (180 mg in i.v. injections) was determined before and after administration of salmon calcitonin (100 IV in i.m. injections). Two types of responses were noted. In a group of patients calcitonin administration determined a rise of calcium retention at the same time with the improvement of other biochemical parameters as well as a normal calcitonin response. The presence of high levels of circulating calcitonin 24h after loading with exogenous calcitonin demonstrated a slower inactivation rate of the hormone in these patients. The other group showed no positive response to calcitonin. The proposed test is a criterion for the selection of the patients with osteoporosis in view of chronic calcitonin treatment.

Adult

Co-occurrence of immunoreactive calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuroendocrine cells of rat lungs.

Neuroendocrine cells of the lung, occurring singly or in clusters known as neuroepithelial bodies, contain a variety of biologically active compounds, including several neuropeptides. We have investigated the localization of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) within single and grouped neuroendocrine cells in the respiratory epithelium of rats by an immunohistochemical double-staining technique which uses specific antisera raised in heterogeneous animal species. Calcitonin- and CGRP-immunoreactivities were nearly totally co-localized in both single neuroendocrine cells and neuroepithelial bodies. CGRP-immunoreactivity was also present in neurons in the jugular, nodose and dorsal root ganglia. The calcitonin-immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells, as in thyroid parafollicular (C) cells, was abolished by preincubation of the anti-calcitonin serum with synthetic calcitonin. The CGRP-immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells and in the neuronal cells was abolished by preincubation of anti-CGRP serum with synthetic CGRP. Thus, while the calcitonin gene is expressed exclusively or predominantly as either calcitonin or CGRP in all other tissues except thyroid C-cells, our results strongly suggest that both peptides are expressed in the rat bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine cells.

APUD Cells

Stability of [Asu1,7]-eel calcitonin and eel calcitonin in vitro and in vivo.

Stability of [Asu1,7]-eel calcitonin was compared with that of eel calcitonin by the radioimmunoassay method. [Asu1,7]-Eel calcitonin cross-reacted with anti-eel calcitonin antisera. [Asu1,7]-Eel calcitonin was as stable as eel calcitonin in rabbit liver or rabbit kidney extracts when incubated at 37 degrees C. Disappearance curves from the plasma of [Asu1,7]-eel calcitonin and eel calcitonin following iv injection in rabbits were quite similar.

Animals

Calcitonin-responsive adenylate cyclase in a calcitonin-producing human cancer cell line.

A calcitonin-responsive adenylate cyclase has been found in a cell line of a poorly differentiated bronchial carcinoma (BEN cells). The cells have previously been shown to secrete an immunoreactive form of calcitonin in culture. Salmon calcitonin (SCT), porcine calcitonin (PCT) and human calcitonin (CT-M) all stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in particulate preparations. CT-M sulphoxide had little effect. The concentrations of the calcitonins required for half the maximum activation of adenylate cyclase were 6-8, 18 and 90 nm respectively. SCT (30pm) and CT-M (60 pm) increased the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP from 11-2+/-0-2 (s.e.) to 18-2+/-0-2 and 16-7+/-0-2 respectively over a 2-5-min period. SCT (labelled with 125I) bound to particulate preparations of Ben cells, and competition for binding occurred with unlabelled SCT and CT-M. The concentration of SCT required for half the maximum inhibition of [125I]SCT binding was 11 nm. CT-M sulphoxide inhibited only at high concentration (3 micron). The characteristics of the adenylate cyclase response to SCT did not change over the period between cell adhesion (after subculture) and confluence. However, pre-incubation of cells for 4 h with SCT (150 nm) abolished the subsequent adenylate cyclase response of particulate preparations to further hormone. The practical difficulties encountered in purifying and quantifying the large-mol.-wt. form of CT-M secreted by BEN cells has precluded direct investigation of the potential relationship between hormone secretion and the occurrence of the calcitonin receptor. This relationship is discussed in terms of its possible biological significance.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Renal receptors for calcitonin: coordinate occurrence with calcitonin-activated adenylate cyclase.

High affinity binding of 125I-labeled salmon calcitonin ([125I]SCT) and calcitonin-activated adenylate cyclase were detectable in renal plasma membranes from the rat. Addition of 5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate lowered the threshold for enzyme activation by peptide hormones. Renal plasma membranes from man, dog and cow contained little or no calcitonin-sensitive adenylate cyclase and showed no high affinity binding of [125I]SCT. High affinity binding sites were distributed during membrane fractionation in fractions where the specific activity of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase was greatest. Calcitonin binding and activation of the adenylate cyclase enzyme occurred at similar hormone concentrations. The relative potencies of calcitonin analogues were similar whether measured by competition for high affinity binding sites or by effect on adenylate cyclase. Low concentrations of Lubrol-PX, a nonionic detergent, did not affect catalytic function of the enzyme determined in the presence of sodium fluoride but caused parallel loss of high affinity [125I]SCT binding and hormonal sensitivity of the enzyme. This observation provided further evidence that interaction of calcitonin with specific receptors (identified with [125I]SCT binding) is essential for calcitonin activation of adenylate cyclase, but showed that catalytic activity of enzyme does not require functioning hormone receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Assessment of thyroidal "C" cell secretion in osteoporotic girls with Turner's syndrome. Basal and calcium-stimulated levels of total calcitonin, extractable calcitonin and katakalcin.

