Evidence for Delayed Development of the Glucagon Receptor of Adenylate Cyclase in the Fetal and Neonatal Rat Heart

The effects, in vivo, of epinephrine, glucagon, and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) on the glycogen content of rat heart and liver and, in vitro, upon adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of rat heart and liver were determined during the latter third of gestation and the neonatal period. Hepatic glycogen was depleted by epinephrine, glucagon, and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, but myocardial glycogen was depleted only by epinephrine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in the neonates. Hepatic adenylate cyclase activity was augmented by both epinephrine (10(-5) M) and glucagon (10(-5) M), and myocardial cyclase was increased only by epinephrine in tissue obtained from 16, 18, and 20 day fetal rats. Myocardial adenylate cyclase responsiveness to glucagon was present in tissue obtained from rats 4 wk of age and older. It is concluded that in contrast to hepatic adenylate cyclase, myocardial adenylate cyclase in the rat is not responsive to glucagon during gestation and that responsiveness to glucagon and the associated ability of glucagon to deplete myocardial glycogen do not develop until well after birth.     

Reduced sensitivity of the hepatic adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system to glucagon during sustained hormonal stimulation.

Hormone-induced desensitization of hormonal regulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) content has been described in a number of tissues. In the present study, we examined responses of rat liver to glucagon after periods of sustained exposure to the hormone in vivo and in vitro. In intact anesthetized rats infused with glucagon (50 ng/min) for 1 h or more and in liver slices incubated with the hormone (10 muM) for this period, hepatic cAMP responsiveness to glucagon was significantly blunted compared with that of tissue exposed to the hormone for shorter periods. The reduction in hepatic cAMP responsiveness to glucagon appeared to be fully expressed by 2 h. With the doses of hormone employed, the sequential alterations in hepatic responsiveness seemed to be limited to the cAMP system, since other parameters of glucagon action did not wane with time. Diminished hepatic cAMP responsiveness during sustained hormonal exposure could not be attributed to decreased glucagon availability, accelerated extracellular release of cAMP, hepatic ATP depletion, or enhanced phosphodiesterase activity. Studies in vitro suggested that modulation of the cAMP response occurred at the level of adenylate cyclase (AC). During sustained exposure of hepatic slices to glucagon, reductions in glucagon-responsive AC correlated temporally with those in cAMP and both changes were reversible. Alterations in glucagon-responsive AC were demonstrated over a wide range of ATP (10 muM-0.1 mM) and glucagon (10 nM-5 MM) concentrations in the cyclase reaction mixture, and appeared to be a noncompetitive phenomenon relative to glucagon. Maximal NaF-responsive AC did not fall concomitantly with time. Thus, the reduction in glucagon-responsive AC was probably not related to a reduction in the catalytic unit of the enzyme, but could have been due to an alteration in glucagon binding to its receptor sites, or in the coupling mechanism involved in transmission of the hormonal signal to the catalytic unit.     

Responsiveness to glucagon in fetal hearts. Species variability and apparent disparities between changes in beating, adenylate cyclase activation, and cyclic AMP concentration.

Previous studies of the ability of the immature heart to respond to glucagon have yielded conflicting results. To test the possibility that the apparent discrepancies might be explained in part by species variability, isolated hearts of fetal mice and rats (13-22 days' gestational age) were studied under identical conditions in vitro. Changes in atrial rate and ventricular contractility were measured in spontaneously beating hearts exposed to glucagon, and activation of adenylate cyclase was assayed in cardiac homogenates. In mice of 16 days' gestational age or less, there was no change in heart rate in response to glucagon; at 17-18 days, minimal responsiveness was present; and after 19 days, 10muM glucagon caused an increase in spontaneous atrial rate of 30 +/- 4% (SEM) (P less than 0.001). Measurement of the extent and speed of volume displacement of the isotonically contracting hearts with a specially constructed capacitance transducer revealed that ventricular inotropic responsiveness also appeared after 17-19 days. Cardiac stores of glycogen were reduced in older hearts exposed to glucagon, but not in those aged less than 16 days. In contrast, glucagon failed to activate adenylate cyclase in homogenates of hearts of fetal mice at any age. Furthermore, glucagon failed to elicit an increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP in spontaneously beating hearts that developed tachycardia. Responses in hearts of fetal rats were distinctly different from those in mouse hearts: at no age was there any change in heart rate, strength of contraction, glycogen content, or adenylate cyclase activation. Thus, there are major species differences in cardiac pharmacological maturation. Although the mouse heart develops the ability to increase its rate and strength of contraction and to undergo glycogenolysis in response to glucagon well before birth, the rat heart does not. In addition, there is an apparent disparity in late fetal mouse hearts between the ability of glucagon to induce functional responses and its ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase and increase cyclic AMP levels. It is impossible, of course, to rule out absolutely the possibility that localized increases in a critical cyclic AMP pool were present but too small to measure in the entire tissue. Nevertheless, the most obvious interpretation of our results is that they are compatible with the hypothesis that glucagon may exert some of its hemodynamic effects independently from the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system in the late-fetal mouse heart.     

