A23187 inhibits adrenal protein synthesis and the effects of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on steroidogenesis and phospholipid metabolism in rat adrenal cells in vitro: further evidence implicating phospholipids in the steroidogenic action of ACTH

We examined the effects of ACTH and the Ca++ ionophore, A23187, on steroidogenesis and phospholipid metabolism during incubation of dispersed rat adrenal cells. Increasing doses of ACTH elicited nearly parallel increases in corticosterone production and adrenal inositide (mono- and di-) concentrations. As reported previously by other investigators in Y1 cells, A23187 inhibited ACTH- and cAMP-stimulated, but not basal or pregnenolone-stimulated, corticosterone production. A23187 also inhibited ACTH-induced increases in phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, and diphosphoinositide, and this was attended by inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein. These findings support our previous contentions that: 1) a labile protein is required for ACTH-induced increases in adrenal phospholipids in the phosphatidate-polyphosphoinositide-polyglycerophospholipid pathway; and 2) these phospholipids are involved in the steroidogenic action of ACTH.     

Kinetic aspects of cycloheximide-induced reversal of adrenocorticotropin effects on steroidogenesis and adrenal phospholipids in vivo.

Intraperitoneal injection of maximally effective doses of corticotropin(1-24) [ACTH(1-24)] provoked maximal increases in rat adrenal phospholipids as follows: phosphatidic acid within 1.5-2 min, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol within 4-6 min, and polyphosphoinositides and corticosterone within 5-15 min. Continued maximal adrenal stimulation by ACTH(1-18) treatment caused sustained increases in adrenal phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, polyphosphoinositides, and corticosterone. Treatment with cycloheximide during this steady-state caused rapid decreases in all of these substances to basal levels. The observed half-lives of adrenal phosphatide acid, phosphatidylinositol, polyphosphoinositides, phosphatidylglycerol, and corticosterone during cycloheximide inhibition were 0.15, 1.0, 1.7, 3.3, and 3.5 min, respectively. Calculated production rates during maximal ACTH stimulation were 1060, 991, 90, 34, and 41 nmol/g of tissue per min, respectively. These findings suggest that (i) an initial effect of ACTH on de novo synthesis of phosphatidic acid can account for all subsequently observed increases in other phospholipid derivatives of CDP-diacylglycerol, (ii) a labile protein is required for the ACTH-induced increase in phosphatidic acid, (iii) the phosphatidate leads to polyphosphoinositide-polyglycerophospholipid pathway is rapidly and dramatically responsive to hormonal stimulation, (iv) changes in steroidogenesis correlate well with changes in this phospholipid pathway, and (v) stimulation of this pathway is rapidly reversible.     

Membrane potential changes of mouse adrenal zona fasciculata cells in response to adrenocorticotropin and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

ACTH superfused onto mouse adrenal zona fasciculata tissue caused a transient, dose-dependent membrane depolarization. The log of the dose of ACTH was linearly related to the magnitude of depolarization. The onset of depolarization was rapid and dose dependent. Resting membrane potential changes observed after ACTH were blocked by CoCl2 but not tetrodotoxin or 4-aminopyridine, indicating that these depolarizations were dependent primarily on transmembrane Ca++ flux. CoCl2 also significantly blocked ACTH-stimulated adrenal steroid production; 4-aminopyridine had a much smaller and greatly delayed effect, whereas tetrodotoxin had no detectable effect on steroidogenesis. cAMP administration to adrenal zona fasciculata cells elicited transient, dose-dependent membrane depolarizations, which closely resembled those observed after ACTH treatment. In contrast to ACTH, CoCl2 did not block the cAMP-induced depolarization. These and other studies indicate that ACTH initiates a complex series of events by which steroidogenesis is stimulated. One mechanism may involve a change in membrane permeability to Ca++ independently of cAMP generation; a second mechanism may involve the activation of adenylate cyclase which subsequently influences the membrane conductance of the fasciculata cell membrane.     

Phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acyl groups are mitogenic for normal mouse mammary epithelial cells in serum-free primary cell culture.

Epithelial cells obtained by collagenase digestion of mammary glands from virgin BALB/c mice were cultured in collagen gels in serum-free basal medium containing insulin (10 micrograms/ml), to which lipids or growth factors were added. Synthetic phospholipids were added as liposomes. Dilinoleoyl phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylserine or epidermal growth factor stimulated multifold growth. The optimum mitogenic effect of the phospholipids was dependent upon the presence of a polyunsaturated fatty acid esterified to the sn-2 position of the glycerol moiety. Dilinoleoyl phosphatidylcholine also stimulated growth but was generally less stimulatory than phosphatidylserine or phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidylethanolamine did not stimulate growth. Studies using phospholipids radiolabeled in either the sn-2 fatty acyl group or the glycerol backbone showed that the relative effect of phospholipids on growth did not correlate directly with the extent of their incorporation into cellular lipid, indicating that phospholipid turnover was the more important determinant for mitogenesis. Analysis of phosphatidic acid-stimulated growth suggested that both cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent pathways were involved. Thus, mitogenic phospholipids stimulate proliferation by activating (directly or indirectly) multiple growth-regulatory pathways in mammary epithelial cells.     

Parathyroid hormone and adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate acutely increase phospholipids of the phosphatidate-polyphosphoinositide pathway in rabbit kidney cortex tubules in vitro by a cycloheximide-sensitive process

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) rapidly increased to concentrations of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphoinositide, and triphosphoinositide during incubations of rabbit kidney cortical tubules in vitro. These effects were preceded by increases in cAMP, which also induced virtually identical increases in these phospholipids. Pretreating the tubules with cycloheximide inhibited these phospholipid effects of PTH and cAMP. These findings are similar to those reported for ACTH and cAMP in the adrenal cortex. Hormones that utilize cAMP as their "second messenger" may influence membrane structure and function via stimulation of the phosphatidate-polyphosphoinositide pathway.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulates phospholipid labeling in cultured granulosa cells

Cultured ovarian granulosa cells from preantral and preovulatory follicles were incubated with [32P]Pi to label endogenous phospholipids. Labeled cells were then incubated with FSH, GnRH, or a GnRH agonist analog [D-Ala6]GnRH (GnRHa), cellular phospholipids were separated by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, and the radioactivity was determined. Phosphatidylcholine was the major labeled phospholipid accounting for 64% of the total radioactivity. The remaining labeling was distributed among choline plasmalogen (8.4%), phosphatidylinositol (6.3%), lyso phosphatidylcholine (3.7%), phosphatidylethanolamine (3.4%), phosphatidic acid (1.75%), phosphatidylserine (1.65%), and cardiolipin (1.3%). GnRH and its agonist analog GnRHa, but not FSH, increased 32P incorporation into phospholipids by 2-fold. Analysis of the several phospholipids revealed that GnRHa (10(-7) M) increased 32P labeling of phosphatidylcholine and lyso phosphatidylcholine by 1.5- and 2.5-fold respectively, and that of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol by 5- and 7-fold, respectively, during 60 min of incubation. The natural decapeptide GnRH was 30 times less potent than its agonist analog. Labeling of other phospholipids was not affected by GnRHa treatment, and FSH had no effect on 32P incorporation under similar conditions. The stimulatory effect of GnRHa was blocked by the potent GnRH antagonist [D-pGlu1,pClPhe2, D-Trp3,6]GnRH. The minimal stimulating dose of GnRHa was 10(-12) M, and increased phospholipid labeling could be detected after 10 min of incubation with the analog. These results indicate that phospholipids, in particular phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid, might be involved in the mechanism by which GnRH exerts its gonadal effects.     

