Influence of insulin on cyclic 3',5'-AMP phosphodiesterase activity in liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and kidney

Phosphodiesterases S-sulfhydration contributes to human skeletal muscle function

The increase in intracellular calcium is influenced by cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) content, which rating is governed by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) activity.Despite it has been demonstrated a beneficial effect of PDEs inhibitors in different pathological conditions involving SKM, not much is known on the role exerted by cAMP-cGMP/PDEs axis in human SKM contractility. Here, we show that Ssulfhydration of PDEs modulates human SKM contractility in physiological and pathological conditions. Having previously demonstrated that, in the rare human syndrome Malignant Hyperthermia (MH), there is an overproduction of hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) within SKM contributing to hyper-contractility, here we have used MH negative diagnosed biopsies (MHN) as healthy SKM, and MH susceptible diagnosed biopsies (MHS) as a pathological model of SKM hypercontractility. The study has been performed on MHS and MHN human biopsies after diagnosis has been made and on primary SKM cells derived from both MHN and MHS biopsies. Our data demonstrate that in normal conditions PDEs are S-sulfhydrated in both quadriceps' biopsies and primary SKM cells. This post translational modification (PTM) negatively regulates PDEs activity with consequent increase of both cAMP and cGMP levels. In hypercontractile biopsies, due to an excessive H2S content, there is an enhanced Ssulfhydration of PDEs that further increases cyclic nucleotides levels contributing to SKM hyper-contractility. Thus, the identification of a new endogenous PTM modulating PDEs activity represents an advancement in SKM physiopathology understanding.

Effects of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) on mitochondrial skeletal muscle functions

Mitochondria play a critical role in skeletal muscle metabolism and function, notably at the level of tissue respiration, which conduct muscle strength as well as muscle survival. Pathological conditions induce mitochondria dysfunctions notably characterized by free oxygen radical production disturbing intracellular signaling. In that way, the second messengers, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, control intracellular signaling at the physiological and transcription levels by governing phosphorylation cascades. Both nucleotides are specifically and selectively hydrolyzed in their respective 5'-nucleotide by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which constitute a multi-genic family differently tissue distributed and subcellularly compartmentalized. These PDEs are presently recognized as therapeutic targets for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurologic diseases. However, very few data concerning cyclic nucleotides and PDEs in skeletal muscle, specifically in mitochondria, are reported in the literature. The knowledge of PDE implication in mitochondrial signaling would be helpful for resolving critical mitochondrial dysfunctions in skeletal muscle.

Exendin-(9-39) corrects fasting hypoglycemia in SUR-1-/- mice by lowering cAMP in pancreatic beta-cells and inhibiting insulin secretion

Congenital hyperinsulinism is a disorder of pancreatic beta-cell function characterized by failure to suppress insulin secretion in the setting of hypoglycemia, resulting in brain damage or death if untreated. Loss-of-function mutations in the K(ATP) channel (composed of two subunits: Kir6.2 and SUR-1) are responsible for the most common and severe form of congenital hyperinsulinism. Most patients are unresponsive to available medical therapy and require palliative pancreatectomy. Similar to the human condition, the SUR-1(-/-) mouse is hypoglycemic when fasted and hyperglycemic when glucose-loaded. We have previously reported that the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonist exendin-(9-39) raises fasting blood glucose in normal mice. Here we examine the effect of exendin-(9-39) on fasting blood glucose in SUR-1(-/-) mice. Mice were randomized to receive exendin-(9-39) or vehicle. Fasting blood glucose levels in SUR-1(-/-) mice treated with exendin-(9-39) were significantly higher than in vehicle-treated mice and not different from wild-type littermates. Exendin-(9-39) did not further worsen glucose tolerance and had no effect on body weight and insulin sensitivity. Isolated islet perifusion studies demonstrated that exendin-(9-39) blocked amino acid-stimulated insulin secretion, which is abnormally increased in SUR-1(-/-) islets. Furthermore, cAMP content in SUR-1(-/-) islets was reduced by exendin-(9-39) both basally and when stimulated by amino acids, whereas cytosolic calcium levels were not affected. These findings suggest that cAMP plays a key role in K(ATP)-independent insulin secretion and that the GLP-1 receptor is constitutively active in SUR-1(-/-) beta-cells. Our findings indicate that exendin-(9-39) normalizes fasting hypoglycemia in SUR-1(-/-) mice via a direct effect on insulin secretion, thereby raising exendin-(9-39) as a potential therapeutic agent for K(ATP) hyperinsulinism.