Influence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor on the chronotropic effects of glucagon and norepinephrine in fetal mouse hearts

Fetal mouse hearts develop tachycardia in response both to norepinephrine and to glucagon, but although adenylate cyclase is stimulated and adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) elevated by norepinephrine, no measurable changes are produced by glucagon. To test further the possible independence of glucagon chronotropy from the cyclic AMP system, the effects of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor were evaluated. The dose-response curve to norepinephrine was shifted to the left by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro7-2956), but the dose-response curve to glucagon was unaltered. Thus, 10(-6) M norepinephrine produced an increase of 40 +/- 5 beats/min in hearts pretreated with Ro7-2956, as compared to an increase of 22 +/- 3 in control hearts (P less than .01). In contrast, 10(-6) M glucagon produced a rate increase of 25 +/- 4 beats/min in treated hearts vs. 26 +/- 4 beats/min in controls. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP are involved in the chronotropic response of the fetal mouse heart to norepinephrine but not to glucagon.     

Guanine nucleotide binding regulatory proteins and adenylate cyclase in livers of streptozotocin- and BB/Wor-diabetic rats. Immunodetection of Gs and Gi with antisera prepared against synthetic peptides.

Adenylate cyclase in liver plasma membranes from streptozotocin-diabetic (STZ) or BB/Wor spontaneously diabetic rats showed increased responsiveness to GTP, glucagon, fluoroaluminate, and cholera toxin. Basal or forskolin-stimulated activity was unchanged in STZ rats, but increased in BB/Wor rats. No change in the alpha-subunit of Gi (alpha i) was observed in STZ or BB/Wor rats using pertussis toxin-stimulated [32P]ADP-ribosylation. Immunodetection using antibodies against the COOH-terminal decapeptides of alpha T and alpha i-3 showed no change in alpha i in STZ rats and a slight decrease in BB/Wor rats. Angiotensin II inhibition of hepatic adenylate cyclase was not altered in either diabetic rat. In both models of diabetes, Gs alpha-subunits were increased as measured by cholera toxin-stimulated [32P]-ADP-ribosylation of 43-47.5-kD peptides, reconstitution with membranes from S49 cyc- cells or immunoreactivity using antibodies against the COOH-terminal decapeptide of alpha s. These data indicate that STZ-diabetes increases hepatic Gs but does not change Gi or adenylate cyclase catalytic activity. In contrast, BB/Wor rats show increased hepatic Gs and adenylate cyclase. These changes could explain the increase in hepatic cAMP and related dysfunctions observed in diabetes.     

Alkaline Phosphatase. POSSIBLE INDUCTION BY CYCLIC AMP AFTER CHOLERA ENTEROTOXIN ADMINISTRATION

The present studies were undertaken to determine the role, if any, of cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) as a chemical inducer of rat liver alkaline phosphatase. Cholera enterotoxin, given intravenously to rats, led to a rapid rise in the activity of hepatic adenyl cyclase that was 7½ times greater than control values in 6 h. Cyclic AMP levels were also significantly increased above control values while the activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was unchanged. Hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity was increased 5½ times above control in 12 h, but its rise followed that of adenyl cyclase and cyclic AMP by several hours. Cycloheximide inhibited the rise of hepatic alkaline phosphatase but not that of adenyl cyclase. The administration of glucagon, a known stimulator of hepatic adenyl cyclase, and of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, led to similar striking increases in hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity. This alkaline phosphatase increase was blocked by the prior administration of cycloheximide. Bile duct ligation, a known stimulator of hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity, failed to produce any significant changes in adenyl cyclase or cyclic AMP. Concomitant treatment of rats with bile duct ligation and cholera enterotoxin or bile duct ligation and glucagon, had no additive effect on the increase in hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity, although the increase occurred earlier. These results suggest that: (a) cyclic AMP may act as an inducer of hepatic alkaline phosphatase: (b) the stimulation of hepatic alkaline phosphatase by cholera enterotoxin is mediated by cyclic AMP; (c) the rise in hepatic alkaline phosphatase following bile duct ligation is not mediated by cyclic AMP; (d) the same alkaline phosphatase in rat liver may be induced by two (or more) mechanisms, only one of which requires cyclic AMP.     

