Parotid acinar cells: ionic dependence of isoprenaline-evoked membrane potential changes

Actions of isoproterenol in frog proximal tubules

In the present work, we compared biochemical and electrophysiological actions of isoproterenol on frog proximal tubular cells by using tubule suspensions and giant entities obtained by cell fusion. Isoproterenol (ISO) dose-dependently stimulated cAMP production in tubule suspension and depolarized the "giant cell" membrane. Both effects were triggered by beta receptor occupancy, but strongly differed in their concentration-dependency, since depolarization occurred with an ISO concentration as low as 10(-12) mol/l whereas cAMP accumulation could be seen only with more than 10(-8) mol/l ISO. ISO-induced membrane depolarization was mimicked by forskolin which directly stimulated the catalytic subunit of adenylyl cyclase. In both isoproterenol- and forskolin-stimulated giant cells, membrane depolarization was accompanied by a decrease in membrane conductance, and both effects were inhibited by tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). On the other hand, ISO- and forskolin-induced cAMP production were not affected by TEA. The present data thus show that isoproterenol produces two independent effects in frog proximal tubule: it depolarizes the cell membrane by blocking a K+ conductance and activates adenylyl cyclase.

Neuroendocrine control of secretion in pancreatic and parotid gland acini and the role of Na+,K+-ATPase activity

The results of our investigations into the localization of Na+,K+-pump activity in pancreatic and parotid acinar cells and the effects of hormones and neurotransmitters on pump turnover can be integrated with data on other aspects of stimulus-response coupling to construct models of the neurohumoral control of protein, fluid, and electrolyte secretion (Fig. 23). In both tissues, Ca2+ and cyclic AMP serve as intracellular messengers. In pancreatic acinar cells, the Ca2+-dependent pathway activated by the occupation of CCK or cholinergic receptors provides the primary stimulus for digestive enzyme secretion. Cyclic AMP plays a comparatively minor role; VIP and secretin are much less effective stimulators of protein secretion. Conversely, cyclic AMP levels in parotid acinar cells, which are modulated primarily through occupation of beta-adrenergic receptors, are a major determinant of enzyme secretion. Activation of the Ca2+-dependent pathway by cholinergic or alpha-adrenergic agonists or substance P is less important. The presence of dual control processes in each gland suggests that the observed differences in effectiveness of cyclic AMP- versus Ca2+-dependent secretagogues may reflect not different mechanisms, but rather a shift in the relative emphasis placed on each pathway. This emphasis could conceivably result from subtle variations in the interaction between cellular protein kinases and phosphatases and their phosphoprotein substrates. Electrolyte secretion, on the other hand, appears to involve both discrete and common entities. In pancreatic acinar cells from rodent species, cholinergic or CCK receptor occupancy elicits a Ca2+-dependent increase in the open-state probability of nonselective cation channels in the basolateral plasma membrane. The resultant influx of Na+ and efflux of K+ is most probably the factor which activates Na+, K+-pumps. Based on electron probe studies of the effects of cholinergic agonists on acinar cell Na+ and K+ contents discussed earlier, a transient reduction in the intracellular K+/Na+ ratio of up to 4-fold may occur. A shift of this magnitude in the cytoplasmic microenvironment of the Na+, K+-pump clearly would have a stimulatory influence (see discussion by Jorgensen, 1980). In addition, Ca2+ itself may have direct effects on Na+,K+-pump activity. Calcium at levels much above 1 microM progressively inhibits Na+,K+-ATPase activity (Tobin et al., 1973; Yingst and Polasek, 1985). In unstimulated guinea pig pancreatic acinar cells, Ca2+i measured by quin-2 fluorescence was 161 +/- 13 nM (Hootman et al., 1985a) which increased to a maximal concentration of 803 +/- 122 nM following CCh stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Isoproterenol inhibition of potassium release from rat parotid gland

The mechanism of isoproterenol-induced inhibition of potassium release from rat parotid slices has been determined. Spontaneous potassium release from the slices was significantly inhibited by isoproterenol at concentrations above 10(-6) M. This isoproterenol effect was completely abolished in the presence of propranolol (10(-5) M) and ouabain (10(-3) M) and was abolished during Na+-exclusion from the incubation medium. Isoproterenol caused an enhancement of the microsomal Na+, K+-ATPase activity at concentrations above 10(-5) M, and this activity was inhibited by propranolol (10(-5) M). The stimulatory effect of isoproterenol on the Na+, K+-ATPase exhibited a strong correlation with the inhibition of potassium release on each dose of isoproterenol. Moreover, dibutyryl cyclic AMP at concentrations above 10(-4) M inhibited potassium release in a dose-dependent manner and cyclic AMP caused an enhancement of the microsomal Na+, K+-ATPase activity. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of isoproterenol on potassium release is clearly derived from the elevated Na+, K+-ATPase activity and that it may in part be mediated by cyclic AMP.

Salivary secretion induced from isolated, perfused rat submandibular glands by sympathomimetic agents

Saliva secretion was elicited from the isolated preparations by isoproterenol and phenylephrine, at concentrations from 10(-8) to 10(-5) M. The volumes of saliva secreted during a 60-min period, the rates of flow and the electrolyte composition of saliva secreted in response to each secretagogue were similar to those in vivo. Replacement of perfusate Na+ inhibited the secretion of fluid induced by isoproterenol (75 per cent) and by phenylephrine (99 per cent). It also reduced the Na+ and K+ concentrations of saliva elicited by the two secretagogues and inhibited isoproterenol-induced protein secretion (81 per cent). Omission of Ca2+ from the perfusate also inhibited fluid secretion (isoproterenol-stimulated, 84 per cent; phenylephrine-stimulated, 99 per cent) and isoproterenol-induced protein secretion (69 per cent). The absence of the divalent cation in the perfusate resulted in increased Na+ and decreased K+ concentrations in isoproterenol-stimulated saliva and in reduced K+ concentrations in phenylephrine-stimulated saliva. Administration of 10(-5) M phentolamine did not modify the volume of saliva secreted in response to isoproterenol, but reduced the response to phenylephrine by 90 per cent. The antagonist caused some reduction in the Na+ and K+ concentrations of isoproterenol-stimulated saliva, but did not modify those of phenylephrine-evoked secretion. Little recovery in fluid secretion was observed when the isolated gland was perfused with complete perfusate in the presence of phenylephrine after perfusion with Na+- or Ca2+-free solutions. Thus perfused rat submandibular glands are fully functional preparations, which respond to sympathomimetic agents of the alpha and beta types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)