Thyrotropin-releasing hormone rapidly activates the phosphodiester hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides in GH3 pituitary cells. Evidence for the role of a polyphosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C in hormone action

Receptor-mediated inositide hydrolysis is a neuronal response: comparison of primary neuronal and glial cultures

Cholinergic and adrenergic receptor-stimulated inositide hydrolysis was studied in neuronal and glial cells cultured from brains of 1-day-old Wistar-Kyoto rats. Incubation of the cells with [3H]inositol led to the incorporation of radioactivity specifically into inositol phospholipids. Labeling of the membrane lipids reached a maximum in 2-3 days. Receptor-stimulated breakdown of inositides was determined by following the accumulation of inositol phosphates after incubation of the labeled cells for 60 min with carbachol or norepinephrine in the presence of 10 mM lithium. Carbachol (1 mM) stimulated inositol phosphate production in neurons 30 times higher than that seen in glia. The response stimulated by norepinephrine (75 microM) was 6 times higher in neurons than glia. The response to carbachol was blocked by atropine, and the norepinephrine-induced response was inhibited by prazosin suggesting that the receptors mediating the responses were muscarinic and alpha 1-adrenergic, respectively. These results suggest that muscarinic cholinergic and alpha 1-adrenergic stimulated inositide hydrolysis is primarily a neuronal response and that this biochemical event may be important for transmembrane signaling which occurs during neurotransmission.

Neurotensin stimulates polyphosphoinositide breakdown and prolactin release in anterior pituitary cells in culture

Biochemical events underlying neurotensin action at the pituitary were investigated in primary culture of anterior pituitary cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol. Incubation with the tridecapeptide produced a dose-dependent increase in the content of total [3H]inositol phosphates. The time-course showed that the effect was rapid and significant within 1 min. Fractionation of [3H]inositol phosphates revealed that inositol triphosphate (IP3) and inositol diphosphate (IP2) increased earlier than inositol monophosphate (IP1). Structure/activity correlation studies demonstrated the specificity of neurotensin effect, showing that acetylneurotensin(8-13) displayed an action similar to the natural peptide, while neurotensin(1-6) hexapeptide did not exhibit any effect. The neurotensin analog [D-Trp11]-neurotensin antagonized in a concentration-dependent manner the effect of neurotensin both on prolactin release and on [3H]inositol phosphate production. The loss of prelabeled phosphoinositides was also investigated. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P2) and phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P) decreased significantly within 15 s, while a slight decline in phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) level appeared only 1 min after neurotensin addition. These results suggest that neurotensin action at the pituitary is mediated by the early hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides, leading to the production of 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates which may initiate intracellular processes responsible for hormonal release.

Subcellular localization and enzymatic properties of rat liver phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate kinase

The phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate kinase activity in rat liver showed a subcellular distribution different from that of phosphatidylinositol kinase. It was preferentially associated with plasma membrane-rich subcellular fractions, while no or minimal activity could be ascribed to mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi membranes or the endoplasmic reticulum. The plasma membrane enzyme phosphorylated endogenous and exogenously added phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate at comparable initial rates. The phosphorylation of endogenous substrate was strongly inhibited by Triton X-100, while the phosphorylation of added substrate was enhanced, suggesting that endogenous phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate was readily available to the enzyme in unperturbed plasma membranes. The total activity of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate kinase in rat liver was only 1/20 that of phosphatidylinositol kinase. The enzyme activity showed an unusually broad pH-optimum in the neutral range. Mg2+ was the preferred divalent cation and Km towards ATP was about 3-fold higher than the corresponding value for phosphatidylinositol kinase.