Osteoporosis is a common finding in Turner's syndrome. To test the hypothesis that calcitonin deficiency may contribute to bone mineral loss in Turner's syndrome, we studied basal and calcium-stimulated (2 mg/kg body weight in 5 min) levels of total calcitonin, extractable calcitonin and katacalcin in 15 girls with Turner's syndrome and osteoporosis. Fifteen age-matched healthy girls were studied as controls. Both basal calcitonin (total and extractable) and katacalcin values were not significantly different in patients with Turner's syndrome in comparison with those of the controls. The calcium stimulation test showed a similar "C" cell secretory reserve in both groups. The calculation of delta CT/delta iCa of total and extractable calcitonin and delta KC/delta iCa, which accounts for individual variations in serum ionized calcium increases, did not show any significant difference between girls with Turner's syndrome and controls. We conclude that calcitonin deficiency is not a causative factor of osteoporosis in girls with Turner's syndrome and that in this syndrome long-life estrogen deficiency does not impair "C" cell secretory activity.

Adolescent

Calcitonin of the stingray: comparison of the hypocalcemic activity with other calcitonins.

Hypocalcemic potency of calcitonin isolated from the stingray (cartilaginous fish), Dasyatis akajei, was examined using the rat bioassay and compared with the activities of other calcitonins (human, pig, salmon, eel, and fowl). The potency of Dasyatis calcitonin (dCT) was estimated to be 1500-3800 IU/mg. However, when the duration of the hypocalcemic effect of dCT was taken into consideration, it was judged that dCT was approximately 2.4-6.2 times more potent than mammalian calcitonins, but about 2.3-3.5 times less active than other nonmammalian calcitonins.

Amino Acid Sequence

Calcitonin and somatostatin immunoreactive cells are present in human bone marrow and bone marrow cells are responsive to calcitonin and somatostatin.

The presence of calcitonin and somatostatin immunoreactive cells has been determined in semithin sections of human bone and bone marrow samples by immunocytochemical techniques. Calcitonin and somatostatin immunoreactive cells were demonstrated at the interface between bone and bone marrow, in close contact with vessels. It has also been shown that exogenous calcitonin and somatostatin affect the ligand-receptor internalisation, depress the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into acid-insoluble material, and exert opposite effects on 35S-methionine incorporation to proteins of bone marrow cells in vitro. The evidence for calcium-dependent action of calcitonin and somatostatin on bone marrow cells has been presented. The regulatory role of calcitonin and somatostatin in bone marrow hemopoiesis is suggested and the implication of these findings for local hormonal regulation of hemopoiesis and bone structure is discussed.

Animals

[Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with low doses of calcitonin and a calcitonin-anabolic combination].

Menopausal osteoporotic women (age: 49-69, mean: 59.5 years) with crush fractures of the spine were treated with low doses of calcitonin (Miacalcic, 350 U/month), or with calcitonin + anabolic steroid (Retabolil, 50 mg/month). Efficacy of the therapy was controlled by single foton absorptiometry of midshaft and distal radius, by X-ray morphometry and by registering new crush fractures of the spine. Calcitonin monotherapy stopped further bone loss for two years, but at the end of the third year both absorptiometric values, as well as the radiomorphometrical index of the lumbar spine decreased significantly. In patients on calcitonin+anabolic steroid the decrease was just significant and only at radius midshaft, while at the other measured sites it was not. Two new crush fractures per 1396 patient-months occurred. Intermittent administration of low-dose calcitonin, especially together with an anabolic steroid seems to be a safe and effective therapy in established osteoporosis.

Aged

Production of calcitonin gene related peptide, calcitonin and PTH-related protein by a prostatic adenocarcinoma.

PTH and calcitonin are the two major hormones controlling calcium metabolism. Recently two new substances related to these hormones have been isolated: calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and PTH-related protein (PTHrP). CGRP is a potent vasodilator and stimulant of intestinal secretion while PTHrP is probably the agent responsible for humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy. We report here a patient with a prostatic tumour presenting with vasodilation, diarrhoea and hypercalcaemia. Our investigations revealed that the primary prostatic and liver secondary tumour contained CGRP, calcitonin and PTHrP. Most of the immunoreactive CGRP in the tumour and plasma co-eluted with the biologically active form of CGRP. The circulating levels of CGRP correlated with the presence of the diarrhoea. PTHrP concentration in the tumours was one of the highest reported for any tumour although previous studies may have utilized less than optimal extraction procedures. The somatostatin analogue, octreotide (SMS 201-995), did not reduce the plasma CGRP or the diarrhoea, a finding similar to that seen in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma and high plasma CGRP. The hypercalcaemia was also unaffected by octreotide administration. This is the first report of a prostatic tumour associated with over-production of calcitonin, PTHrP and CGRP. The major life-threatening effects of this unusual case of prostatic carcinoma were diarrhoea and hypercalcaemia. Both these effects could be tentatively ascribed to newly discovered substances, CGRP and PTHrP. With the greater availability of assays to measure CGRP and PTHrP in plasma, a detailed examination of the incidence of over-production of these substances in various cancers will be possible.