The role of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in cholesterol metabolism and steroidogenesis by the human fetal adrenal gland

In the present investigation we studied the role of cAMP as a mediator of ACTH action in human fetal adrenal (HFA) tissue. We have characterized the response to ACTH, dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphoric acid (dbcAMP), and cholera toxin (CT) with respect to steroidogenesis, low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding, degradation of LDL, and the rate of de novo synthesis of cholesterol. The rate of dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate secretion was similar in HFA tissue maintained in the presence of ACTH, dbcAMP, or CT. In contrast, cortisol secretion by HFA tissue was more sensitive to dbcAMP and CT than to ACTH. In membrane preparations obtained from HFA tissue maintained in the presence of ACTH, dbcAMP, or CT, there was a 2 to 3-fold increase of specific binding of [125I]iodo-LDL. In HFA tissue maintained in the presence of ACTH or CT, the rate of degradation of LDL was significantly increased compared to tissue maintained in the lipoprotein-poor serum alone. Finally, in HFA tissue maintained in the presence of ACTH, dbcAMP, or CT there was a 6- to 10-fold stimulation of the rate of incorporation of [14C]acetate into cholesterol. We conclude that steroidogenesis, LDL binding, and degradation, as well as de novo synthesis of cholesterol, are probably stimulated in HFA tissue via a cAMP-mediated pathway.     

Visualization of Ca2+-induced phospholipid domains.

Large vesicles (5-15 microns) were formed by hydrating a dried lipid film containing phospholipids labeled with a fluorophore in one fatty acid chain. By using a fluorescence microscope attached to a low-light-intensity charge-coupled-device camera and digital-image processor, the vesicles were easily viewed and initially showed uniform fluorescence intensity across the surface. The fluorescence pattern of vesicles made with a fluorophore attached to phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine was unaffected by the presence of divalent cations such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, or Cd2+. The fluorescence pattern of vesicles containing a fluorophore attached to the acidic phospholipids phosphatidylserine or phosphatidic acid showed distinct differences when treated with Ca2+ or Cd2+, although they were unaffected by Mg2+, Mn2+, or Zn2+. Treatment with 2.0 mM Ca2+ or Cd2+ resulted in the movement of the fluorophore to a single large patch on the surface of the vesicle. When vesicles were formed in the presence of 33 mol % cholesterol, patching was seen at a slightly lower Ca2+ concentration (1.0 mM). The possibility of interactions between Ca2+ and acidic phospholipids in plasma membranes was investigated by labeling erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghosts with fluorescent phosphatidic acid. When Ca2+ was added, multiple (five or six) small patches were seen per individual cell. The same pattern was observed when vesicles formed from whole lipid extracts of erythrocytes were labeled with fluorescent phosphatidic acid and then treated with Ca2+. This shows that the size and distribution of the Ca2+-induced domains depend on phospholipid composition.     

Synexin facilitates fusion of specific phospholipid membranes at divalent cation concentrations found intracellularly.

The effect of synexin (an adrenal medullary protein) on the kinetics of Ca2+- and Mg2+-mediated membrane fusion was examined. Membrane fusion was studied by monitoring intermixing of the aqueous contents of phospholipid vesicles. Synexin facilitated Ca2+-mediated, but not Mg2+-mediated, fusion of phosphatidate/phosphatidylethanolamine (1:3) and phosphatidate/phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine/cholesterol (1:2:3:2) vesicles. The threshold concentration of Ca2+ for fusion was decreased to approximately equal to 10 microM in the presence of synexin at 6 micrograms/ml and 1.5 mM Mg2+ in vesicle suspensions containing 50 microM lipid. This effect of synexin was drastically inhibited by including 25% phosphatidylcholine (mol/mol) in the vesicle membrane. It is proposed that the Ca2+-dependent lipid-specific enhancement of membrane fusion by synexin contributes to an increase in the sensitivity of specific intracellular membranes to Ca2+ with respect to fusion.     

