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

1986 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Hyatt ◽  
J. B. G. Bell ◽  
K. Bhatt ◽  
F. W. Chu ◽  
J. F. Tait ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT 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 bis-phosphate 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 μmol/l) highly significantly (P < 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 α-MSH (above 0·1 nmol/l). However, incorporation of [32P] was not significantly increased until 10 μmol α-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 > 0·05) by any dose of α-MSH (10 nmol/l, 1 μmol/l and 0·1 mmol/l) used. Therefore, it can be concluded that α-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 α-MSH/l (highly significant above 10 nmol α-MSH/l). There were plateaux of the outputs of both steroids and cAMP from 0·1 to 1 μmol α-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 α-MSH preferentially stimulates steroidogenesis by the zona glomerulosa. However, under our conditions, α-MSH highly significantly increased the output of cAMP by both zona fasciculata and glomerulosa cells. J. Endocr. (1986) 110, 405–416

1974 ◽  
Vol 185 (1081) ◽  
pp. 375-407 ◽  

The densities of latex spheres and biological cells can be reliably determined from their sedimentation rate in an albumin gradient under unit gravitational force. The densities of zona glomerulosa and fasciculata cells of rat adrenals were found to be 1.072 ± 0.004 and 1.040 ± 0.001 respectively. Purified zona glomerulosa cells of rat adrenals can be prepared by gravitational sedimentation of dispersed cells from capsule strippings of the gland, which originally contain 3 to10% zona fasciculata contamination. Electron and phase microscopic examination of the sedimented glomerulosa cells and their steroidogenic response to ACTH and cyclic AMP indicate that they are reasonably free of contamination from zona fasciculata cells. Electron microscopic examination of the purified glomerulosa cells indicates that most of them are reasonably normal in structure. Their basal production of corticosterone is decreased after sedimentation. However, their maximal response of corticosterone output to serotonin and potassium and their response to all potassium concentrations is not significantly altered, indicating normal function for the cells producing steroids. Their maximal responses to ACTH, valine angiotensin II and cyclic AMP are decreased, but, at the doses used, steroidogenesis by the zona fasciculata contamination in the unfractionated preparation would be stimulated by these substances. Purified zona glomerulosa cells have about the same maximal response of corticosterone output (about twofold) to potassium, valine and isoleucine angiotensin II, serotonin and ACTH. The maximal response of the purified zona glomerulosa cells to cyclic AMP is similar to that elicited by valine and isoleucine angiotensin II, potassium, serotonin or ACTH. This indicates that if these stimuli act by increasing cyclic AMP output, then the maximal response of corticosterone output (about twofold) is defined by the limited response of the biosynthetic pathways to cyclic AMP.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (4) ◽  
pp. E555-E561 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Spat ◽  
I. Balla ◽  
T. Balla ◽  
P. Enyedi ◽  
G. Hajnoczky ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-induced aldosterone production by superfused adrenal glomerulosa cells was potentiated by Ni2+ (0.1 mM), added either at the onset of stimulation with angiotensin II or 1 h later. Nickel did not influence the effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium on aldosterone production. Nickel failed to modify angiotensin-induced changes in phospholipid metabolism or the formation of inositol phosphates and slightly reduced the enhancement of 45Ca influx. Uptake of Ni2+ into glomerulosa cells was increased by depolarization in a dihydropyridine-insensitive manner. Because nickel selectively potentiates the sustained phase of the response to a calcium-mobilizing hormone, it may serve as a suitable tool in elucidating the signal transduction process during the sustained phase of stimulation.


