Adenylate cyclase activation is not sufficient to stimulate somatostatin release from dispersed cerebral cortical and diencephalic cells in glia-free cultures

Responsiveness to depolarization of hypothalamic neurons secreting somatostatin under stress and estrous cycle conditions: involvement of GABAergic and steroidal interactions

We studied the sensitivity to a depolarizing stimulus of hypothalamic fragments dissected from cycling female donor rats exposed or not to 30-min stress at 4 degrees C. The neuronal response was estimated in terms of the ability of tissue to release somatostatin when stimulated with 40 mM K+. The data showed no differences in response to K+, regardless of the ovarian cycle of the female donors, whereas tissues dissected from ovariectomized or pregnant rats responded significantly to K+. However, when donors underwent previous cold stress, significant differences were noted at all stages of the cycle, except diestrus-1, compared with control rats. We tested whether GABA and/or neuroactive steroids could be involved in this phenomenon and observed no GABA inhibition of somatostatin release in vitro, but inhibition occurred in the presence of a neuroactive steroid, THDOC. The effect of GABA in vivo on somatostatin release was estrogen dependent because bicuculline modified the total amount of somatostatin secreted in estrus but not in diestrus II. Finally, in hypothalamic primary cultures, GABA inhibition of somatostatin release was only detected when steroids were present in the media throughout culture. Our results suggest that steroid-GABA-somatostatin interactions could explain the different responses of neurons to depolarization.

Presynaptic modulation by VIP, secretin and isoproterenol of somatostatin release from enriched enteric synaptosomes: role of cAMP

The release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was studied in isolated synaptosomes. A significant release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was observed in the presence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (10(-6) M: 53.0 +/- 12.4 pg/mg, basal: 14.3 +/- 1.7 pg/mg, n = 5, P < 0.05), secretin (10(-6) M: 56.1 +/- 3.8 pg/mg, basal: 25.8 +/- 1.6 pg/mg, n = 6, P < 0.01) and isoproterenol (10(-5) M: 54.0 +/- 13.4 pg/mg, basal: 20.0 +/- 3.4 pg/mg, n = 8, P < 0.05). Forskolin, an unspecified activator of the adenylate cyclase, caused a significant release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (10(-6) M: 57.3 +/- 13.2 pg/mg, basal: 30.0 +/- 5.8 pg/mg, n = 13, P < 0.01) which was further augmented in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX 10(-4) M) (77.0 +/- 17.8 pg/mg, n = 13, P < 0.01). 3-Isobutyl-l-methylxanthine and N6, 2'-O-dibutyryladenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate mimicked at effect of forskolin and VIP. The release of somatostatin was paralleled by an increase of cAMP immunoreactivity in the presence of VIP (10(-6) M: 37.1 +/- 9.4 pmol/mg, basal: 19.8 +/- 4.2 pmol/mg, n = 10, P < 0.05), isoproterenol (10(-5) M: 42.4 +/- 9.8 pmol/mg basal: 16.7 +/- 2.4 pmol/mg, n = 12, P < 0.01) and forskolin (10(-6) M: 47.1 +/- 12.4 pmol/mg, basal: 19.8 +/- 4.2 pmol/mg, n = 10, P < 0.01). The effect of nitric oxide (NO) which acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system was studied. NO is known to activate guanylate cyclase to induce transmitter release. The NO-generating compound sodium nitroprusside and bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) had no effect on the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity. These data demonstrate the stimulatory effect of VIP, secretin and isoproterenol on release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity from enteric synaptosomes, which is presumably mediated by cAMP-dependent mechanisms. cGMP-dependent mechanisms seem to be of minor relevance.