Inhibition of granulosa cell differentiation by dioctanoylglycerol--a novel activator of protein kinase C

The actions of dioctanoylglycerol, a novel and specific activator of protein kinase C, on granulosa cell steroidogenesis and LH/hCG receptor induction were examined in vitro. Granulosa cells were cultured for 2 days in media containing 100 nM androstenedione. FSH treatment stimulated progesterone, 20 alpha-hydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OH-P) and estrogen production by 60- to 80-fold over basal levels. Treatment with dioctanoylglycerol increased progesterone production 3-fold over basal levels but failed to affect 20 alpha-OH-P or estrogen production. Concomitant treatment of cells with FSH and increasing amounts of dioctanoylglycerol produced dose-dependent inhibition of FSH-stimulated progesterone, 20 alpha-OH-P and estrogen production with IC50 values of 75, 40 and 50 microM, respectively. Dioctanoylglycerol also inhibited production of all three steroids induced by forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, and dibutyryl cAMP. The effects of dioctanoylglycerol on cAMP responses to FSH were also examined. The increase in both intracellular and extracellular cAMP at 1 h following treatment with FSH was suppressed in the presence of dioctanoylglycerol as was the extracellular accumulation of cAMP at 48 h of culture. FSH induction of LH/hCG receptors, known to be a cAMP-mediated event, was also inhibited in the presence of dioctanoylglycerol. In contrast, a thio-derivative of dioctanoylglycerol (3-thio-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol), which does not activate protein kinase C, failed to inhibit both steroidogenesis and LH/hCG receptor induction in response to FSH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium calmodulin and hormone secretion

As long ago as 1970, it was proposed that Ca2+ can act as a 'second messenger' like cAMP (Rasmussen & Nagata, 1979). The recognition that calmodulin is a major Ca2+ binding protein in non-muscle cells has prompted the suggestion that calmodulin may serve an analogous role for Ca2+ to that served by protein kinase for cAMP (Wang & Waisman, 1979), or at least to the regulatory subunit of the cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases. It is becoming clear that calmodulin probably does play a role in stimulus secretion coupling in endocrine cells. Nevertheless, some of the experimental approaches which have led to this rather tentative conclusion do induce some doubts, as we have attempted to indicate. Many of the pharmacological agents used in the studies cited in this review are not specific in their interaction with calmodulin. For example, the phenothiazines also inhibit phospholipid-sensitive protein kinase. The introduction of more specific drugs, such as the naphthalene sulphonamides, may lead to a clearer picture of the role of calmodulin in hormone secretion. Relationships probably exist between cyclic nucleotides, calcium, calmodulin, phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover and phospholipids in the overall control of the secretory process (see Fig. 1). There is considerable evidence that calcium is the primary internal signal initiating exocytosis of hormone from many glands. However, it appears that cyclic nucleotides can modulate the calcium signal either positively or negatively and it is possible that cAMP and calcium can separately activate secretion. The presence of both calmodulin-activated adenylate cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in the same tissue would appear to suggest either spatial or temporal control mechanisms or that (diagram; see text) the calcium requirement for calmodulin activation differs between the two enzymes. The true explanation is probably far more complex and involves perhaps as yet unknown factors that can differentially influence the activity of calmodulin itself in membranes and in cytosol. Berridge (1982) and Rasmussen (1980) give detailed accounts and review current hypotheses regarding relationships between the cyclic nucleotide and calcium second messenger systems. The various possible interrelationships of the putative messengers have been encompassed by the term 'Synarchic regulation' (Rasmussen, 1980). These concepts and the elucidation of the mechanisms by which cyclic AMP and calcium are involved in the control of secretion from particular cell types will make fascinating reading over the next few years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Synergistic stimulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) release by protein kinase C activators and Ca2+-ionophore

When cultured pituitary cells were stimulated with synthetic diacylglycerol such as 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), or with a potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which are known stimulators of Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), enhanced release of luteinizing hormone (LH) was observed. Similarly, LH release was also stimulated by the Ca2+-ionophore, A23187. Simultaneous presence of A23187 and OAG or TPA resulted in a synergistic response that mimicked the full physiological response to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Removal of extracellular Ca2+ only slightly affected the stimulatory action of TPA and OAG on LH release, but completely blocked the effect of GnRH. The results suggest that the stimulatory effect of GnRH on LH release may be mediated by two intracellular pathways involving Ca2+ and diacylglycerol as second messengers.