Characterization of an in vivo hormonally regulated phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) associated with a liver Golgi-endosomal fraction

The biochemical properties of an in vivo hormonally regulated low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity associated with a liver Golgi-endosomal (GE) fraction have been characterized. DEAE-Sephacel chromatography of a GE fraction solubilized by a lysosomal extract resulted in the sequential elution of three peaks of activity (numbered I, II, and III), while ion-exchange HPLC resolved five peaks of activity (numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Based on the sensitivity of the eluted activity to cGMP and selected phosphodiesterase inhibitors, two phosphodiesterase isoforms were resolved: a cGMP-stimulated and EHNA-inhibited PDE2, eluted in DEAE-Sephacel peak I and HPLC peak 2 and a cGMP-, a cilostamide-, and ICI 118233-inhibited PDE3, eluted in DEAE-Sephacel peak III and HPLC peaks 3, 4, and 5. GE fractions isolated after acute treatments with insulin, tetraiodoglucagon, and growth hormone displayed an increase in phosphodiesterase activity relative to saline-injected controls, as did GE fractions from genetically obese and hyperinsulinemic rats relative to lean littermates. In all experimental rats, an increase in PDE3 activity associated with DEAE-Sephacel peak III and HPLC peaks 4 and 5 was observed relative to control animals. Furthermore, in genetically obese Zucker rats, an increase in the sensitivity of PDE activity to cilostamide and in the amount of PDE activity immunoprecipitated by an antibody to adipose tissue PDE3 was observed relative to lean littermates. These results extend earlier studies on isolated hepatocytes and show that liver PDE3 is the main if not sole PDE isoform activated by insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone in vivo.

Insulin deprivation leads to deficiency of Sp1 transcription factor in H-411E hepatoma cells and in streptozotocin-induced diabetic ketoacidosis in the rat

Members of the family of Sp transcription factors include Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 and are important regulators of eukaryotic gene expression. We previously reported that Sp1 mediated stimulation of rat calmodulin I gene expression in response to insulin. To test whether other members of the Sp family are direct targets of insulin action, we compared the levels of Sp1 and Sp3 proteins from nuclear extracts obtained from both insulin-treated and untreated rat hepatoma (H-411E) cells. We demonstrated by Western blot analysis that levels of Sp1 and Sp3 proteins were increased more than 2-fold in the insulin-treated group. Additionally, the up-regulation of both Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors by insulin was antagonized by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a known inhibitor of insulin action. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that H-411E cells treated with insulin (10,000 microU/ml) had a marked increase in demonstrable Sp1 in the nucleus compared with cells incubated in insulin-free medium. We extended these in vitro observations to in vivo studies in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat model. We demonstrated in rat liver tissue by both Western blot and immunohistochemical staining with anti-Sp1 antibody that 1) livers of fully diabetic streptozotocin rats have low levels of Sp1 transcription factor; and 2) insulin treatment of the diabetic rat rapidly reversed this process by markedly stimulating accumulation of Sp1 in rat liver. Studies of the signal transduction mechanisms involved in insulin's effect on Sp1 demonstrate a facilitating role for phosphoinositol 3-kinase and an inhibitory role for cyclic nucleotides. In summary, insulin stimulates Sp1 protein, a transcription factor that is shown to regulate calmodulin gene expression and most likely other, as yet untested, genes.

Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on phosphodiesterase activity in rat luteal cells

The present studies were carried out to characterize the cAMP-phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE) in luteal cells recovered from pseudopregnant rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. A significant increase in the specific activity of the enzyme was detected in luteal cells from diabetic rats (Group D) with respect to control rats (Group C). This increase could not be prevented by insulin therapy (Group I). Luteal cells from Groups C and D rats responded in vitro to insulin by increasing their PDE activity (% of stimulus of specific activity: C = 75%, D = 110%). However, in cells isolated from Group I, the hormone caused an inhibition of PDE activity (% of inhibition of specific activity: 48%). When cytosolic fractions from Groups C, D and I were submitted to ion exchange chromatography, two PDE activity peaks could be observed and the activity of the different fractions was increased in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin. Nevertheless, the Ca(2+)-calmodulin effect was much lower in the extracts from Groups D and I than for controls. Kinetic studies of luteal PDE showed nonlinear Lineweaver-Burk graphs with two apparent ATP hydrolysis sites. Similar K(m) values were found for PDE from groups C, D, and I, whereas the Vmax2 for the enzyme was higher in Groups D and I. The endogenous concentration of cAMP, measured by RIA, showed no significant differences among Groups C, D, and I. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the specific activity of PDE is significantly increased in luteal cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals, which could explain the previously described reduction in LH-stimulated progesterone production by luteal cells in diabetic rats.