Rapid effects of angiotensin-II on polyphosphoinositide metabolism in the rat adrenal glomerulosa

Angiotensin-II (A-II) provoked a rapid decrease in 32p in triphosphoinositide (TPI) in 32p-prelabeled rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. This effect (presumably reflecting TPI hydrolysis) of A-II was nearly maximal at 5 sec of incubation and appeared to precede increases in labeling of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol. Other aldosterone-stimulating agents (ACTH, K+ and serotonin) did not provoke this effect. Since this effect appeared to be independent of Ca++, it is possible that TPI hydrolysis may be important for Ca++ mobilization during A-II action in glomerulosa tissue.     

Perturbation of glycerolipid content and biosynthesis in hepatocytes of rats continuously infused with Escherichia coli endotoxin

The effect of chronic, nonlethal endotoxemia on the endogenous content and de novo biosynthesis of glycerolipids was investigated in rat hepatocytes. Continuous E. coli endotoxin (ET) infusion for 30 hours through a subcutaneously implanted mini-pump greatly altered the composition of membrane phospholipids. Sphingomyelin (SPH) and phosphatidylserine (PS) content increased by 56% and 29%, respectively, while the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) decreased slightly (6%) as compared with saline-infused rats. These effects contrasted with those observed in pair-fed rats (whose food intake was matched to that voluntarily consumed by ET-infused animals). Food restriction induced a great depletion of phospholipid content, mainly phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), PC, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and PS, with no changes at the level of SPH as compared with control (fed ad libitum) rats. Triacylglycerol (TG) content was greatly decreased (66%) in ET-infused rats and the magnitude of the change and the fatty acid composition followed a pattern similar to that observed in pair-fed rats. The kinetics of [2-3H]-glycerol incorporation reflected efficient utilization of the precursor for de novo biosynthesis of glycerolipids. Labeling of the intermediate metabolite phosphatidic acid (PA) peaked at an earlier time (1 min) in ET-infused, and in pair-fed rats, as compared with saline-infused and control rats (3 min) respectively, and was followed by a later peak in diacylglycerol (DG) labeling. The metabolic flux thereafter in endotoxemia reflected a redirection toward the synthesis of TG and PI, while in pair-fed animals the label went mainly to PC, concomitantly with a great reduction in the uptake of label into PI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) selectively and rapidly stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in GH pituitary cells: a possible second step of TRH action

TRH was found to rapidly influence 32PO4 incorporation into phospholipids of PRL-secreting GH pituitary cells. Analogs of TRH were found to exert similar effects, with potencies related to receptor-binding affinity. Additional PRL-releasing agents were also tested. Bombesin exerted a similar effect, whereas vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, 8-bromo cAMP, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, 50 mM K+, and scorpion venom toxin had no influence. Cationophore A23187 stimulated phospholipid labeling in a manner distinguishable from that of TRH. Chromatographic analysis showed the action of TRH to be restricted to the labeling of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid. Kinetic studies indicated a rapid influence of TRH on phosphatidylinositol breakdown, with subsequent accelerated 32PO4 incorporation into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid. These studied identified a rapid, receptor-mediated, cAMP-independent action of TRH on phospholipid metabolism. Similar effects of other hormones are believed to be involved in promoting cellular Ca2+ translocation. The rapid onset of the response reported here suggests that this event may play a role in mediating the PRL-releasing effects of TRH and bombesin in GH cells.     

Inhibition of vasopressin-induced formation of diradylglycerols in vascular smooth muscle cells by incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid in membrane phospholipids.