Prolactin secretion in permeable GH3 pituitary cells is stimulated by Ca2+ and protein kinase C activators

We have used GH3 cells permeabilized by electric field discharge to examine the effects of Ca2+ and protein kinase C activators (phorbol ester and diacylglycerol) on prolactin (PRL) release. Ca2+ was found to stimulate PRL release approximately 4 fold at 3 microM Ca2+ with a half-maximal response at approximately .5 microM estimated free Ca2+. 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol stimulated PRL release throughout a range of Ca2+ concentrations (1 nM -3 microM), but stimulation was greater at higher Ca2+ concentrations (.1 microM to 1 microM). Both agents decreased by 1.8 fold the apparent [Ca2+] at which half-maximal stimulation of secretion occurred. Quin 2 was used to measure the free [Ca2+] of intact and permeable cells; PRL secretion at a free [Ca2+] corresponding to resting cytoplasmic [Ca2+] was 10% of maximal, while secretion at the [Ca2+] corresponding to the Ca2+ spike induced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone was approximately 25% of maximal.

Modulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in GH3 cells by a phorbol ester and thyroliberin

4 beta phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in GH3 pituitary tumour cells in the presence of isobutylmethylxanthine. This effect persisted after preincubation of cells with cholera or pertussis toxins. In contrast, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was inhibited by PDBu in a dose dependent fashion (IC50 = 5.1 nM). Thyroliberin (TRH) had a similar, but non-additive, stimulatory effect on cyclic AMP accumulation with PDBu, however it did not inhibit VIP stimulation. These results suggest that TRH may stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation through protein kinase C and that stimulation of adenylate cyclase by PDBu and TRH may occur distal to the guanine nucleotide binding regulatory proteins, Ns and Ni.

Activation of human platelets by ADP causes a rapid rise in cytosolic free calcium without hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate decreased 40% within 10 seconds after the addition of thrombin to platelets. This thrombin-induced loss was accompanied by a corresponding increase of inositol phosphates. In contrast, within the first 60 seconds after exposure of platelets to ADP there was no detectable change in the amounts of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate or inositol phosphates. Both thrombin and ADP, however, caused a very rapid rise of cytosolic free calcium, as measured by Quin-2. The magnitude of this rise of calcium was similar for the two agonists. These results suggest that in platelets, agonist stimulation may lead to increased cytosolic free calcium independently of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate degradation.

Bidirectional control of cytosolic free calcium by thyrotropin-releasing hormone in pituitary cells

It is now established that a key step in the action of calcium-mobilizing agonists is stimulation of the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) to 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3). The latter substance acts as a second messenger, controlling the release of calcium from intracellular stores (see ref. 3 for review). The bifurcating nature of the signalling system is exemplified by the fact that the other product of PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis, 1,2-diacylglycerol, can alter cellular function by activating protein kinase C, the cellular target for several tumour-promoting agents such as the phorbol esters. In various tissues, including GH3 pituitary tumour cells, a synergistic interaction between calcium ions and protein kinase C underlies agonist-induced changes in cell activity. The data presented here suggest that when GH3 cells are stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), an agonist inducing PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis, the two limbs of the inositol lipid signalling system interact to control free cytosolic calcium levels [( Ca2+]i). At low levels of TRH receptor occupancy, [Ca2+]i increases rapidly, then declines relatively slowly. As receptor occupancy increases, the calcium signal becomes more short-lived due to the appearance of a second, inhibitory, component. This latter component, which is enhanced when [Ca2+]i is elevated by high potassium depolarization, is mimicked by active phorbol esters and by bacterial phospholipase C. It seems likely that protein kinase C subserves a negative feedback role in agonist-induced calcium mobilization.