Adenocarcinoma

Immunohistochemical comparison of chromogranins A and B and secretogranin II with calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic C-cells of the human thyroid.

Normal and hyperplastic thyroid C-cells and 14 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma were investigated immunohistochemically with antibodies against chromogranins A and B, secretogranin II, calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Normal and hyperplastic C-cells showed strong calcitonin and chromogranin A immunoreactivity whereas CGRP, chromogranin B and secretogranin II expression was less intense. Strong calcitonin and chromogranin A immunoreactivity was also found in the majority of tumour cells in medullary thyroid carcinoma. The CGRP, chromogranin B and secretogranin II staining observed was present in variable patterns. In some cases CGRP, chromogranin B and secretogranin II could only be demonstrated in isolated tumour cells with elongated processes suggestive of neuronal differentiation of these cells. The biological function(s) of the chromogranins/secretogranins remain(s) still unclear. There is evidence that these proteins are pro-peptides which give rise to functionally active compounds. Studies on normal C-cells and medullary thyroid carcinoma may elucidate the role of chromogranins/secretogranins in endocrine and neuronal cells.

Adult

Radioimmunoassay for human calcitonin employing synthetic calcitonin M: its clinical application.

A sensitive and reliable radioimmunoassay for human calcitonin was described and applied to preliminary clinical studies. 125I-labelled synthetic human calcitonin M was purified by gel filtration with Sephadex G-25 and G-100. A nonequilibrium incubation system was applied at the final volume of incubation mixture of 500 mul, in which pooled plasma from normal subjects or hormone free serum was used as carrier protein at 20% incubation mixture. Dextran T 40 coated charcoal, resuspended in 1% bovine serum albumin buffer, was used for the separation of free from bound tracer. This showed the least nonspecific adsorption of tracer to charcoal. The assay was sensitive to 0.1 ng per milliliter of plasma. Recovery of synthetic human calcitonin added to plasma was found to be 101% (S. D., +/- 8). Diluted plasma from a patient with medullary thyroid carcinoma showed a dilution curve parallel to standards. Basal calcitonin levels were less than 0.3 ng/ml in normal subjects. Relatively high values were found in patients with chronic renal failure and in patients with malignant tumors. Extremely elevated values were found in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma. Provocative calcium infusion tests were also performed.

Bone Neoplasms

[Calcitonin in the ultimobrancial body of Anguilla (Anguilla anguilla L.): cytologic localization by indirect immunofluorescence using human anti-salmon-calcitonin antibodies].

The localization of intracellular calcitonin has been achieved by immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm of all cells forming the epithelium of the ultimobranchial body of eels, using a human antiserum against synthetic Salmon calcitonin I. The specificity of the reaction is demonstrated by inhibition with synthetic salmon calcitonin (S.C.T.); the fluorescence is not inhibited by synthetic human calcitonin (H.C.T.).

Anguilla

Central nervous system binding sites for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Alternative splicing of the primary RNA transcript of the calcitonin gene leads to the generation of two distinct peptides, calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). These peptides share only limited sequence homology and generally subserve different biological functions through their own distinct binding sites, which differ in specificity and distribution. Additionally, a binding site with high-affinity binding for both peptides that has a restricted pattern of distribution has been identified. The present article reviews the biochemical and morphological characteristics of centra CT and CGRP binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cells showing immunoreactivity for calcitonin or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the central nervous system of some invertebrates.

In the central nervous system of some species of several invertebrate phyla, including land planarians (Platyhelminthes), ribbon worms (Nemertina), slugs (Mollusca), polychaetes, earthworms and leeches (Annelida), pill bugs (Arthropoda), and beard worms (Pogonophora), salmon calcitonin-immunoreactive cells and rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive cells were found by immunohistochemistry. These immunoreactive cells were located in the region surrounding the neuropile, although the sizes of the cells varied according to species. Some of them were round or polygonal and regarded as apolar nerve cells because of their lack of cytoplasmic processes, whereas others were spindle-shaped or elongated, being comparable with unipolar nerve cells because of extension of their cytoplasmic processes in the direction of the neuropile. In some cases, it was noted that the cytoplasmic processes had complicated branches or formed loop-like structures at their ends. These observations suggest that a calcitonin-like or CGRP-like substance is extensively present in invertebrates as well as vertebrates.

Animals