Enrichment of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate in cholinergic axon terminals of the Torpedo electric organ

On fractionation of intact electric organ, cAMP and cGMP are enriched in the synaptosome fraction by factors of 14 and 6 respectively. For all regions of the electromotor neuron the absolute contents of nucleotides are in the order ATP greater than cAMP greater than cGMP. However, the molar ratios of cAMP/cGMP vary between tissues. Specific contents of both cyclic nucleotides are lowest in the nerve. For cAMP, specific contents in the axon terminal and in the perikaryal region are similar. As compared to this, cGMP is considerably enriched in the presynaptic nerve ending. This points to a physiological role of cGMP in presynaptic function.     

Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate metabolism in activated T-cell clones.

The role of cAMP in lymphocyte proliferation was investigated in the response of a monoclonal T-cell population to a specific antigen and compared to the response to interleukin-2 (IL-2) and allogeneic cells. Myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive and encephalitogenic T-cell clones were established from long-term lines derived from SJL/J (H-2s) mice. The clone 4b.14a recognizes the peptide sequence 89-101 of the MBP molecule in association with 1-As products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Incubation of 4b.14a cells with syngeneic antigen-presenting cells, previously pulsed with the 89-101 synthetic peptide or with 80 U/ml of IL-2, or allogeneic H-2Ik cells, resulted in a significant increase in the accumulation of intracellular cAMP. This increase was preceded by a peak in membranal adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. Parallel time kinetics but significantly higher cAMP production and AC activity were observed when the cells were treated with pertussis toxin. At the same concentrations the toxin inhibits cellular proliferative responses, assayed by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Our results indicate the involvement of cAMP as a positive signal in the activation of the 4b.14a clone.     

The involvement of the enteric nervous system in the intestinal secretion evoked by cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate

Intestinal fluid secretion was evoked in vivo in rats and cats by introducing dibutyrylcyclic adenosine 3,5-monophosphate (db-cAMP) or theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in the intestinal lumen. The intestines were denervated periarterially. It was demonstrated that three compounds of varying chemical structure and with different modes of action on nerves (tetrodotoxin, lidocaine, hexamethonium) decreased the secretory response 60-70%. It is concluded that the secretion induced by increasing the intracellular cAMP concentrations is in part evoked via the enteric nervous system.     

Renal metabolism of N6,O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Metabolism of dibutyryl cyclic AMP was studied by including the 3H- or C-labeled nucleotide (0.1 mM, 5 mumol) in the recirculating perfusate of the isolated rat kidney. Kidneys were perfused with nucleotide for 60 min. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP was almost completely cleared from the perfusate, about one-quarter as urinary excretion principally by probenecid-sensitive secretion and about one-half as metabolism beyond 3'-phosphate bond cleavage. The principal metabolite, N6-monobutyryl adenosine, accounted for one-third of added dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The remaining metabolites were ATP, ADP AMP, and N6-monobutyryl AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1 or 1.0 mM) elevated renal ATP but did not alter uricogenesis. Both dibutyryl cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP at 0.2 mM produced similar activation and subcellular redistribution of renal protein kinase. N6-monobutyryl adenosine, unlike adenosine, had no effect on the renal activity of adenylate cyclase, low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, and protein kinase. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP is like exogenous cyclic AMP in that it penetrates the rat kidney, activates protein kinase, and is metabolized to ATP (R. Coulson, J. Biol. Chem. 251: 4958-4967, 1976), but is unlike cyclic AMP in its extent of secretion and metabolism to ATP and urate and in its formation of the unique metabolites N6-monobutyryl AMP and N6-monobutyryl adenosine.     

Stimulation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate formation in rabbit choroid plexus by beta-receptor agonists and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide

The formation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) was determined in blood-free choroid plexus homogenates from all ventricles of rabbit using a competitive protein binding technique. Previous stimulation of the intact plexus tissue in vitro with sympathomimetic drugs or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) leads to increased local synthesis of cAMP. Tests with selective beta-receptor agonists and antagonists suggested that beta 1-receptors predominate, which is consistent with studies of sympathomimetic effects on cerebrospinal fluid production in vivo.     

Stimulatory effect of latex and zymosan particles on cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate content in human granulocytes

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes respond to latex beads and opsonized zymosan particles with increased cyclic AMP formation. The enhancement of cyclic AMP content in cells is related to particle concentration in the incubation medium and to the time of exposure. The temporary stimulation declines after 15 min of phagocytosis, that is in good relation to the uptake of latex particles which reaches saturation point 10 min after the addition of the beads. The cyclic AMP content in granulocytes decreases after between 15 and 30 min of incubation with latex particles. The decrease is not caused by the loss of the granulocyte viability for: (a) the incorporation of labeled methyldeoxythymidine and uridine into macromolecules continues, (b) the sensitivity of phagocytosing granulocytes to prostaglandin E₁ stimulation of cyclic AMP production persists, (c) less than 10% of cells absorbs trypan blue dye after phagocytosis of latex beads. The prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, aspirin and indomethacin, have no effect on cyclic AMP content in phagocytosing granulocytes.     