Mechanism of general adaptation

An analysis of theories and results of corresponding studies indicate that the adaptive processes in organisms have to be discriminated to specific and nonspecific adaptive responses. The integrated sum of specific adaptive responses constitute homeostatic regulation in order to maintain a constant level of rigid constants of the body's internal milieu. The constancy of rigid constants (temperature, pH, osmotic pressure, and contents of ions, water and p0(2)) is necessary to ensure the optimal activity of enzymes. The nonspecific adaptive responses are directed towards the mobilization of the organism's reserves for energy and protein synthesis. Additionally, a general activation of the body's defence faculties is included into the nonspecific adaptive responses. The nonspecific adaptive responses constitute a coordinated mechanism of general adaptation. The mobilization of the reserve for protein synthesis is connected with induction of the adaptive synthesis of the enzyme and structural proteins in order to restore and develop the functional capacity of cellular structures that were highly active during acute influence of various stressors.

Expression of calmodulin gene is down-regulated in diabetic BB rats

In past studies, we have demonstrated that in streptozotocin-induced diabetic or spontaneously diabetic (BB) animal models, low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase and calmodulin are decreased while a low MW inhibitor of calmodulin is increased. To extend these studies, we have determined the rate of [35S]-methionine incorporation into calmodulin in isolated fat cells from these diabetic animals, i.e. streptozotocin-induced diabetic and the BB rats, spontaneous diabetic rat, non-diabetic rat, and control. We found markedly decreased rates of synthesis of calmodulin in the fully diabetic BB rat. In order to investigate the mechanism of the reduced calmodulin biosynthesis, we probed poly A+ mRNA from control and diabetic rat livers with a calmodulin specific anti-sense oligonucleotide probe and found that the fully diabetic animals, streptozotocin-induced diabetic and genetically diabetic BB, contained markedly reduced levels of calmodulin transcripts. Thus, both calmodulin protein and its putative mRNA are decreased in diabetic rat liver. We believe that in uncontrolled diabetes, the observed elevation in the levels of cyclic AMP in plasma and tissue results in part from decreased activity of phosphodiesterase. The insulin-sensitive phosphodiesterase appears to be regulated by calmodulin. We hypothesize that cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inactivation in diabetes results in part from insulin insufficiency and to a less well-defined genetic lesion leading to calmodulin down-regulation.

Activation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by phorbol and protein kinase C pathway: differences in normal and diabetic tissue

Diabetes mellitus is associated with high levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in tissue and plasma. Diabetes inhibits and insulin stimulates and restores low Km adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity. We recently reported that phorbol ester, a tumor promoting agent known to act through protein kinase C also stimulates phosphodiesterase. Here, we address the issue of whether or not the activation of phosphodiesterase by insulin and phorbol ester is different in streptozotocin diabetic adipose tissue. Rat adipose tissue was incubated with insulin, phorbol ester or other known components or effectors of the protein kinase C pathway, i.e. 1,2 dioleoyl-glycerol, 1- oleoyl, 2- acetylglycerol, Ca(++)-Ionophore A 23187, and nifedipine. After incubation, preparation and assay of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase was made. As in previous data streptozotocin-diabetes inhibits basal phosphodiesterase by about 50% (P less than .02); insulin and phorbol ester each stimulate phosphodiesterase, in streptozotocin-diabetes less than normal (P less than .025); nifedipine inhibits phorbol stimulated phosphodiesterase in streptozotocin-diabetes but not normal (P less than .001); and nifedipine inhibits insulin stimulated phosphodiesterase in normal (84%) and diabetic (97%) (P less than .005). In normal and diabetic tissue, diacyl glycerol and oleoyl-acyl glycerol stimulate phosphodiesterase, are augmented by ionophore and inhibited by nifedipine. In addition 32P incorporation studies and measurements of tyrosine kinase activity are presented which support these differences between normal and diabetic. In summary then, these data suggest common pathways of activation for low Km adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase by insulin and phorbol ester; imply a relationship between two second messenger systems, phosphoinositides and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate; and demonstrate a difference in activation of phosphodiesterase between normal and diabetic adipose tissue.