1981 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. G. BELL ◽  
J. F. TAIT ◽  
S. A. S. TAIT ◽  
G. D. BARNES ◽  
B. L. BROWN

The effects of pure [Asp1, Val5]- and [Asn1, Val5]-angiotensin II and also [des-Asp1, Ile5]-angiotensin II (angiotensin III) on cyclic AMP and steroid outputs by dispersed rat capsular cells, comprising 95% zona glomerulosa and 5% zona fasciculata cells, have been studied. The results showed that [Asp1, Val5]- and [Asn1, Val5]-angiotensin II, at doses between 2·5 × 10−1 1 and 2 × 10−4 mol/l, which produced typical increases in steroidogenesis, failed to increase output of cyclic AMP. This lack of effect was observed whether the nucleotide was measured by radioimmunoassay or by adrenal binding protein and under the same conditions in which 8·4 mm-K+ consistently increased the output of cyclic AMP. Instead the results showed a small but significant decrease in cyclic AMP output with angiotensin II. Similar results were obtained with incubations for 60 rather than 120 min and with medium containing a concentration of 5 or 40 g bovine serum albumin/l. Although the levels of cyclic AMP were generally higher in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, the same decrease relative to basal outputs was observed with angiotensin II which increased steroidogenesis. Angiotensin III also failed to increase output of cyclic AMP at doses (2·5×10−9 to 2·5×10−6 mol/l) which produced increases in steroid output equivalent to those obtained with angiotensin II. These results indicate that angiotensin II and III can act through a cyclic AMP- independent mechanism.


1984 ◽  
Vol 222 (1228) ◽  
pp. 273-294 ◽  

The effects of various concentrations of serotonin, ACTH, K + , angiotensin II (A ll), angiotensin III (AIII) and [Sar 1 ] angiotensin II (SAII) on steroidogenesis and the incorporation of 32 P (after preincubation to near equilibrium with the ATP pool) into phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a preparation of capsular cells from rat adrenals, consisting of 95% zona glomerulosa (z.g.) and 5 % zona fasciculata plus reticularis (z.f.r.) cells, were investigated. Serotonin and ACTH stimulated steroidogenesis in the usual manner but had little or no effect on 32 P incorporation into any of the three phospholipids. However, All, AIII and SAII stimulated steroidogenesis and also 32 P incorporation into PA and PI (maximally to about 280 % of control values) but not into PC. These results taken together with other data on effects on the cAMP output and Ca 2+ fluxes of z.g. cells suggest that stimulation by ACTH and serotonin is mediated by cAMP as second messenger. However, the angiotensins probably act through Ca 2+ , with associated changes in phospholipid metabolism. The 32 P incorporation into PA as a function of lg concentration of All was linear and showed a reasonable index of precision (0.36 + 0.03, eight experiments, 0.23 + 0.02 for a further eight experiments) and correlation with steroidogenesis. The corresponding incorporation into PI showed a maximum effect and a much poorer index of precision (1.02 + 0.30 (4.69 + 3.7)) over the same full range of All concentration used. The effects of AIII and SAII showed similar characteristics for 32 P incorporation into both PA and PI, but, as for stimulation of steroidogenesis, at higher concentrations for AIII than for All. The effects of different doses of All, AIII and ACTH on the corticosterone output and 32 P incorporation into PA, PI and PC of a preparation of cells, consisting of more than 98% z.f.r. cells, from rat decapsulated adrenals were also studied. ACTH, at low doses, which nevertheless markedly stimulated corticosterone output, had a small (maximally to about 125% of control values) but significant effect on 32 P incorporation into PA, PI and PC. The maximum effect was usually at about 10 -10 M ACTH and was not significant at 10 -8 M . All had no significant effect on corticosterone output or on 32 P incorporation into PC. However, All had a significant effect (to about 185 %) on 32 P incorporation into PI, but a smaller effect on incorporation into PA. AII I gave similar results. Increased K + concentration (from basal 3.6 to 5.9, 8.4 and 13 mM) stimulated the steroidogenesis of capsular cells but did not increase the 32 P incorporation into PA at any concentration. At 8.4 mM, but not at any other K + concentration, there was a small (about 130%) but significant increase in 32 P incorporation into PI. This was not due to incorporation into PI in the contaminating cells as K + (or serotonin) did not alter incorporation into PA or PI in z.f.r. cells. Nevertheless, K + does not seem to stimulate steroidogenesis by the same mechanism as do the angiotensins, that is, it uses cAMP rather than Ca 2+ as messenger. The results for all the stimuli studied indicate that for a ‘Ca 2+ messenger’ bioassay using adrenal capsular cells, it will be preferable to measure the incorporation of 32 P into PA rather than into PI and this should provide a satisfactory assay as regards specificity, sensitivity and precision.