3,3′,5-Triiodothyronine Administration In Vivo Modulates the Hormone-sensitive Adenylate Cyclase System of Rat Hepatocytes

The ability of 10 muM epinephrine or isoproterenol to stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation was decreased in hepatocytes isolated from hyperthyroid (triiodothyronine treated) as compared to euthyroid rats. In the presence of methylisobutylxanthine, epinephrine or isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was approximately 65% lower in hyperthyroid as compared with euthyroid rat hepatocytes. The ability of glucagon to stimulate a cyclic AMP response was also decreased in the hyperthyroid state, when assayed in either the absence or presence of a methyl xanthine. The character of the catecholamine-stimulated cyclic AMP response was beta adrenergic in both the hyperand euthyroid states. No evidence for an alpha(2) adrenergic mediated component of catecholamine action on cyclic AMP levels was noted. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of hepatocyte homogenates was not altered in the hyperthyroid state. Hormone-stimulated, guanine nucleotide- and fluoride-activatable adenylate cyclase activity was reduced in subcellular fractions obtained from hyperthyroid as compared with euthyroid rat hepatocytes. Beta adrenergic receptor binding was reduced approximately 35% and glucagon receptor binding reduced approximately 50% in the hyperthyroid as compared with euthyroid rat hepatocyte membrane fractions. The status of the regulatory components of adenylate cyclase were examined by in vitro treatment of subcellular fractions with cholera toxin. The ability of cholera toxin to modulate adenylate cyclase was not altered by hyperthyroidism. Cholera toxin catalyzed AD[(32)P]ribosylation of hyperthyroid and euthyroid rat hepatocyte proteins separated electrophoretically displayed nearly identical autoradiograms. Studies of the reconstitution of adenylate cyclase activity of S49 mouse lymphoma cyc(-) mutant membranes by detergent extracts from rat hepatocyte membranes, indicated that hyperthyroidism was associated with a reduced capacity of regulatory components to confer fluoride, but not guanine nucleotide activatability to catalytic cyclase. Thyroid hormones regulate the hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase system of rat hepatocytes at several distinct loci of the system.     

Renal adenylate cyclase and the interrelationship between parathyroid hormone and vitamin D in the regulation of urinary phosphate and adenosine cyclic 3'',5''-monophosphate excretion.

This study examined the role of cyclic AMP in the phosphaturic response to parathyroid hormone in vitamin D-deficient rats. Infusion of purified bovine parathyroid hormone (13.3 mug/h) into control, D-fed, or D-deficient, thyroparathyroidectomized rats produced a sixfold increase in renal phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion in D-fed rats, but only a two- to threefold increase in both parameters in D-deficient animals. Intravenous injection of parathyroid hormone over the dosage range from 1-50 mug/kg resulted in a dose-dependent increase in phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion with both D-fed and D-deficient thyroparathyroidectomized rats. However, the D-deficient rats responded to these injections of parathyroid hormone with a two- to threefold increase in both renal phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion at the highest dose of 50 mug/kg, whereas the D-fed animals' response was 35-fold and 11-fold over control excretion levels of phosphate and cyclic AMP, respectively. To directly examine the role of the renal cortical adenylate cyclase system in the blunted phosphaturic and urinary cyclic AMP responses to parathyroid hormone in D-deficient rats, we prepared a plasma membrane fraction enriched in this enzyme activity from the renal cortex of D-fed and D-deficient thyroparathyroidectomized rats. The renal cortical adenylate cyclase of D-deficient rats showed significantly (P less than 0.001) less activation by parathyroid hormone over the hormone concentration range from 0.3 to 7.0 mug/ml than was observed with the enzyme prepared from D-fed animals. Basal adenylate cyclase activity and the fluoride-stimulated enzyme activity were not altered by the state of D-deficiency. These experiments demonstrate that the blunted phosphaturic response to parathyroid hormone observed in D-deficient rats is associated with the reduced responsiveness of the renal cortical adenylate cyclase to the hormone. Moreover, the defect in the renal membrane adenylate cyclase system appears to be localized at the level of PTH binding to membrane receptors or, alternatively, at the level of transmission of the hormone-receptor binding signal to the catalytic moiety of this membrane enzyme.     