Insulin control of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) is an enzyme involved in cellular homeostasis of cyclic AMP. It exists as multiple isozymes in cells, but only the high affinity, membrane-bound isozyme is sensitive to hormonal modulation. Several isozymes or isoforms of the low Km PDE have been detected. Data suggest that several mechanisms exist for hormonal modulation of PDE. Activity of the low Km PDE species may be modulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, phospholipid substrate concentration, insulin second messenger, cyclic GMP, guanine nucleotide binding proteins, calmodulin, or aggregation/disaggregation of monomeric forms. Modulation of PDE isoforms by different hormones may be through different regulatory components or mechanisms.

Activation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by phorbol and protein kinase C pathway

Insulin (INS) stimulates, and diabetes inhibits, low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE). This mechanism, at least in part, accounts for the lowering of cyclic AMP levels in plasma and tissue of diabetic patients and animals. Phorbol, a tumor-promoting agent known to act through protein kinase C and calcium translocation, exhibits a powerful effect stimulating PDE in rat adipose tissue. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits insulin, but not phorbol stimulated PDE. These data demonstrate new effects of inositide diacylglycerol-Ca++ pathway components on PDE and suggest some common pathways of activation of low Km cAMP PDE through insulin and phorbol esters.

Acute in vivo stimulation of low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity by insulin in rat-liver Golgi fractions

A low-Km phosphodiesterase activity, which is acutely stimulated by insulin in vivo, has been identified in plasma membranes and Golgi fractions prepared from rat liver homogenates in isotonic sucrose. Within seconds after insulin injection (25 micrograms/100 g body weight) cAMP phosphodiesterase activity increases by 30-60% in Golgi fractions and by 25% in plasma membranes; activity in crude particulate and microsomal fractions is unaffected. The increase in activity is short-lived in the light and intermediate Golgi fractions, but persists for at least 10 min in the heavy Golgi fraction. It precedes the translocation of insulin and insulin receptors to these fractions, which is maximal at 5 min. The doses of insulin required for half-maximal and maximal activation are, respectively, 7.5 micrograms/100 g and 25 micrograms/100 g body weight. Golgi-associated cAMP phosphodiesterase activity shows non-linear kinetics; a high-affinity component (Vmax, 13 pmol min-1 mg protein-1; Km, 0.35 microM) is detectable. Insulin treatment increases the Vmax 60-70%, but does not affect the Km. Unlike the low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase associated with crude particulate fractions, the Golgi-associated activity is not easily extractable by solutions of low or high ionic strength. On analytical sucrose density gradients, low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase associated with the total particulate fraction equilibrates at lower densities than endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomal markers, but at a higher densities than plasma membrane, Golgi markers and insulin receptors. Insulin treatment increases the specific activity of the enzyme by 20-60% at densities below 1.12 g cm-3, and by 20-40% in the density interval 1.23-1.25 g cm-3. Such treatment also causes a slight, but significant shift in the distribution of phosphodiesterase towards lower densities. It is suggested that Golgi elements or physically similar subcellular structures are a major site of localization of insulin-sensitive cAMP phosphodiesterase in rat liver. However, internalization of the insulin-receptor complex is probably not required for enzyme activation.

Insulin-sensitive phosphodiesterase and insulin receptor binding in fat cells from spontaneously obese rats

The effects of insulin on insulin-sensitive phosphodiesterase were investigated in fat cells from rats aged 4, 8 and 16 weeks. The enzyme activities in rats aged 4 and 8 weeks higher at 0.1-30 nmol/l insulin concentrations than in rats aged 16 weeks, and half-maximum stimulations were obtained at 0.08 nmol/l in rats aged 4 weeks, at 0.15 nmol/l in rats aged 8 weeks and at 0.22 nmol/l in rats aged 16 weeks. Specific binding of insulin in fat cells from rats aged 4, 8 and 16 weeks was 3.3%, 5.0% and 11.6%/2 X 10(5) cells, respectively. Scatchard analysis indicated that increased insulin binding in fat cells from rats aged 16 weeks was due mainly to an increase of binding affinity. These results suggest that impairment of the phosphodiesterase activation system in fat cells from spontaneously obese rats is predominantly due to post-receptor defects.