Polyphosphoinositide metabolism in adrenal glomerulosa cells

We examined the effect of angiotensin II, a calcium-mobilizing hormone on polyphosphoinositide metabolism in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. In cells preloaded with [32P]phosphate or with [3H]inositol, stimulation with angiotensin resulted in an approx. 40% reduction in the radioactivity of triphosphoinositide (PtdIns4,5P2) within 15 s. Only a slight increase in radioactivity was observed in the subsequent 30 min. Changes in labelling of diphosphoinositide (PtdIns4P) showed similar kinetics. Incorporation studies also showed a reduction in the pool size of [32P]PtdIns4P and [32P]PtdIns4,5P2 in response to angiotensin. Production of inositol phosphates in the absence or presence of lithium, a cation-inhibiting myo-inositol-1-phosphatase, was examined in cells preloaded with [3H]inositol. The results indicate that the production rate of inositol tris- and bisphosphate shows a manifold increase in the first seconds of stimulation and remains enhanced for at least several minutes. The present data suggest that the rate of resynthesis of polyphosphoinositides also increases shortly after the activation of PtdIns4,5P2 phosphodiesterase. Corticotropin, a hormone acting via cyclic AMP, neither affected polyphosphoinositide metabolism nor modified the action of angiotensin II.

Mechanisms involved in alpha-adrenergic phenomena

Epinephrine and norepinephrine exert many important actions by interacting with alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in their target cells. Activation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors causes platelet aggregation and other inhibitory cellular responses. Some of these responses are attributable to a decrease in cAMP due to inhibition of adenylate cyclase. Activation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors promotes their coupling to an inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein (Ni). This coupling promotes the binding of GTP to Ni, causing it to dissociate into subunits. This results in inhibition of the catalytic component of adenylate cyclase. Activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors stimulates the contraction of most smooth muscles and alters secretion and metabolism in several tissues. The primary event is a breakdown of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate in the plasma membrane to produce two intracellular "messengers": myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 causes the release of Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum, producing a rapid rise in cytosolic Ca2+. Ca2+ binds to the regulatory protein calmodulin, and the resulting complex interacts with specific or multifunctional calmodulin-dependent protein kinases and other calmodulin-responsive proteins, altering their activities and thereby producing a variety of physiological responses. DAG also produces effects by activating a Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) that phosphorylates and alters the activity of certain cellular proteins. Frequently there is synergism between the IP3 and DAG mechanisms.

Calcium mobilization potentiates prolactin release induced by protein kinase C activators

The in vitro effect of synthetic diacylglycerol (DG) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), potent stimulators of protein kinase C, was studied on prolactin release. These substances increased, in a concentration-dependent manner, prolactin release from primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells. Similarly, exposure of pituitary cells to phospholipase C, which liberates endogenous DG from various substrates, also enhanced prolactin release. The effect of Ca2+ mobilization on PMA-, synthetic DG- or phospholipase C-induced prolactin release was examined. A23187 at 400 nM or 2 ng/ml maitotoxin, a Ca2+ channel activator, did not affect prolactin release by themselves, but enhanced the release of prolactin induced by DG, PMA or phospholipase C. The stimulatory effects of DG, PMA and phospholipase C on prolactin release were reduced by co-incubation with dopamine. These results suggest that the presumed activation of protein kinase C by DG and mobilization of Ca2+ may be synergistically involved in the regulation of prolactin release. Dopamine appears to inhibit prolactin release at a point distal to the DG-enhanced stimulation of the process.

Protein kinase C translocates from cytosol to membrane upon hormone activation: effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in GH3 cells

The subcellular distribution of protein kinase C (PK C) was examined in thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)--responsive GH3 pituitary cells. TRH treatment, which is known to stimulate polyphosphoinositide turnover and diacylglycerol generation, resulted in a rapid (less than or equal to 15 sec) and transient redistribution of the enzyme from cytosol to membrane fraction. Other agents which either stimulate PK C directly (1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) or elevate cellular diglyceride levels (phospholipase C) also promoted a redistribution of the enzyme from cytosol to membrane. These results provide evidence for the concept that cell-surface receptor-mediated phosphoinositide breakdown activates PK C. It appears that translocation of PK C to the membrane is an early step in the cellular activation of this enzyme.