Coupling of hepatic prostaglandin receptors to adenylate cyclase through a pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide regulatory protein

E-series prostaglandins (PGs) inhibit glucagon-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in hepatocytes as well as glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis and fatty acid oxidation. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that this inhibition occurs via interactions with a plasma membrane PGE2 receptor coupled to adenylate cyclase. PGE2 receptors in rat liver plasma membranes were examined using competitive binding studies [( 3H]PGE2 vs. PGE1). Binding data were analyzed to determine the number of apparent binding sites and the PGE dissociation constant (Kd) at each site. Rat liver plasma membranes contained two classes of binding sites with Kd values of 9.9 X 10(-10) and 8 X 10(-9) M. Addition of the GTP-analog guanyl-5'-6'-imidodiphosphate (0.1 mM) altered the PGE2 binding such that a single class of sites with low affinity (Kd = 4 X 10(-9) M) was observed. Similarly, liver plasma membranes isolated from rats pretreated with pertussis toxin contained only a single class of PGE2 binding sites in the absence of guanyl-5'-6'-imidodiphosphate (Kd = 3.4 X 10(-9) M). PGE2 (10(-10) M) inhibited liver membrane adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by forskolin (by 57%) and glucagon (by 24%). This inhibition was not observed in membranes isolated from rats treated with pertussis toxin. Thus, the present studies demonstrate that PGE binding to its hepatic receptors is regulated by a pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide binding protein coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase.     

Cyclic AMP responses to parathyroid hormone and glucagon during lithium treatment

Inhibition of adenylate cyclase has been proposed as a mechanism for hypothyroidism and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus occurring during lithium treatment, but these disorders are rarely found in the same patients. We have measured plasma levels of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) after an intravenous injection of glucagon in eight patients receiving long term lithium treatment and in six control subjects. Urinary cyclic AMP levels after an intravenous injection of bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also measured in the patients. The plasma cyclic AMP response to glucagon in the patient group was significantly lower than that of the controls. No correlation was demonstrated between the plasma cyclic AMP response after glucagon and the urinary cyclic AMP response after PTH. We have previously shown that impairment of the response to PTH correlates with reduced urine concentrating ability during lithium treatment. In contrast, there was no correlation between the responses to PTH and glucagon in individual patients. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that inhibition of adenylate cyclase is an important factor in lithium-induced endocrine dysfunction.     

Studies on the Mode of Action of Cholera Toxin: EFFECTS ON SOLUBILIZED ADENYLATE CYCLASE

To gain further insight into the mechanism of action of cholera toxin, solubilized preparations of adenylate cyclase from control and toxin-treated rat livers were studied. Adenylate cyclase activity was measured in both particulate and solubilized form in rat liver under control conditions and after intravenous injection of cholera toxin. Cholera toxin caused a 3.3-fold activation of adenylate cyclase in the particulate preparation and a 5.8-fold increase in the solubilized preparation. Thus, the ability of cholera toxin to stimulate adenylate cyclase is present even when the enzyme membrane environment is disrupted. Furthermore, the solubilized enzyme, after treatment with cholera toxin, retained its ability to respond to catecholamines, but not to glucagon. In contrast, the control enzyme lost its responsiveness to catecholamines and glucagon after solubilization.     

Hormone-sensitive fat cell adenylate cyclase in the rat. Influences of growth, cell size, and aging.

