Regulation of growth hormone secretion and cyclic AMP metabolism in ovine pituitary cells: interactions involved in activation induced by growth hormone-releasing hormone and phorbol esters

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and the phorbol ester tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) each stimulated a rapid and extensive (up to 15-fold) increase in the secretion of growth hormone from cultured ovine anterior pituitary cells. Effects of the releasing hormone on growth hormone secretion were associated with a concurrent, large increase in cellular cyclic AMP accumulation. TPA induced a much smaller (26-78%), though still significant, increase in cellular cyclic AMP levels. Forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) also stimulated growth hormone secretion and cyclic AMP accumulation. When combined with a maximally effective concentration of GHRH these compounds did not further elevate growth hormone secretion even though they induced further increases in cyclic AMP concentration; this is consistent with activation occurring via a common cyclic AMP-dependent pathway. In contrast TPA when combined with maximally effective concentrations of either GHRH, forskolin or IBMX caused additional release of growth hormone, suggesting that the TPA-induced secretion involved a cyclic AMP-independent process. However, TPA also markedly potentiated the cellular cyclic AMP accumulation due to each of these agents. That TPA induced stimulation of basal and GHRH-stimulated cyclic AMP levels measured in the presence of IBMX suggests an action affecting cyclic AMP synthesis. Carbachol had no effect on basal or GHRH-stimulated growth hormone secretion or cyclic AMP levels. The two actions of TPA, one on secretion and one on cyclic AMP metabolism, may result from activation of some common event possibly involving protein kinase C. Our results suggest that GHRH and TPA activate independent pathways regulating growth hormone secretion.