1991 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Purdy ◽  
B. J. Whitehouse ◽  
D. R. E. Abayasekara

ABSTRACT The actions of forskolin have been investigated to determine to what extent its effects on steroidogenesis in rat adrenal preparations are dependent on activation of adenylate cyclase. In zona glomerulosa preparations, stimulation of both aldosterone and corticosterone production was obtained at concentrations of forskolin between 1 and 10 μmol/l. The effects of 10 μmol forskolin/l were additive with those of low doses (1 pmol/l) of corticotrophin (ACTH), but not with those of high doses (1 nmol/l) of ACTH. In contrast, in zona fasciculata/reticularis cells, doses of forskolin up to 10 μmol/l produced no significant stimulation of corticosterone production either alone or in the presence of ACTH (1 pmol/l and 1 nmol/l). The response to 1 nmol ACTH/l was attenuated in the presence of forskolin (10 μmol/l) in both zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata/reticularis cell preparations. Cyclic AMP production increased progressively with dose up to 100 μmol forskolin/l in zona glomerulosa cells, whereas corticosterone production was maximal between 10 and 30 μmol forskolin/l and decreased at 100 μmol forskolin/l. In zona fasciculata/reticularis cells, cyclic AMP production was also increased by forskolin (1 and 10 μmol/l). The stimulation of zona glomerulosa steroido-genesis by forskolin (1–10 μmol/l) and ACTH (1–100 pmol/l) were both reduced by the adenylate cyclase inhibitor, N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (100 μmol/l). The calcium channel inhibitor, nifedipine, only reduced the steroidogenic response to forskolin (3 μmol/l) at doses of 300 μmol/l whereas the response to 8·4 mmol K+/l was inhibited at 10 μmol nifedipine/1. Although there is some dissociation between the effects of forskolin on cyclic AMP and steroidogenesis, the results are generally consistent with the view that the effects of forskolin in rat zona glomerulosa cells are mainly dependent on activation of adenylate cyclase. This contrasts with the effects of forskolin in bovine fasciculata cells which are reported to be mediated by activation of voltage-regulated calcium channels. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 129, 391–397


1987 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Riondel ◽  
Piera Rebuffat ◽  
Giuseppina Mazzochi ◽  
Gastone G. Nussdorfer ◽  
Rolf C. Gaillard ◽  
...  

Abstract. To test the hypothesis that the trophic action of angiotensin II on the adrenal zona glomerulosa may allow a sustained stimulation of aldosterone by ACTH by preventing the morphological changes of the zona glomerulosa cells into zona fasciculata-like elements we investigated the effects in rats of a 6-day treatment with ACTH (100 μg/kg/day) alone or combined with angiotensin II (300 ng/kg/day) on corticosterone and aldosterone production and adrenal morphology. The responsiveness of both steroids to an acute ACTH dose was also studied on the last day of long-term treatment. Morphologic data showed that prolonged ACTH treatment stimulated the growth of zona glomerulosa cells, though it transformed the tubulo-lamellar cristae of mitochondria into a homogeneous population of vesicles. Angiotensin II furthered the trophic effects of ACTH but prevented the mitochondrial transformation. Despite its ability to conserve the well differentiated aspect of the zona glomerulosa cells, the administration of angiotensin II was unable to prevent the fall in the secretion of aldosterone caused by chronic ACTH treatment and its subsequent unresponsiveness to ACTH stimulation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (2) ◽  
pp. E179-E183 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. N. Cozza ◽  
C. E. Gomez-Sanchez