The possibility has been explored that decreases of adenylate cyclase may explain diminished hormone sensitivity of adipose tissue with aging. Isolated cells were prepared from epididymal fat pads of rats 1-, 2-, 6-, 12-, and 24-mo old, fixed in OSO4, and sized and counted with a Coulter apparatus. Adenylate cyclase was assayed in cell membranes (ghosts) using [alpha-32P] ATP as substrate and expressed as cyclic [32P] AMP/10 min per mg protein or per 10(6) cells. Enzyme activity was determined for the basal state and in the presence of varying concentrations of glucagon, ACTH, epinephrine, and fluoride. Basal activity per cell increased in threefold between 1 and 2 mo with a comparable increase in cell surface area, suggesting synthesis of enzyme along with new cell membrane. Although epinephrine stimulated adenylate cyclase 8-fold and fluoride 12-fold throughout the life-span of the rat, stimulated activity paralleled basal levels, decreasing 60% between 2 and 24 mo per mg protein and 40% between 6 and 24 mo per cell. Glucagon stimulated adenylate cyclase 4.5-fold relative to basal in the 1-mo-old rat, but its effect then rapidly decreased and was absent by 12 mo. The fourfold stimulation by ACTH noted in the 1-mo-old animals decreased gradually with age but was still twice basal at 24 mo. Since no significant change of cell size occurred after 6 mo, diminished hormone sensitivity with senescence cannot be related to cell size. Similar age-related patterns of hormonal activation were evoked by 5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P], a nucleotide analogue which increased both basal- and hormone-activated enzyme at all ages studied. Dose-response curves to hormones, fluoride, and GMP-P (NH)P were not affected by age. High Mg++ (50 mM) in the presence of GMP-P-(NH)P stimulated adenylate cyclase to levels greater than with fluoride, but a similar loss of activity with aging was still observed. Loss of hormone receptors may partially explain the age-related decreases of glucagon and ACTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase, but decreased basal-, epinephrine-, fluoride-, and GMP-P-(NH) P-stimulated responses suggest loss of the catalytic component of the adenylate cyclase enzyme complex in the aging fat cell membranes.     

The adenylate cyclase system in human liver: characterization, subcellular distribution and hormonal sensitivity in normal or cirrhotic adult, and in foetal liver.

1. Adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity was characterized in human liver, and its subcellular distribution compared with that of three other potential enzyme markers of the pericellular membrane: leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1), gamma-glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2) and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5). Although these three enzyme activities were detected in each of the subcellular fractions studied, 85% of the total adenylate cyclase activity was found in the 1000 g pellet ('nuclear' fraction) with a threefold increase in specific activity as compared with the homogenate. No adenylate cyclase activity existed in the 150 000 g supernatant fraction. 2. In the 'nuclear' fraction, adenylate cyclase activity was increased in a dose-dependent fashion by glucagon with a half-maximal stimulation at 10 nmol/l and a maximal four- to seven-fold increase at 1 mumol/l. Catecholamines activated adenylate cyclase 2.5- to three-fold, with an order of potency (protokylol greater than isoprenaline greater than adrenaline greater than noradrenaline) typical of a beta 2-adrenoreceptor. Prostaglandin E1 and NaF also stimulated cyclase two- and four-fold respectively. Insulin, serotonin, dopamine, thyroid-stimulating hormone and ACTH had no effect. Adenosine provoked a weak inhibition at 0.1 mmol/l. Finally guanosine triphosphate and 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate induced a marked increase in basal activity, four- and eight-fold respectively, but both reduced the relative increase in enzyme activity due to glucagon or adrenaline. 3. Cyclase from foetal liver (12--16 weeks old) and cirrhotic adult liver appeared to behave similarly to that from normal liver; however, foetal cyclase was more active, and cirrhotic enzyme less active than normal adult liver. Both systems responded to catecholamines via a beta 2-adrenoreceptor. 4. These results validate the use of rat liver adenylate cyclase as a tool for pharmacological and physiological studies.     

Effect of chilling on platelet cyclic adenosine 3:5-monophosphate and adenylate cyclase activity

Exposure of platelets to 1 C led to a transient increase in cyclic AMP levels (determined either by a protein binding method or by radioimmunoassay) within five to ten minutes reaching a maximum 10 to 15 minutes after chilling was begun and returning subsequently to baseline values. Addition of EDTA to the platelet suspension medium prevented this increase. Rewarming at 37 C produced a sudden reduction in platelet cyclic AMP. To determine whether the cold-induced increase in cyclic AMP was due to a transient stimulation of platelet adenylate cyclase or a rapid inhibition of phosphodiesterase, these enzymes were assayed in ruptured platelet suspensions. Platelet adenylate cyclase activity was found to possess certain characteristics similar to those of the enzyme derived from other sources but there was a marked potentiation of fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 0.001 M EDTA. This effect was limited to low EDTA concentrations. Exposure of platelets to 1 C for up to 60 minutes did not increase adenylate cyclase activity but lowered it substantially compared with controls kept at room temperature. Phosphodiesterase activity at 1 C was depressed sooner and to a greater extent than was adenylate cyclase. The transient rise in cyclic AMP levels in chilled platelets appears to be due to a disproportionate reduction of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity.     