Specific interaction between phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and profilactin

There is evidence that the polymerization of actin takes place at the plasma membrane, and that profilactin (profilin/actin complex), the unpolymerized form of actin found in extracts of many non-muscle cells, serves as the immediate precursor. Both isolated profilin and profilactin interact with detergent when analysed by charge shift electrophoresis, indicating that they have amphipathic properties and may be able to interact directly with the plasma membrane. We demonstrate here that isolated profilin, as well as the profilactin complex, interacts with anionic phospholipids. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) was found to be the most active phospholipid, causing a rapid and efficient dissociation of profilactin with a concomitant polymerization of the actin in appropriate conditions. These and other observations suggest the possibility of a relationship between the induction of actin filament formation and the increased activity in the phosphatidylinositol cycle seen as a result of ligand-receptor interactions in various systems.

Chlordiazepoxide is a competitive thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist in GH3 pituitary tumour cells

Addition of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) to [3H]-inositol pre-labelled GH3 pituitary tumour cells suspended in medium containing 10mM lithium chloride led to a rapid diminution in cellular [3H]-inositol and increase in [3H]-inositol 1-phosphate (InslP), [3H]-inositol bisphosphate (InsP2) and [3H]-inositol trisphosphate (InsP3). In the presence of the benzodiazepine tranquillizer, chlordiazepoxide, the TRH concentration-response curves for these effects were shifted to the right in a parallel fashion. The Ki for chlordiazepoxide in inhibiting all four responses was 1.5 X 10(-5)M. Chlordiazepoxide did not inhibit the small bombesin-induced rise in [3H]-InslP. Another benzodiazepine, diazepam, was less active. The TRH-induced rise in cytosolic free calcium monitored in Quin-2-loaded GH3 cells was also blocked by chlordiazepoxide in a competitive manner, while that induced by high K+-induced depolarisation was unaffected. It is suggested that chlordiazepoxide acts as a competitive antagonist at the level of the TRH receptor.

Phorbol esters as probes of the regulation of thyrotropin secretion

12-0-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and thyrotropin releasing hormone were compared as thyrotropin secretagogues in cultured rat pituitary cells. The maximal secretion evoked by the former was only half that evoked by the latter. A23187 plus 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate together produced as large a response as thyrotropin releasing hormone. Triiodothyronine inhibited phorbol ester-induced thyrotropin secretion, and this inhibition required protein synthesis.

Inositol trisphosphate, a novel second messenger in cellular signal transduction

There has recently been rapid progress in understanding receptors that generate intracellular signals from inositol lipids. One of these lipids, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, is hydrolysed to diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate as part of a signal transduction mechanism for controlling a variety of cellular processes including secretion, metabolism, phototransduction and cell proliferation. Diacylglycerol operates within the plane of the membrane to activate protein kinase C, whereas inositol trisphosphate is released into the cytoplasm to function as a second messenger for mobilizing intracellular calcium.

Effect of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate on isolated subcellular fractions of rat pancreas