Role for glial cells in regulating the functional expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in aggregate cultures derived from dissociated fetal brain cells

A series of studies from our laboratory have established an aggregate culture system of fetal rat brain cells expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY) which can serve as a model to study the role of glia-neuron paracrine interactions in the developmental expression of NPY neurons. In this system, NPY production increases progressively with culture-age and it is induced by forskolin (FOR) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). We addressed the following question: Is the functional expression of the NPY neurons impaired in the absence of glial cells (particularly astrocytes) and if so, can secretory products of aggregates composed of the full complement of brain cells (intact aggregates) restore the function of the impaired NPY neurons? Aggregates were generated from 17-day-old fetal rat cortex and maintained in serum-free medium for 13-15 days. Cytosine arabinoside (CA; doses of 0.5-8 microM) was added to the cultures on day 1 and the effectiveness in elimination of glial cells was verified on day 15 by measuring the incorporation of 3H thymidine into DNA and by immunostaining for the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Basal NPY production and FOR (10 microM) + PMA (20 nM) stimulated production of NPY on days 13-15 were taken as functional criteria. FOR + PMA induced approximately 2-fold increase in NPY production in control cultures (no CA). CA inhibited both basal and FOR + PMA induced production of NPY and DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner: at 6 microM CA, basal NPY production was reduced by about 50%, FOR + PMA stimulated production of NPY and DNA synthesis were completely inhibited, and astrocytes were essentially eliminated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synchronous development of spontaneous and evoked calcium-dependent properties in hypothalamic neurons

The development of various related parameters was compared in hypothalamic neurons grown in primary culture. We measured: (i) low- and high-voltage-activated calcium currents; (ii) spontaneous and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced fluctuations of intracellular calcium concentration; (iii) basal and NMDA- or potassium-evoked somatostatin release. Spontaneous calcium fluctuations appeared after 5 days in culture and increased progressively in amplitude and frequency over the next 8 days studied. Basal release of somatostatin was not detectable in 3 day-old cultures and reached a plateau at day 5. Responses evoked by exogenous stimulations (voltage-activated calcium currents, agonist-induced intracellular calcium rise and somatostatin release) appeared early in culture, increased in amplitude during 7-10 days and then stabilized. We conclude that, in hypothalamic neurons, the main neuronal functions develop in synchrony over a limited period of time.

Morphological differentiation of neuropeptide Y neurons in aggregate cultures of dissociated fetal cortical cells: a model system for glia-neuron paracrine interactions

The temporal changes in the morphological profiles of neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons and their topographical relationship with glial cells (astrocytes) were characterized in aggregate cultures derived from fetal cortical tissue using immunocytochemical procedures. On day 6 of culture, structures labelled with NPY antibodies were small and uneven in size but many resembled neuronal cell bodies. On day 14, neuronal perikarya were well defined and several morphological types of NPY neurons could be distinguished most of which gave rise to beaded processes: unipolar or multipolar bitufted neurons whose processes branch in close proximity to the cell body; bipolar neurons; and multipolar neurons. On day 23, heavily punctate and asymmetrically labelled cell bodies were dispersed throughout the aggregate; neuronal processes were less conspicuous. At 14 and 23 days, cells expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuronal specific enolase (NSE) were abundantly distributed throughout the aggregate. Using a double immunoreaction on 14-day-old aggregates revealed that GFAP+ cells and their processes were in close apposition to and engulfing the NPY neurons. Thus, dissociated fetal NPY neurons undergo morphological differentiation in culture along with astrocytes (GFAP+) and other neuronal cell types (NSE+). Based on the topographical association of astrocytes and neurons, particularly NPY neurons, we propose that the aggregate culture system can serve as a model to study the role of paracrine interactions in the regulation of the expression of NPY.

Mouse hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin responses to probes of signal transduction systems

Signal transduction mechanisms involved in mouse growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRH) and somatostatin (SRIH) release were investigated using an in vitro perifusion system. Hypothalamic fragments were exposed to depolarizing agents, protein kinase A and C activators, and a calcium ionophore. The depolarizing agents, KCl (60 mM) and veratridine (50 microM), induced similar patterns of GRH and SRIH release. Somatostatin release in response to both agents was twofold greater than that of GRH. Forskolin (10 microM and 100 microM), an adenylate cyclase activator, stimulated both GRH and SRIH release, though with different secretory profiles. The SRIH response was prolonged and persisted beyond removal of the drug from the system, while the GRH response was brief, ending even prior to forskolin removal. Neither GRH nor SRIH were stimulated by 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin (100 microM), a forskolin analog with cAMP-independent actions. A23187 (5 microM), a calcium ionophore, stimulated the release of SRIH to a much greater extent than that of GRH. The GRH and SRIH secretory responses to PMA (1 microM), a protein kinase C activator, were similar, though delayed. The results suggest that 1) GRH and SRIH secretion are regulated by both protein kinase A and C pathways, and 2) depolarizing agents are important for the release of both hormones.