Solubilized myocardial adenylate cyclase: Restoration of histamine responsiveness by phosphatidylserine

We have recently described the preparation of a solubilized cat myocardial adenylate cyclase which is unresponsive to histamine, norepinephrine, glucagon, and thyroxine, the hormones which activate the particulate enzyme. Since hormone receptors may consist of proteins and phospholipids, we determined the effect of several phospholipids on restoring the responsiveness of the solubilized adenylate cyclase to histamine. The addition of phosphatidylserine completely restored the histamine-mediated activation of the solubilized enzyme in contrast to phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol which were without effect. The concentration of histamine producing half-maximal activation of adenylate cyclase, 2 x 10(-5) M, was virtually identical with that observed in the particulate preparation. The antihistamine, diphenhydramine, 8 x 10(-5) M, abolished activation of adenylate cyclase by histamine in both the solubilized and particulate preparations. Phosphatidylserine also restored glucagon responsiveness, but did not restore norepinephrine responsiveness. It would appear that phosphatidylserine produced the necessary molecular configuration of the adenylate cyclase for histamine binding and activation of the enzyme.     

The dopamine-1 agonist, SKF 82526, stimulates phospholipase-C activity independent of adenylate cyclase

Dopamine-1 (DA-1) receptors have been found in renal tubular membranes which stimulate both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase-C activity. In renal cortical plasma membrane preparations the DA-1 agonist SKF 82526, forskolin and NaF stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine inhibited basal and DA-1 agonist stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Forskolin, NaF, dibutyryl-cyclic AMP and 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine had no effect on basal or DA-1 agonist stimulated phospholipase-C activity in these membranes. These studies indicate that DA-1 agonist stimulates adenylate cyclase and phospholipase-C activities independently. Phospholipase-C activity was also increased by the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiophosphate). When DA-1 agonist and guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiophosphate) were added together there was a slight but significant increase in phospholipase-C activity. This increase was inhibited in the presence of guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate). DA-1 stimulated phospholipase-C activity was found to be insensitive to both cholera and pertussis toxins. The present studies indicate a cyclic AMP independent transduction pathway for DA-1 receptor mediated through a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein associated phospholipase-C.     

The Rapid Changes of Hepatic Glycolytic Enzymes and Fructose-1, 6-Diphosphatase Activities after Intravenous Glucagon in Humans

Glucagon (0.04-0.09 mg/kg/min) was given intravenously for either 2 or 3 min to eight patients with fasting-induced hypoglycemia. One child had hepatic phosphorylase deficiency, two children had glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency, two children had debrancher enzyme (amylo-1,6-glucosidase) deficiency, and two children and one adult had decreased hepatic fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) activity. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained before and immediately after the glucagon infusion. The glucagon caused a significant increase in the activity of FDPase (from 50+/-10.0 to 72+/-11.7 nmol/mg protein/min) and a significant decrease in the activities of phosphofructokinase (PFK) (from 92+/-6.1 to 41+/-8.1 nmol/mg protein/min) and pyruvate kinase (PK) (from 309+/-39.4 to 165+/-23.9 nmol/mg protein/min). The glucagon infusion also caused a significant increase in hepatic cyclic AMP concentrations (from 41+/-2.6 to 233+/-35.6 pmol/mg protein). Two patients with debrancher enzyme deficiency who had biopsy specimens taken 5 min after the glucagon infusion had persistence of enzyme and cyclic AMP changes for at least 5 min. One child with glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency was given intravenous glucose (150 mg/kg/min) for a period of 5 min after the glucagon infusion and biopsy. The plasma insulin concentration increased from 8 to 152 muU/ml and blood glucose increased from 72 to 204 mg/100 ml. A third liver biopsy specimen was obtained immediately after the glucose infusion and showed that the glucagon-induced effects on PFK and FDPase were completely reversed. The glucagon infusion caused an increase in hepatic cyclic AMP concentration from 38 to 431 pmol/mg protein but the glucose infusion caused only a slight decrease in hepatic cyclic AMP concentration (from 431 to 384 pmol/mg protein), which did not appear to be sufficient to account for the changes in enzyme activities. Hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase activities were not altered by either the glucagon or the glucose infusion in any patients. Cyclic AMP (0.05 mmol/kg) was injected into the portal vein of adult rats and caused enzyme changes similar to those seen with glucagon administration in humans. Our findings suggest that rapid changes in the activities of PFK, PK, and FDPase are important in the regulation of hepatic glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, respectively, in humans and that cyclic AMP may mediate the glucagon- but probably not the glucose-insulin-induced changes in enzyme activities.     