OBJECTIVE: Eicosapentaenoic acid and linoleic acid exert antihypertensive effects by an unknown mechanism unrelated to prostanoids, a property which is not shared by arachidonic acid. This study investigated the influence of these three acids on the formation of diradylglycerols and phosphatidic acid, key intracellular messengers involved in the mediation of agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle cell contraction. DESIGN: Rat mesenteric artery vascular smooth muscle cells in culture were pre-incubated for 24 h with eicosapentaenoic acid, linoleic acid or arachidonic acid. After thorough washing the cells were then incubated for 20 min in the presence of arginine vasopressin or vehicle, either immediately or following cell labelling with 32P-orthophosphate. METHODS: The fatty acid composition of cell lipids was determined by gas chromatography after transesterification in the presence of boron trifluoride and methanol. Diradylglycerols and 32P-phosphatidic acid were purified from cell lipid extracts by thin-layer chromatography and diradylglycerols were analysed. RESULTS: Incubation of vascular smooth muscle cells with eicosapentaenoic acid, linoleic acid or arachidonic acid resulted in the incorporation of these fatty acids at the sn-2 position of membrane phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Eicosapentaenoic acid treatment was associated with a reduction, and linoleic acid treatment with an increase in the relative proportions of arachidonic acid found in cell phospholipids. Arginine vasopressin stimulated the formation of both diradylglycerols and 32P-phosphatidic acid. The arginine vasopressin-induced stimulation of diradylglycerols accumulation was almost completely abolished in eicosapentaenoic acid-treated cells, whereas it was not modified by linoleic acid or by arachidonic acid treatment. The arginine vasopressin-stimulated formation of 32P-phosphatidic acid was significantly inhibited by linoleic acid treatment but was not influenced by eicosapentaenoic acid or arachidonic acid treatment. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid or linoleic acid at the sn-2 position of membrane phospholipids leads to an inhibition of arginine vasopressin-induced formation of diradylglycerols or phosphatidic acid, respectively, in rat mesenteric artery vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. These properties may contribute to the antihypertensive effects in these fatty acids in vitro.     

Bradykinin stimulates phospholipid methylation, calcium influx, prostaglandin formation, and cAMP accumulation in human fibroblasts.

The biochemical events that lead to bradykinin stimulation of cAMP accumulation in human fibroblasts were examined. Treatment of human fibroblasts with bradykinin increases phospholipid methylation, Ca2+ influx, arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin formation, and cAMP content. The dose-response curves of bradykinin for the increase in the above changes were similar. In human fibroblasts, exogenous arachidonic acid was mainly incorporated into phosphatidylcholine, followed by phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol. Bradykinin caused a release of arachidonic acid from methylated phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine) and phosphatidylinositol. 3-Deazaadenosine, a methyltransferase inhibitor, almost completely inhibited bradykinin-stimulated phospholipid methylation and Ca2+ influx and partially reduced arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin formation but had no effect on cAMP formation. Mepacrine, a phospholipase inhibitor, blocked bradykinin-induced arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin release, and cAMP accumulation. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, blocked the effect of bradykinin on cAMP accumulation. Prostaglandins E1 and E2, but not F2 alpha, increased accumulation of cAMP. These observations indicate that bradykinin generates cAMP via arachidonic acid release and subsequent formation of prostaglandins. Our findings suggest that arachidonic acid can arise from either phosphatidylcholine synthesized by the methylation pathway or phosphatidylinositol.     

Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in myocardial ischaemia

In this study the effect of myocardial ischaemia was evaluated on two aspects of phospholipid metabolism: (i) the de novo synthesis of myocardial phospholipids, as indicated by the incorporation of (methyl-3H) choline and (ii) the incorporation of radiolabelled long chain fatty acids into tissue phospholipids. Two models of ischaemia were used namely normothermic ischaemic arrest and hypoxic, low-flow perfusion of the isolated rat heart. The results showed that within 10 min, hypoxic low-flow perfusion significantly inhibited the incorporation rate of (methyl-3H) choline into tissue phospholipids. Since the tissue choline content remained unaltered under these conditions, the results suggested that the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine is very susceptible to ischaemic damage. Inhibition of (methyl-3H) choline incorporation into tissue phospholipids appeared to be due to both a reduction in choline uptake and specific inhibition of the CDP pathway. Perfusion with glucose (10 mM) as substrate completely abolished the ischaemia-induced reduction in (methyl-3H) choline incorporation, indicating that glycolytically produced ATP played an important role in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. In contrast to these results, myocardial ischaemia stimulated the incorporation of long-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into tissue phospholipids. In summary, the results obtained showed that myocardial ischaemia profoundly affected phospholipid metabolism which, in turn, might contribute to membrane damage.     