The action of adenosine in relation to that of insulin on the low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in rat adipocytes

The adenosine-sensitive cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase of rat adipocytes was found to reside in the same subcellular fraction as the enzyme sensitive to insulin. There were several similarities between the action of adenosine and that of insulin on the enzyme. The action of adenosine on the phosphodiesterase is probably like that of insulin, both being receptor-mediated, although different sites or different receptors could be involved. Adenosine analogues with intact ribose but a modified purine moiety elicited a response similar to that of adenosine. Added Ca2+ was also not a requirement for the action of adenosine. The action of adenosine was not synergistic with that of insulin, neither was adenosine essential for insulin action. Insulin stimulated the enzyme even at low cell concentrations and in the presence of adenosine deaminase. Adenosine, however, enhanced the effect of insulin, but only at insulin concentrations that produced submaximal effects. Thus the mechanisms of action could be similar or related. The time-course effect of a suboptimal concentration of insulin was transitory, like that of adenosine, and was influenced by the presence of adenosine, whereas that of a maximally effective concentration of insulin was sustained for at least 20 min and was not affected by the presence of adenosine. Isoprenaline enhanced phosphodiesterase activity stimulated by optimal concentrations of either adenosine or insulin, suggesting that their effects were mediated through different mechanisms of action.

Activation of insulin-sensitive phosphodiesterase by lectins and insulin-dextran complex in rat fat cells

Membrane-bound low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase was activated by concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and insulin-dextran complex under conditions of incubation with intact rat fat cells. Concanavalin A rapidly stimulated the enzyme activities and maximum was reached at 10 to 15 minutes. As little as 10 micrograms/mL concanavalin A activated the enzyme and a maximal response was obtained at 100 to 300 micrograms/mL, but concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin were less potent than insulin. Specific saccharide inhibitors completely abolished activation of the enzyme by lectins, but had no effect on the activation of insulin. Digestion of fat cells with 1 mg/mL trypsin for 15 minutes completely inhibited activation of the enzyme by insulin. However, concanavalin A was less sensitive to trypsinization. The insulin-dextran complex, which did not penetrate the plasma membrane, activated the enzyme and was one tenth as effective as the native insulin. These results suggest that the insulin-like actions of these lectins are provoked through coupling with the carbohydrate moiety on the cell membrane close to insulin receptors.

Platelets and vascular smooth muscle: abnormalities of phosphodiesterase, aggregation, and cell growth in experimental and human diabetes

Platelets appear to be involved in both the maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Anomalies of platelet function may be responsible in part for the pathogenesis of vascular disease in experimental and human diabetes. In a search for an appropriate animal model, we have studied platelet function and the properties of platelet cyclic NCL-PDE in rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes, spontaneous diabetes, and human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It appears that opposite abnormalities in both aggregation and phosphodiesterase activity exist in the two animal models. In human IDDM, similar abnormalities to those seen in the BB model were observed. Vascular smooth muscle cells in culture can be used as a model for studies of the effect of circulating growth factors in animals and humans. A growth inhibitory factor was found in plasma and serum from STZ and human IDDM but not BB. In humans we observed increased growth-promoting activity of diabetic platelets, but this phenomenon was absent in both animal models. It remains to be evaluated whether these differences may account for the fact that diabetic rats appear resistant to development of vascular complications. It also remains to be established which animal model is the best choice for studying growth abnormalities in diabetes.