Metabolic Regulation of Heme Catabolism and Bilirubin Production. I. HORMONAL CONTROL OF HEPATIC HEME OXYGENASE ACTIVITY

Heme oxygenase (HO), the enzyme system catalyzing the conversion of heme to bilirubin, was studied in the liver and spleen of fed, fasted, and refed rats. Fasting up to 72 hr resulted in a threefold increase in hepatic HO activity, while starvation beyond this period led to a gradual decline in enzyme activity. Refeeding of rats fasted for 48 hr depressed hepatic HO activity to basal values within 24 hr. Splenic HO was unaffected by fasting and refeeding.Hypoglycemia induced by injections of insulin or mannose was a powerful stimulator of hepatic HO. Glucose given together with the insulin abolished the stimulatory effect of the latter. Parenteral treatment with glucagon led to a twofold, and with epinephrine to a fivefold, increase of hepatic HO activity; arginine, which releases endogenous glucagon, stimulated the enzyme fivefold. These stimulatory effects of glucagon and epinephrine could be duplicated by administration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), while thyroxine and hydroxortisone were ineffective. Nicotinic acid, which inhibits lipolysis, failed to modify the stimulatory effect of epinephrine. None of these hormones altered HO activity in the spleen.These findings demonstrate that the enzymatic mechanism involved in the formation of bilirubin from heme in the liver is stimulated by fasting, hypoglycemia, epinephrine, glucagon, and cyclic AMP. They further suggest that the enzyme stimulation produced by fasting may be mediated by glucagon released in response to hypoglycemia.The possibility is considered that the enhanced HO activity in the liver may increase hepatic heme turnover and hence, bilirubin production, which may explain the rise of unconjugated serum bilirubin observed in fasting or hypoglycemic individuals.     

Adenylate cyclase activity in human liver membranes and its inhibition by adenosine and adenine nucleotides.

The production of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in a membrane preparation from human liver homogenate has been studied. Cyclic AMP production was enhanced by glucagon, guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate (GMP-PNP), or fluoride, or combinations of these. Adenosine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) at a concentration of 10(-3) mol/l antagonized the effects of all stimulants. These data suggest that inhibitory effects are exercised at the catalytic moiety of the adenylate cyclase system, or at the transducer function between hormone receptor and catalytic unit. In contrast, adenosine at a concentration of 10(-5) mol/l antagonized glucagon- but not fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.     

Human gastric mucosal adenylate cyclase activity: effects of various cytoprotective prostaglandins

Several prostaglandins prevent ulcer formation (called cytoprotection) by a mechanism other than inhibition of gastric acid secretion. One suggestion is that they increase cyclic AMP in non-parietal cells. A variety of prostaglandins with potent cytoprotective properties were tested for their capacity to modulate adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of human gastric mucosa. Prostaglandin E2, prostacyclin (PGI2) and 15(S)-methyl-PGE2 stimulated the cyclase in human gastric mucosal biopsy specimens in a dose-dependent manner. Cytoprotective prostaglandins without antisecretory properties such as PGF2 beta were also able to activate the enzyme system dose-dependently. In contrast, cytoprotective prostaglandins such as PGD2, the PGE1-analogue, SC-29333, and the prostaglandin-like compound C83 did not stimulate human gastric adenylate cyclase. Whereas PGD2 did not modulate enzyme activity at all, SC-29333 and C83, at concentrations greater than 10 mumol/l, inhibited basal and PGE2-stimulated enzyme activities. These studies suggest that cyclic AMP is not directly related to the cytoprotective effect of prostaglandins, at least in human gastric mucosa.