Stimulatory effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate on somatostatin gene expression in cultured hypothalamic neurons

The aim of the present study was to determine whether N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) stimulates somatostatin gene function in primary cultures of hypothalamic neurons. Neurons were either shortly (for 3, 8, 24 and 72 h) or chronically (for 11 days) exposed to NMDA (20 microM). Medium and cellular somatostatin contents were determined by radioimmunoassay, and steady-state preprosomatostatin mRNA levels by Northern blot analysis with an oligonucleotide probe. DNA content was measured as a cellular viability control. After 8 h incubation, NMDA induced a significant 2-fold increase in somatostatin mRNA accumulation, with a maximal 4-fold increase after 24 h incubation. A significant and dose-dependent (1.7-fold and 2.5-fold at 20 and 100 microM, respectively) stimulatory effect was also observed after chronic treatment. The kinetic patterns for medium and cellular somatostatin contents were similar to those obtained for somatostatin mRNA levels. Total DNA content was not modified under any experimental condition. The augmentations in cellular somatostatin and somatostatin mRNA determined after 24 h or chronic exposure to NMDA were blocked by (+)-5-methyl-10.11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d')cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801), an NMDA receptor antagonist. MK-801 alone significantly (P < 0.05) reduced somatostatin mRNA. The stimulatory effect of NMDA on somatostatin mRNA was specific since it was not accompanied by any change in glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA. After immunostaining with a specific antibody against somatostatin, no difference was observed in the number of immunostained neurons detected in control and NMDA exposed groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activation of cyclic AMP second messenger system stimulates secretion of beta-endorphin from fetal hypothalamic cells

Relatively little is known about physiological regulators of hypothalamic beta-endorphin (END) secretion and mechanisms by which they stimulate secretion. We sought to determine whether activation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathway was involved in stimulating hypothalamic beta-END secretion from dissociated fetal hypothalamic cells in culture. Forskolin (FSK), a direct activator of adenylate cyclase which stimulates cAMP formation, stimulated immunoreactive (IR)-beta-END secretion. Because FSK can also stimulate independent of increased cAMP formation, we studied dibutyryl cAMP and 8-bromo-cAMP, analogues of cAMP, which also stimulated IR-beta-END secretion. From these studies we conclude: (1) activation of the cAMP second messenger system stimulates IR-beta-END secretion from hypothalamic cells and supports the rationale that endogenous regulators which stimulate this pathway could be involved in the physiological regulation of hypothalamic beta-END secretion; (2) coupling between the cAMP second messenger pathway and stimulation of hypothalamic beta-END secretion which is presumably present at maturity (adulthood) originates at early stages of development (fetal life).

NMDA receptor activation stimulates phospholipase A2 and somatostatin release from rat cortical neurons in primary cultures

We have recently shown that glutamate exerts a stimulatory action on somatostatin secretion in cortical neurons essentially through NMDA receptor sites. Here, we investigated whether arachidonic acid release could be modified after NMDA receptor activation in cortical neurons in primary culture. We also studied whether pharmacological manipulation of phospholipase A2 could modify somatostatin release. We found that both glutamate and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) stimulated [3H]arachidonic acid release. NMDA-evoked arachidonic acid release was inhibited by MK-801 and TCP (two NMDA receptor-type antagonists), or by mepacrine, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2. NMDA-induced somatostatin release was inhibited by MK-801, mepacrine and by another phospholipase A2 inhibitor, p-bromophenacylbromide (pBPB). However, responses to NMDA were unaffected by H7, NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid), indomethacin or by RHC 80267 (inhibitors of protein kinase C, lipooxygenase, cyclooxygenase and diacylglycerol lipase, respectively). Mepacrine (greater than or equal to 100 microM) decreased NMDA-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis and at higher concentrations (250 microM) was also able to inhibit basal release whereas pBPB had no effect in the range of concentrations tested. Neomycin (which inhibits phosphatidylinositol metabolism by binding strongly and selectively to inositol phospholipids) reduced by 30% the NMDA-stimulated somatostatin release, although chronic treatment of neurons with the phorbol ester 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) had no effect on this response. Melittin, an activator of phospholipase A2, was able to stimulate both arachidonic acid release and somatostatin secretion. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of tritiated metabolites released from cortical neurons under basal or NMDA-stimulated conditions revealed that [3H]arachidonic acid was the only metabolite detectable. Furthermore, external addition of arachidonic acid increased somatostatin secretion. Our results show a correlation between the two parameters studied.