Insulin regulation of sugar transport in giant muscle fibres of the barnacle

1. Sugar transport in the giant muscle cells of Balanus nubilus is accelerated during contractile activity and exposure to porcine insulin. The characteristics of hexose-transfer regulation in the giant muscle cells have been examined by studying the transport of 3-O-methylglucose (a non-metabolized sugar) in both intact giant fibres and fibres subjected to internal solute control by internal dialysis.2. Sugar transport in barnacle muscle is mediated by a saturable process which is inhibited by both phloretin and cytochalasin B. Insulin increases the capacity of the transport system with little effect on its apparent affinity for sugar. Under the same conditions insulin increases 3-O-methylglucose-displaceable cytochalasin B binding. The effects of insulin on transport are half-maximal at 5 muM-insulin and are abolished by both insulin antibody and phloretin. The intact barnacle releases an insulin-like material in response to a rise in blood glucose levels.3. Insulin increases the cyclic GMP (cGMP) content and reduces the cyclic AMP (cAMP) content of barnacle muscle. Experiments with fibres injected with aequorin show that insulin also lowers cytosolic ionized Ca levels. The changes in cyclic nucleotide levels induced by insulin precede the effects on sugar transport and cytosolic ionized Ca. During repetitive contractile activity, cAMP, cGMP and ionized Ca levels are raised.4. Agents which raise the cAMP content of barnacle muscle normally inhibit sugar transport. Dibutyryl cAMP also inhibits transport. Alterations in cytosolic ionized Ca levels in intact fibres are without effect on sugar transport. Nevertheless, stimulation of transport by insulin is blunted when cytosolic ionized Ca is lowered by intracellular injection of the Ca-chelating agent, EGTA.5. Sugar uptake in the internally dialysed fibre is inhibited by intracellular application of cAMP. Internal application of Ca and cGMP stimulate sugar uptake in the dialysed fibre. Cyclic AMP reduces the capacity of the transport system whereas Ca and cGMP increase the capacity of the saturable transfer system. Cyclic AMP and cGMP act at kinetically independent sites. Internal ATP (2 mM) inhibits sugar uptake in the dialysed fibre by some 40%, possibly through the production of cAMP.6. External insulin stimulates sugar uptake in the dialysed fibre even when ionized Ca levels are buffered using EGTA. Stimulation by insulin requires the presence of cytosolic ATP and is potentiated by internal application of 1 mM-GTP. In the dialysed fibre stimulation of transport by insulin is greater than that brought about by Ca and cGMP.7. The stimulation of transport by insulin in the intact fibre and its inhibition by dibutyryl cAMP are abolished by intracellular injection of Gpp(NH)p. Injection of intact fibres with GTPgammaS potentiates the stimulation of transport by insulin and renders insulin-activation of transport irreversible. Injection of intact fibres with ATPgammaS leads to the irreversible inhibition of transport.8. Injection of intact fibres with cAMP phosphodiesterase lowers cAMP levels close to zero and stimulates sugar transport. Application of insulin to diesterase-injected fibres still stimulates transport in the absence of altered cytosolic cAMP.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes produces alterations in adenylate cyclase in rat cerebrum, cerebral microvessels and retina

Eight weeks following streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats, the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) was reduced in homogenates of retina. Furthermore, the activation of adenylate cyclase in cerebral microvessels (capillaries) by NE, 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate (alone or with NE) and forskolin was reduced in diabetic rats versus appropriate controls. In diabetic rats enzyme sensitivity to only NE was attenuated in homogenates of cerebral cortex and cortical piaarachnoid. No differences between controls and diabetics were noted with respect to guanylate cyclase or cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases. The damage observed in retina and microvessels may play an important pathogenic role in diabetes-induced blindness and stroke.

Interaction of insulin, glucagon, and DBcAMP on bile acid-independent bile production in the rat

In experiments on fasted, pentobarbital-anesthetized rats the effect of insulin (1 U X kg-1, followed by 0.05 U X kg-1 X min-1), glucagon (0.5 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1), and dibutyrylic cyclic AMP (DBcAMP) (0.5 mumol X kg-1 X min-1) on bile flow and composit8ion was examined. Infusion of these substances resulted in maximal increases only in the bile acid-independent bile formation, and insulin appeared to be a more powerful stimulant of bile production than glucagon or DBcAMP. When bile production was first stimulated maximally with glucagon or DBcAMP, supplementary infusion of insulin increased bile production significantly. When administration of glucagon or DBcAMP supplemented maximal infusion of insulin, only DBcAMP resulted in a further increase in bile production. Bile production was, however, increased by supplementary glucagon infusion, when a submaximal dosage of insulin was given. No additive effect of glucagon and DBcAMP on bile secretion was observed. The results suggest that glucagon induces choleresis in rats via liberation of cAMP and that the mechanisms of glucagon choleresis differ at least partly from those involved in insulin choleresis. The results are compatible with an insulin-produced inhibition of the adenylate cyclase and activation of the phosphodiesterase in the liver. In accordance with present knowledge of the biological effects of insulin and glucagon the choleretic response to both hormones may be secondary to stimulation of Na-K-ATPase located to the hepatocellular membrane.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and aggregation in platelets from diabetic rats