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) exerts the following two types of aldosterone-stimulating actions on glomerulosa cells: ET-1-mediated direct stimulation of aldosterone secretion (per se effect) and potentiation of the aldosterone secretion to angiotensin II (ANG II; potentiation effect). The role of Ca2+ and protein kinase C (PKC) systems in these two effects was investigated. Incubations of calf cultured adrenal zona glomerulosa cells in low-Ca2+ media or in the presence of the Ca2+ channel antagonist verapamil reduced the aldosterone secretion to ET-1. When cells were preincubated with ET-1 in a low-Ca2+ media or in the presence of the Ca2+ channel antagonist verapamil, washed, and incubated in media with normal Ca2+, ANG II showed potentiation of ANG II-stimulated aldosterone secretion. The PKC inhibitors H-7 and staurosporine did not decrease ET-1-stimulated aldosterone secretion, but they inhibited the potentiation effect of ET-1 on ANG II-mediated aldosterone secretion. Adrenocorticotropic hormone desensitization or prolonged phorbol ester stimulation of PKC resulting in desensitization also resulted in the abolition of the ET-1-mediated ANG II potentiation of aldosterone secretion. The PKC inhibitors did not affect ANG II-stimulated aldosterone secretion. We conclude that ET-1 exerts a direct stimulation of aldosterone secretion through a mechanism dependent on Ca2+ and potentiates ANG II-mediated aldosterone stimulation through a mechanism involving PKC.


1980 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. TAIT ◽  
S. A. S. TAIT ◽  
J. B. G. BELL ◽  
P. J. HYATT ◽  
B. C. WILLIAMS

Preparations of capsular rat adrenal cells consisting mainly of zona glomerulosa with less than 5% zona fasciculata contamination are described. The responses of the aldosterone and corticosterone outputs of these preparations to various stimuli were of four types. (1) Variations in K+ concentration gave a maximum aldosterone response at 5·9–8·4 mm-K+, about sixfold greater than the control output at 3·6 mmol/l. At higher K+ concentrations, such as 13 mmol/l, the response decreased. (2) Serotonin (at a concentration of about 10−4 mol/l) gave only a slightly lower maximal aldosterone response than did K+ but this did not decrease significantly at higher concentrations. Serotonin gave significant steroidogenic response at 10−8 mol/l. (3) [Asp1,Val5]-Angiotensin II (10−10 mol/l) with 3·6 mm-K+ gave a significant response and a constant maximal response at 2·5 × 10−8 mol/l. This maximum response was about half that found for both aldosterone and corticosterone when stimulated maximally by K+ or serotonin: [des-Asp1,Ile5]- and [des-Asp1,Val5]-angiotensin II (angiotensin III) gave similar response characteristics but had a lower potency in this cell preparation. The initial maximum response could be further increased at a higher concentration (from 2·5 × 10−5 mol/l) of a preparation of [Asn1,Val5]-amide angiotensin II (Hypertensin-Ciba) and might eventually be greater than with K+. This additional response was, to a major extent, due to stimulation of the contaminating zona fasciculata cells and was not seen with high concentrations of the free acid, angiotensin II. It was also not seen in two experiments with pure [Asn1]-amide angiotensin II and therefore it could have been due to some impurity in Hypertensin-Ciba. (4) Adrenocorticotrophin (Synacthen) at 3 × 10−11 mol/l gave a significant steroidogenic response. Higher concentrations (3 × 10−10 to 7·5 × 10−9 mol/l) gave no constant maximum but the response could be much greater than for other stimuli such as K+, serotonin and [Asp1]-angiotensin II. This additional response was again due to steroid precursors, e.g. deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone from contaminating zona fasciculata cells. Similar results were obtained with ACTH (ACTHAR) in three experiments. Threshold sensitivity (a significant increase in steroidogenesis) for ACTH (Synacthen) was, in two experiments, greater for zona fasciculata-reticularis cells (3 × 10−12 mol/l) than for zona glomerulosa cells (3 × 10−11 mol/l). The data show that aldosterone output was approximately a function of the square of the corresponding corticosterone value. Specific effects on this pathway can be shown by values of aldosterone/corticosterone2 greater than one. Of all stimuli used, only K+ concentrations of 5·3, 5·9 and 13 mmol/l gave such effects. However, because of several considerations, only positive results with other stimuli may be meaningful. Calculation of this parameter might be useful as a screening test in bioassays for substances with aldosterone-stimulating activity.