cAMP regulates DEP domain-mediated binding of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Epac1 to phosphatidic acid at the plasma membrane

Epac1 is a cAMP-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small G protein Rap. Upon cAMP binding, Epac1 undergoes a conformational change that results in its release from autoinhibition. In addition, cAMP induces the translocation of Epac1 from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. This relocalization of Epac1 is required for efficient activation of plasma membrane-located Rap and for cAMP-induced cell adhesion. This translocation requires the Dishevelled, Egl-10, Pleckstrin (DEP) domain, but the molecular entity that serves as the plasma membrane anchor and the possible mechanism of regulated binding remains elusive. Here we show that Epac1 binds directly to phosphatidic acid. Similar to the cAMP-induced Epac1 translocation, this binding is regulated by cAMP and requires the DEP domain. Furthermore, depletion of phosphatidic acid by inhibition of phospholipase D1 prevents cAMP-induced translocation of Epac1 as well as the subsequent activation of Rap at the plasma membrane. Finally, mutation of a single basic residue within a polybasic stretch of the DEP domain, which abolishes translocation, also prevents binding to phosphatidic acid. From these results we conclude that cAMP induces a conformational change in Epac1 that enables DEP domain-mediated binding to phosphatidic acid, resulting in the tethering of Epac1 at the plasma membrane and subsequent activation of Rap.     

Stimulation of phospholipid labeling and steroidogenesis by luteinizing hormone in isolated bovine luteal cells

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of LH on phospholipid metabolism in corpora luteal tissue. Collagenase-dispersed cells obtained from bovine corpora lutea of early pregnancy were incubated with 32PO4 in the presence or absence of LH and examined for their ability to incorporate this label into phospholipids. LH (1 microgram/ml) significantly increased 32P incorporation into total lipid extracts, with a time course similar to that of progesterone synthesis. This stimulation of 32P incorporation was dependent on the concentrations of LH, and this dose-response relationship correlated well with the dose response of LH-induced progesterone production. Bovine serum albumin and ACTH had no apparent effect on 32P incorporation into phospholipids or progesterone production. Separation of luteal cell phospholipid extracts by thin layer chromatography revealed that LH stimulated the incorporation 32PO4, mainly into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol, with small increases occurring in the polyphosphoinositide fraction. The LH-induced labeling of these individual phospholipids also appeared to be temporally and dose-related to the LH-induced increases in progesterone synthesis. LH had no effect on the labeling of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin, or cardiolipin. These results indicate that LH has selective effects on phospholipid metabolism in bovine luteal cells which may be a part of the mechanism of action of LH on steroidogenesis.     

Effects of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone on the cyclic AMP and phospholipid metabolism of rat adrenocortical cells

Results on the effects of peptides on the phospholipid metabolism and steroid and cyclic AMP (cAMP) outputs of rat adrenal capsular cells (96% zona glomerulosa, 4% zona fasciculata) were obtained in a series of three batch experiments. Their significance was examined by analysis of variance. Incorporation of [32P] into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol was measured. Production of [3H]inositol-1 monophosphate, inositol-1,4 bisphosphate and inositol-1,4,5 tris-phosphate was estimated after prelabelling with [3H]inositol followed by 1 min incubation with a steroidogenic stimulus. Angiotensin II (0.25 nmol/l to 0.25 mumol/l) highly significantly (P less than 0.01) stimulated aldosterone and corticosterone outputs, [32P] incorporation into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol (but not into phosphatidylcholine) and the production of the three [3H]inositol phosphates. Aldosterone and corticosterone outputs were stimulated by alpha-MSH (above 0.1 nmol/l). However, incorporation of [32P] was not significantly increased until 10 mumol alpha-MSH/l but, unlike with angiotensin II, incorporation into phosphatidylcholine was also then stimulated. Also, the production of the inositol phosphates was not increased significantly (P greater than 0.05) by any dose of alpha-MSH (10 nmol/l, 1 mumol/l and 0.1 mmol/l) used. Therefore, it can be concluded that alpha-MSH does not stimulate phospholipase C in rat zona glomerulosa cells. In further experiments, it was also found that there were significant increases in cAMP as well as in steroid outputs above 1 nmol alpha MSH/l (highly significant above 10 nmol alpha-MSH/l). There were plateaux of the outputs of both steroids and cAMP from 0.1 to 1 mumol alpha-MSH/l. However, there were further increases in steroid and cAMP outputs of the capsular cells at higher doses. Concomitant results on the stimulation of corticosterone output by zona fasciculata-reticularis cells indicate that this additional increase was mostly due to the stimulation of the contaminating zona fasciculata cells. It was also confirmed that alpha-MSH preferentially stimulates steroidogenesis by the zona glomerulosa. However, under our conditions, alpha-MSH highly significantly increased the output of cAMP by both zona fasciculata and glomerulosa cells.     

