Adenosine Inhibits L- and N-Type Calcium Channels in Pituitary Melanotrophs. Evidence for the Involvement of a G Protein in Calcium Channel Gating

It has been previously demonstrated that activation of A₁ adenosine receptors in frog melanotrophs causes inhibition of spontaneous action potential discharges and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone secretion. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of adenosine on high-voltage-activated (HVA) calcium currents in cultured melanotrophs, using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique with barium as a charge carrier. Adenosine and the specific A₁ adenosine receptor agonist R-PIA (50 μM each) produced a decrease of the amplitude of the barium current, while the selective A₂ adenosine receptor agonist CGS 21680 did not affect the current. The inhibitory effect of R-PIA was observed throughout the activation range of the current, with stronger responses at more positive potentials. R-PIA inhibited both the L- and N-type components of the current, the effect on the N-component being two-fold higher than on the L-component. The inhibitory effect of R-PIA was rendered irreversible by addition of GTPyS (100 μM) to the intracellular solution. Pre-treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (1 μg/ml; 12 h) totally abolished the effect of R-PIA on the HVA calcium channels. Conversely, addition of a high concentration of cAMP (100 μM) together with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX (100 μM) to the intracellular solution did not modify the effect of R-PIA on the current.
It is concluded that, in frog melanotrophs, adenosine induces inhibition of L- and N-calcium currents and that this effect is mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. Our data also indicate that the inhibitory effect of adenosine on the calcium currents is not mediated by inhibition of adenylyl cyclase.