Platelet aggregation and cyclic nucleotide (cNCL) phosphodiesterase (PDE) have been studied in a new strain of insulin-dependent spontaneously diabetic rat (SDR). The rate of aggregation of washed platelets induced by ADP or ionophore A23187 was decreased in SDR as compared to asymptomatic littermates. The activity of soluble cGMP-PDE was increased in SDR, while no significant difference was observed between SDR and control in soluble and particulate cAMP-PDE activities nor in particulates cGMP-PDE activity. Furthermore, a kinetic study of soluble cGMP-PDE in platelets demonstrated that the apparent Km was lower while the Vmax was higher in SDR. Increases were also observed in the activities of particulate cAMP-PDE and cGMP-PDE at low and high substrate concentrations in liver and heart of SDR. These anomalies of platelet aggregation and cNCL-PDE in SDR were partially correctable by insulin. For comparison, a similar study was performed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ). In contrast to SDR, the rate of platelet aggregation induced by ADP was increased in STZ, and the activity of soluble cGMP-PDE in platelets was decreased in STZ. A similar decrease in the activities of cAMP-PDE in liver was also observed in STZ. This study confirms observations concerning the decrease of cGMP-PDE in tissues of STZ diabetic rats. However, since opposite anomalies in PDE activity as well as a platelet function were observed in another model of diabetes (SDR), the significance of these anomalies in the pathophysiology of diabetes requires further investigation.

The response of cyclic 3',5'-AMP and cyclic 3',5'-GMP phosphodiesterases to experimental diabetes

Alloxan diabetes caused a decrease in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in all affected rat tissues. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was, however, decreased in adipose and liver, but increased increased in heart and uterus.

Acquisition of an insulin-sensitive activity of adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase during adipose conversion of 3T3-L2 cells

Mouse 3T3-L2 fibroblasts differentiate when cultured and express a new phenotype which is characteristic of adipose cells. One aspect of this differentiation is the acquisition of hormone sensitivities typical of adipocytes. The sensitivity of adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase to brief insulin treatment in 3T3-L2 cells at various stages of adipose conversion was examined. The capacity to increase the activity of a low-Km form of the enzyme in response to acute insulin exposure is a property which is acquired as the cells begin to express the adipose phenotype. Enzyme activity in preadipocytes is not affected by inslin, nor is there an effect in the non-differentiating 3T3-C2 line under any of the conditions tested. Since insulin receptors and cAMP phosphodiesterase are both present in the preadipocytes, one result of this cytodifferentiation is to effectively couple receptors to the enzyme activity. Insulin-sensitive cAMP phosphodiesterase in 3T3-L2 adipocytes is characterized by a 40-50% increase in enzyme activity during insulin treatment when determined at 0.1 microM cAMP. This activation results from an increase in the apparent V of the enzyme and does not involve a change in enzyme-substrate affinity. Maximal stimulation is seen within 2-5 min and is sustained for at least 45 min when high levels of insulin (850 nM) are used. Lower concentrations of insulin (1.7 nM) also bring about rapid activation, although the activation is not completely sustained during longer incubations. Stimulated activity falls off to about 60% of peak values by 30 min. Re-addition of insulin after 30 min raises enzyme activity back to the maximal level. Further, the insulin response is completely reversible in that the insulin-sensitive cAMP phosphodiesterase activity disappears within 10 min after removal of insulin from the cultures.

Insulin inhibition of hormone-stimulated protein kinase systems of rat renal cortex

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and glucagon increase the urinary fractional excretion of phosphate, but insulin administration is associated with a decreased fractional excretion of phosphate. It was the purpose of this study to determine whether insulin will antagonize the effects of PTH and glucagon on cAMP levels and protein kinase activation of rat renal cortex. In situ incubation studies were performed on rat renal cortical slices exposed to insulin, PTH, and glucagon. Insulin alone did not affect the tissue cAMP and cGMP levels or the state of protein kinase activation. Preincubation of slices with insulin, however, did significantly inhibit increases in protein kinase activation induced by both PTH and glucagon. Insulin also significantly inhibited PTH-stimulated increases in tissue cAMP levels, but did not blunt the elevations of cAMP levels induced by glucagon. Insulin (10(-9) M) had no effect on either the in vitro activity of adenylate cyclase, basal or PTH-stimulated, or on the activities of low Km cytosolic or membrane-bound cAMP phosphodiesterase. The data show that insulin antagonizes activation of protein kinase by both PTH and glucagon in renal cortex. Separate mechanisms are probably involved for PTH and glucagon interaction. The antiphosphaturic effect of insulin in vivo may result in part from this antagonism at the cellular level.

