LHRH-receptor-regulated Ca2+-ATPase activity in murine pituitary gland

Influence of ethanol on calcium, inositol phospholipids and intracellular signalling mechanisms

Studies have implicated Ca++ in the actions of ethanol at many biochemical levels. Calcium as a major intracellular messenger in the central nervous system is involved in many processes, including protein phosphorylation enzyme activation and secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters. The control of intracellular calcium, therefore, represents a major step by which neuronal cells regulate their activities. The present review focuses on three primary areas which influence intracellular calcium levels; voltage-dependent Ca++ channels, receptor-mediated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, and Ca++/Mg++-ATPase, the high affinity membrane Ca++ pump. Current research suggests that a subtype of the voltage-dependent Ca++ channel, the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca++ channel, is uniquely sensitive to acute and chronic ethanol treatment. Acute exposure inhibits, while chronic ethanol exposure increases 45Ca++-influx and [3H]dihydropyridine receptor binding sites. In addition, acute and chronic exposure to ethanol inhibits, then increases Ca++/Mg++-ATPase activity in neuronal membranes. Changes in Ca++ channel and Ca++/Mg++-ATPase activity following chronic ethanol may occur as an adaptation process to increase Ca++ availability for intracellular processes. Since receptor-dependent inositol phospholipid hydrolysis is enhanced after chronic ethanol treatment, subsequent activation of protein kinase-C may also be involved in the adaptation process and may indicate increased coupling for receptor-dependent changes in Ca++/Mg++-ATPase activity. The increased sensitivity of three Ca++-dependent processes suggest that adaptation to chronic ethanol exposure may involve coupling of one or more of these processes to receptor-mediated events.

Testicular Ca++ ATPase activity in mice: effects of age and gonadotropin administration

These studies describe a high affinity calcium (Ca++)-dependent ATPase in purified testicular plasma membranes, which exhibits increased activity from weaning age to adulthood. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 5 IU) increased enzyme activity in 21-day old and pubertal (35 to 40-day old), but not in adult mice. In pubertal mice, these increases in testicular Ca++-ATPase activity were dose-related and evident 60 min after hCG administration. A second challenge dose of 5 IU hCG administered either 24, 48 hrs, or 5 days later, had no additional effect on Ca++ ATPase in purified testicular plasma membranes in these pubertal animals. The present findings indicate that testicular plasma membrane Ca++ATPase activity exhibits a developmental pattern concomitant with increased testicular steroidogenic activity during sexual maturation. Furthermore, enzyme activity is increased by gonadotropic stimulation and exhibits a refractoriness similar to that of androgen biosynthesis to repeated hCG stimulation.

Alpha-adrenergic receptor regulation of Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in brain synaptic membranes

The effects of alpha 1 and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor ligands on Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase have been studied using synaptosomal plasma membranes isolated from rat brain cortex. Both phenylephrine and clonidine inhibited Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase, in a concentration-dependent fashion. IC50 values for half-maximal inhibition for phenylephrine and clonidine were 29 microM and 18 microM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of phenylephrine was reversed by the alpha antagonist prazosin while yohimbine and rauwolscine reversed the inhibition of enzyme activity by clonidine. The two antagonist subtypes were effective only against the respective agonist subtypes, demonstrating distinct subtype preferences. Analysis of the kinetics of enzyme inhibition indicate both agonists to be noncompetitive. Some evidence suggests that yohimbine may exhibit mixed agonist/antagonist properties which depend on [Ca2+]. The present study provides biochemical evidence to support auto receptor alpha-adrenergic receptor regulation of neurotransmitter release.

Acute delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure alters Ca2+ ATPase activity in neuroendocrine and gonadal tissues in mice

Acute administration of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (50 mg/kg) at puberty (35-40 days) significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced Ca2+ ATPase activity in hypothalamic plasma membranes but increased, although not significantly, enzyme activity in hypothalamic tissue obtained from adult mice. In contrast, testicular Ca2+ ATPase activity was increased in pubertal THC-treated males, and significantly reduced in adults. Pituitary Ca2+ ATPase activity exhibited a dose-related decrease after acute THC administration at 0.5, 5 or 50 mg/kg, but there were no differential effects of age. Pituitary plasma membranes obtained from THC-treated males did not respond to in vitro exposure to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH, 10(-7) M) with the marked reduction (approximately 40%) in Ca2+ ATPase activity observed in pituitaries from oil-treated controls. In addition, effects of THC appear specific for Ca2+ ATPase activity, since Mg2+ ATPase and Na+/K+ ATPase activities were not affected. These findings indicate that acute in vivo administration of THC influences Ca2+ membrane transport, in particular Ca2+ ATPase activity. These effects occur at each level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, are related to dose and developmental age at exposure, and also appear specific for Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity. Furthermore, THC exposure modulates pituitary sensitivity to LHRH receptor-mediated effects on Ca2+ ATPase activity. Therefore, effects on Ca2+ membrane transport may be involved in acute THC actions on hormonal activity at these HPG sites.