We have previously shown that inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) releases Ca2+ from an intracellular calcium store in permeabilized acinar cells of rat pancreas (H. Streb et al., 1983, Nature (London) 306:67-69). This observation suggests that IP3 might provide the missing link between activation of the muscarinic receptor and Ca2+ release from intracellular stores during stimulation. In order to localize the intracellular IP3-sensitive calcium pool, IP3-induced Ca2+ release was measured in isolated subcellular fractions. A total homogenate was prepared from acinar cells which had been isolated by a collagenase digestion method. Endoplasmic reticulum was separated from mitochondria, zymogen granules and nuclei by differential centrifugation. Plasma membranes and endoplasmic reticulum were separated by centrifugation on a sucrose step gradient or by precipitation with high concentrations of MgCl2. IP3-induced Ca2+ release per mg protein in the total homogenate was the same as in leaky cells and was sufficiently stable to make short separation procedures possible. In fractions obtained by either differential centrifugation at 7000 X g, sucrose-density centrifugation, or MgCl2 precipitation there was a close correlation of Ip3-induced Ca2+ release with the endoplasmic reticulum markers ribonucleic acid (r = 0.96, 1.00, 0.91, respectively) and NADPH cytochrome c reductase (r = 0.63, 0.98, 0.90, respectively). In contrast, there was a clear negative correlation with the mitochondrial markers cytochrome c oxidase (r = -0.64) and glutamate dehydrogenase (r = -0.75) and with the plasma membrane markers (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (r = -0.81) and alkaline phosphatase (r = -0.77) in all fractions analyzed. IP3-induced Ca2+ release was distributed independently of zymogen granule or nuclei content of the fractions as assessed by electron microscopy. The data suggest that inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate releases Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum in pancreatic acinar cells.

Turnover of inositol phospholipids and signal transduction

Various extracellular informational signals such as those from a group of hormones and some neurotransmitters appear to be passed from the cell surface into the cell interior by two routes, protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization. Both routes usually become available as the result of an interaction of a single ligand and a receptor and act synergistically to evoke subsequent cellular responses such as release reactions. The signal-dependent breakdown of inositol phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, now appears to be a key event for initiating these processes.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone rapidly alters polyphosphoinositide metabolism in rat granulosa cells

This report describes the rapid effects of GnRH and an agonist [D-Ala6, des-Gly10] GnRH ethylamide (GnRHa) on polyphosphoinositide metabolism in rat granulosa cells. As indicated by the depletion of cellular levels of 32P-prelabeled triphosphoinositide (TPI) and diphosphoinositide (DPI), GnRHa rapidly stimulated the hydrolysis of TPI and DPI. The effect of GnRHa was maximal at the earliest time point examined (30 sec) and preceded GnRHa-induced increases in labeling of phosphatidylinositol. A specific GnRH antagonist had no effect on TPI or DPI levels, but prevented the polyphosphoinositide depletion induced by GnRH. LH did not stimulate depletion of 32P-polyphosphoinositides. The rapid and specific effects of GnRH on polyphosphoinositide depletion may represent an early and possibly initiating event in the action of GnRH.

Prolactin release from MtTW15 and 7315a pituitary tumors is refractory to TRH and VIP stimulation

We studied the in vitro responsiveness of prolactin-secreting MtTW15 and 7315a pituitary tumor cells to stimulation by selected secretagogues using a perifusion technique. Prolactin release by these cells was refractory to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In contrast, 50 mM K+, dibutyryl cAMP, theophylline, phospholipase A2 and phorbol myristate acetate all increased prolactin release from both tumor cell types. Phospholipase C increased prolactin release from 7315a but not from MtTW15 cells. TRH increased 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol in the 7315a but not in the MtTW15 tumor cells. Therefore, the refractoriness of these tumors to TRH and VIP may be at least partially due to a defect in the receptor or in the process that couples receptor binding and intracellular biochemical processes. In the MtTW15 tumor at least part of the defect may be related to phospholipid hydrolysis.

The application of HPLC methodology for the analysis of receptor mediated changes in phosphoinositide metabolism

HPLC methodology has found wide application in analytical problems in biochemistry. To study the metabolism of phosphatidylinositol and its regulation by receptor mediated events, HPLC could be a valuable technique. It has been recently demonstrated that a variety of hormones and neurotransmittors act to stimulate hydrolysis of phosphoinositides by a phospholipase C. To monitor this reaction, we have analysed the formation of radiolabelled inositol phosphates from phosphoinositides. The present paper describes a rapid HPLC procedure, to separate inositol phosphates from myo-inositol, which could be used in pharmacological studies of receptors linked to phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The potential of the application of HPLC to the analysis of the phospholipids involved is discussed.