Adenosine 3',5'cyclic monophosphate in adipose tissue of diabetic rats

Normal male rats were made chronically diabetic by injection of alloxan or acutely diabetic by injection of anti-insulin serum. The concentration of cyclic AMP in epididymal adipose tissue was increased approximately 2 1/2-fold 24 h after alloxan administration and up to 7-fold 72 h post-alloxan. Treatment of alloxan-diabetic rats with insulin for 4 h completely suppressed lipolysis but only partially suppressed cyclic AMP levels; 6 h following insulin treatment cyclic AMP levels were normal. When segments of the epididymal fat bodies were incubated in vitro the high cyclic AMP levels were not maintained but instead decreased spontaneously. Addition of insulin to the incubation media decreased lipolysis in tissues of diabetic rats to levels measured in tissues of normal rats and accelerated the decline in cyclic AMP levels but did not return cyclic AMP levels to normal. Rats rendered acutely insulin deficient by injection of anti-insulin serum showed increased plasma glucose and free fatty acid levels and increased adipose tissue free fatty acid, and cyclic AMP levels 30 min following injection of the antiserum. Plasma glucagon levels increased but not until 2 h following anti-insulin serum, thereby excluding the possibility that an increment in plasma glucagon is the primary stimulus for the acceleration of lipolysis in diabetes. These data are consistent with the view that control of adipose tissue cyclic AMP levels in situ is an important physiologic action of insulin.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, insulin and thyroid hormones

The in vitro effects of insulin on different phosphodiesterase activities present in rat epididymal fat cells from normal and hypothyroid rats have been studied. Evidence is presented that insulin increases the maximum velocity of a particulate, low Km, cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) phosphodiesterase in both types of cells, this effect being more clearly evident with the fat cells from hypothyroid animals; combination of insulin and thyroidectomy resulted in a 400% stimulation with 10-10 - 10-9 M insulin. A clear and significant effect was apparent at 10-11 M insulin. However, the dose-response curve was biphasic, since stimulation by insulin was suppressed for doses of hormone higher 10-8 - 10-7 M. Moreover, insulin effects were very fast, since clear stimulation was observed after only 2 min of incubation; the maximal increase was obtained after 10 min. Insulin did not significantly affect the soluble cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in normal cells, thus confirming results obtained by others. However, the soluble cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was clearly stimulated by insulin when the fat cells were prepared from hypothyroid rats. Maximal stimulation was obtained with 10-9 M insulin; the response was again very fast. Soluble cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was also increased additively by hypothyroidism and insulin, maximal stimulation being obtained with 10-9 M insulin. With this dose of insulin the additive effects of thyroidectomy and insulin produced a 5-fold stimulation. The effect of insulin on the soluble cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase was very fast (2-5 min). With both soluble cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities, insulin increased the maximal velocity but not apparent Km of the enzyme. Thus, hypothyroidism and insulin produced additive effects suggesting a different mechanism of action of these two hormonal situations on the degradation of the intracellular pools of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP.

Increased sensitivity of diabetic rat adipose tissue towards the lipolytic action of epinephrine

Adipose tissue from streptozotocin-diabetic rats exhibits half-maximal lipolytic responses (FFA, glycerol release, increase in tissue FFA) to epinephrine at hormone concentrations 5-10 times lowere than those required for half-maximal stimulation of lipolysis in adipose tissue from normal rats. The lipolytic response to epinephrine also occurs more promptly and the antilipolytic effect of insulin in the presence of submaximal epinephrine conceptrations is much less pronounced than in normal tissue. In contrast, diabetic adipose tissue is less responsive to ACTH and glucagon than normal tissue. Half-maximal lipolytic responses are elicited by similar dibutyryl cyclic AMP concentrations in both tissues. Insulin treatment of diabetic rats during 24 hrs restores the lipolytic response of their adipose tissue to epinephrine to nearly normal. Our findings point to an abnormality of diabetic adipose tissue possibly related to the hypersensitivity of catecholamines encountered in denervated organs which are adrenergically innvervated. They are consistent with present concept of different hormone discriminators on the fat cell membrane and offer a further explanation for increased FFA mobilization in the diabetic state.

Effect of adrenalectomy and insulin insufficiency upon the adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate system of the rat mammary glands

Effects of adrenalectomy and acute insulin insufficiency upon tissue adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate concentrations, and adenyl cyclase, phosphodiesterase, and protein kinase activities were investigated. Adrenalectomy decreased intracellular adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate 53% and increased the activities of both adenylcyclase and phosphodiesterase. Cortisol therapy returned these to normal. During insulin insufficiency caused by anti-insulin serum, mammary adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate concentrations increased. The acute effects of insulin insufficiency and chronic effects of adrenelectomy suggest that insulin acts upon rat mammary glands to decrease and glucocorticoids, acting over longer term, to increase adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate concentrations.