Mechanism of induction of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase activity in rat adrenocortical cells by corticotropin

The regulation of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase (3 beta-HSD) was studied in primary cultures of rat adrenocortical cells. In the absence of ACTH, this enzymic activity was found to decay with a half-life of 3.1 days, which was similar to the half-life of the enzyme activity induced by ACTH in vitro (3.5 days). The increase in 3 beta-HSD activity was highly specific for ACTH and dibutyryl cAMP; the activity was not increased by other hormones known to affect adrenocortical growth or function. The induction of 3 beta-HSD activity by ACTH or dibutyryl cAMP required a lag period of approximately 4 h and was dependent on RNA and protein syntheses. The increase in 3 beta-HSD activity observed after ACTH treatment was not a result of ACTH-induced inhibition of degradation of the enzyme, nor was it due to the synthesis of a soluble intermediate which could directly activate the enzyme. ACTH stimulated the incorporation of [35S]methionine into a protein associated with 3 beta-HSD activity detected on polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of adrenocortical cells. The induction of this protein by ACTH was inhibited by actinomycin D. A protein band of a partially purified preparation of rat adrenal 3 beta-HSD was found to comigrate with the ACTH-induced protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. These results suggest that ACTH caused the de novo synthesis of 3 beta-HSD by a mechanism dependent on RNA synthesis.     

Low density lipoprotein binding and de novo synthesis of cholesterol in the neocortex and fetal zones of the human fetal adrenal gland

The binding of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and the de novo synthesis of cholesterol in separated zones of human fetal adrenal (HFA) tissues were investigated. The number of LDL-binding sites was 2-fold greater in membrane fractions prepared from fresh fetal zone tissue than in those from neocortex tissue. The binding capacity for LDL in fetal zone and neocortex membrane preparations of HFA tissues maintained in culture in the presence of ACTH was 2-fold greater than that in membrane fractions of control tissues. The rates of de novo synthesis of cholesterol also were determined in separated zones of HFA tissue by measuring the specific activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in microsomal fractions prepared from HFA tissues and by determining the rate of incorporation of tritium from [3H]water into cholesterol in HFA tissue fragments. The rate of de novo synthesis of cholesterol in fresh fetal zone tissue was twice that in neocortex tissue as estimated by these methods. When separated zones of HFA tissue were maintained in culture in the presence or absence of ACTH, the rates of de novo synthesis, as determined by the rate of incorporation of tritium from [3H]water into cholesterol, were stimulated to a similar extent by ACTH in both fetal zone and neocortex tissues. However, the specific activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase was increased to a greater extent by ACTH pretreatment in neocortex tissues than in fetal zone tissues. In summary, fetal zone tissues of the HFA gland have a larger number of LDL-binding sites and higher rates of de novo synthesis of cholesterol than do neocortex tissues, and ACTH stimulates LDL binding and de novo synthesis of cholesterol in both zones of the HFA gland.