Enzyme immunoassays for the estimation of adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate and guanosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate in biological fluids.

Simple, rapid and sensitive competitive enzyme immunoassays for the estimation of adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in human plasma and urine are described. Specific antisera to each nucleotide were raised in rabbits by immunization with succinyl cyclic nucleotide--human serum albumin conjugates. For the assay, specific antibodies were incubated with a mixture of succinyl cyclic nucleotide labelled with horseradish peroxidase together with unlabelled standard or sample. The antibody-bound enzyme conjugate was separated from free hapten by anti-rabbit (IgG) sera immobilized to a microtitre plate. Activity of the bound enzyme conjugate was determined with tetramethylbenzidine. The assays were capable of detecting levels as low as 2 fmol of cAMP and cGMP. Good correlations were obtained between values generated by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay.     

Schwann cell galactocerebroside of unmyelinated fibers is inducible by derivatives of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

By using indirect immunofluorescence, galactocerebroside (galC) was detected on the surface of Schwann cells cultured from unmyelinated fibers of 10- to 12-day-old rat cervical sympathetic nerve trunk. By day 4 in vitro, galC-positive cells disappeared from the culture. When the 4-day cultures were treated with 1 mM 8-bromo cyclic AMP or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, galC reappeared in 72 h. The proportion of Schwann cells expressing galC was dependent on the concentration of cyclic AMP derivatives used.     

Parathyroid hormone-(1-34) peptide activates cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the human placenta.

Dually perfused human term placental lobules were exposed to forskolin, bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH(1-34)) and human parathyroid hormone related-peptides, hPTHrP(1-34), hPTHrP(67-86)NH2 or PTHrP(107-138) for 15 min in the presence of 3-iso-butyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX); control lobules were exposed to IBMX alone. Homogenates of these tissues were then assayed for cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and results normalized per mg of protein. Exposure to forskolin or bPTH(1-34) on both sides, and exposure to bPTH(1-34) at a concentration of 30 nM on the maternal side of the placenta or 120 nM on the fetal side of the placenta, significantly enhanced tissue cyclic AMP production compared with tissue exposed to IBMX alone. Exposure to hPTHrP(1-34), hPTHrP(67-86)NH2 and hPTHrP(107-138) at a concentration of 30 nM on both sides of the placenta had no significant effect upon tissue cyclic AMP production.     

Hyperpolarization of myenteric neurons by opioids does not involve cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate.

To investigate the role of cyclic adenosine-3'5'-monophosphate on the inhibitory actions of opioids in guinea-pig ileum, we made intracellular recordings from the two electrophysiologically defined classes of neurons (S and AH) in the myenteric plexus. The selective opioid mu agonist (D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol)-enkephalin caused a membrane hyperpolarization in 34 out of 67 S neurons but did not affect the membrane potential of AH neurons. The mean amplitude (+/- S.E.M.) of the hyperpolarization was 8.2 +/- 0.8 mV. Forskolin, which activates adenylate cyclase and increases intracellular cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate levels, caused a membrane depolarization in AH neurons (9.4 +/- 1.9 mV) but did not alter the resting membrane potential of S neurons. Similarly, neither the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, isobutylmethylxanthine, nor the membrane permeable analogue of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine-3'-5'-monophosphate, altered the resting membrane properties of S neurons. Furthermore, none of these agents affected significantly the amplitude of the hyperpolarization of S neurons by (D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol)-enkephalin. The experiments indicate that changes in intracellular cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate are not important in the processes that link occupation of mu receptors to the opening of potassium channels on myenteric neurons.     

The role of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in the mechanism of action of tricyclic antiderpressants.

In the course of investigations on experimental arterial hypertension in rats, it has been stated, that imipramine prevents the development of hypertension and that is simultaneously causes an accumulation of cAMP in the vessel walls. The relationship between the two phenomena has been discussed.     

Effects of carbachol and calcium on the cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) metabolism in intestinal smooth muscle.

In a submaximal concentration carbachol contracted the rabbit colon muscle and increased the cyclic GMP level. The cyclic AMP level was reduced. In a Ca++-depleted muscle carbachol reduced the cyclic GMP level while the effect on the cyclic AMP content of the muscle was unchanged. Carbachol had no effect on the guanylate cyclase activity of the "plasma membrane fraction" (the 35-45% fraction). In the homogenate and the microsomal fractions Ca++ had no effect on the guanylate activity while it stimulated the enzyme in a soluble fraction. In the "plasma membrane fraction" cyclic GMP released Ca++ from the preloaded fraction and inhibited the Ca++ accumulation. These effects were not found in the vesicular microsomal fraction (the 35% fraction). In both fractions, however, cyclic GMP counteracted the stimulating effect of cyclic AMP. These results indicate that cyclic AMP and GMP may have antagonistic roles on the Ca++ metabolism in the colon muscle. It is suggested that cyclic GMP may act as some kind of positive feedback mechanism which may have a modulating effect on the release of Ca++ from one pool to another in rabbit colon.