1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Williams ◽  
J. G. McDougall ◽  
J. F. Tait ◽  
S. A. S. Tait

1. The efflux of 45Ca from prelabelled dispersed rat adrenal capsular and decapsulated cell preparations was studied with a column superfusion system. Corticosterone and aldosterone outputs were measured by direct and extraction radioimmunoassays. 2. The stimulants potassium, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), serotonin and adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP), at concentrations which gave marked increases in steroid output, had no significant effect on the rate of 45Ca efflux from capsular cell preparations (mainly zona glomerulosa). 3. ACTH, at a concentration which stimulated steriodogenesis similarly, did not alter the rate of 45Ca efflux from decapsulated cell preparations (zona fasciculata/reticularis). 4. [Asp1, Val5]Angiotensin II caused dose-dependent increases in the rate of 45Ca efflux from capsular cells which correlated with corresponding increases in steroid output, but had no effect either on 45Ca efflux or corticosterone output in decapsulated cell preparations. [desAsp1,Ile5]Angiotensin II (angiotensin III) caused similar dose-dependent increases in 45Ca efflux from capsular cells, which correlated with its effects on steroidogenesis, but was less potent in both respects than angiotensin II. 5. Lowered extracellular calcium caused a very marked and rapid increase in 45Ca efflux in capsular-cell preparations, which was not significantly modified by raising the extracellular potassium concentration, although stimulation of steriodogenesis was observed. 6. These findings suggest that in zona glomerulosa cells the stimulants potassium, ACTH, serotonin and cyclic AMP are not coupled to changes in calcium transport indicated by alterations in calcium efflux, whereas angiotensins II and III, the only stimulants examined which do not increase cyclic AMP in these cell preparations, appear to act through a calcium-mediated control mechanism. In zona fasciculata/reticularis cell preparations ACTH does not appear to be coupled to such changes in calcium transport.


1974 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet D. M. Albano ◽  
Barry L. Brown ◽  
Roger P. Ekins ◽  
Sylvia A. S. Tait ◽  
James F. Tait

Dispersed rat adrenal cells prepared from both the capsule and the decapsulated gland were used to investigate the effects on cyclic AMP accumulation of known stimuli of steroidogenesis [ACTH (adrenocorticotrophin), angiotensin II, K+ions and 5-hydroxytryptamine]. Since glomerulosa-cell preparations from capsular strippings are normally contaminated with a proportion of fasciculata cells, cells purified by fractionation on a bovine serum albumin gradient were also used. The results showed that: (1) ACTH and angiotensin II stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in both fractionated and unfractionated zona fasciculata cells; (2) 5-hydroxytryptamine and an increased extracellular K+concentration (from 3.6 to 8.4mm) had no effect on cyclic AMP concentrations in fasciculata cell preparations; (3) the addition of ACTH, angiotensin II, 5-hydroxytryptamine or K+to the incubation medium resulted in increased cyclic AMP concentrations in unpurified zona glomerulosa cell preparations; (4) fractionation and hence the virtual elimination of fasciculata contamination, did not affect the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine and increased K+concentration. However, the responses to ACTH and angiotensin II were markedly lowered but not abolished. These results strongly suggest a link between cyclic AMP production and steroidogenesis in the zone of the adrenal gland that specifically secretes aldosterone. All four agents used stimulated both steroid output and cyclic AMP accumulation. However, at certain doses of 5-hydroxytryptamine, K+and angiotensin II the significant increases in corticosterone output were not accompanied by measurable increases in cyclic AMP accumulation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document