Phospholipase A and Somatostatin Release are Activated in Response to N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Stimulation in Hypothalamic Neurons in Primary Culture

Abstract We have recently shown that glutamate primarily induces somatostatin release in hypothalamic neurons through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type receptor sites. Here we report that glutamate and NMDA also stimulate the release of [(3)H]arachidonic acid in a dose-dependent manner. The NMDA-induced effects (arachidonic acid release and somatostatin secretion) were both inhibited by MK-801, an NMDA receptor-type antagonist, or mepacrine, a phospholipase A(2) inhibitor. In addition, mepacrine was able to inhibit A23187-stimulated arachidonic acid release and somatostatin secretion. p-Bromophenacylbromide, another phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, also blocked NMDA-induced secretion of somatostatin. However, responses to NMDA were unaffected by H7 (inhibitor of protein kinase C), nordihydroguaiaretic acid or indomethacin (inhibitors of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase). Melittin, a phospholipase A(2) activator, was found to stimulate both responses, but omission of extracellular Ca(2+) from the incubation media strongly reduced melittin-induced somatostatin release. Six-h pertussis toxin pretreatment did not significantly reduce the action of NMDA on either of the two parameters studied. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of [(3)H]metabolites released in the medium after NMDA stimulation revealed that [(3)H]arachidonic acid was the only detectable metabolite. External addition of arachidonic acid increased the release of somatostatin, whereas E(2) and F(2)alpha prostaglandins had no effect. Our results show a close correlation between arachidonic acid release and somatostatin secretion, the two parameters we investigated.

Carbamazepine and phenytoin inhibit somatostatin release from dispersed cerebral cells in culture

To elucidate the mechanism by which carbamazepine lowers somatostatin concentration in cerebrospinal fluid of humans, the effect of carbamazepine on secretion of this peptide was studied in rat cerebral cell cultures. Concentrations of carbamazepine within the therapeutic range (4 x 10(-5) M) inhibited spontaneous release of somatostatin and blocked secretory responses to the epileptogen, picrotoxin, and to the cyclic cAMP stimulator forskolin. One of the proposed mechanisms of carbamazepine action is that it binds to adenosine receptors, but in this study, aminophylline, an adenosine antagonist, in a concentration as high as 2.4 x 10(-4) M, did not reverse carbamazepine effects. Carbamazepine suppression of picrotoxin, however, was overcome by exposure to veratridine, a sodium channel-active compound. This finding supports the hypothesis that carbamazepine acts by binding to sodium channels. Phenytoin, another anticonvulsant with many similar properties, also blocked picrotoxin-induced somatostatin release at a concentration of 10(-4) M, and its effects were also reversed by veratridine at a concentration of 10(-5) M. These findings clarify the mechanism by which carbamazepine and phenytoin act in epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia.

Release of somatostatin immunoreactivity from human antral D cells in culture

A primary culture of human antral somatostatin cells has been developed and used in release studies. The phorbol ester, phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate, caused a concentration-dependent increase in immunoreactive somatostatin secretion with a 1-mumol/L concentration resulting in a 40-fold stimulation (basal 0.28% +/- 0.7% total cell content vs. 13.8% +/- 2.2% TCC, P less than 0.005). The calcium ionophore, A23187, resulted in a significant stimulation only at 1 mumol/L (basal 0.28% +/- 0.7% TCC vs. 2.2% +/- 0.5% total cell content, P less than 0.05). However, addition of the ionophore at 1 mumol/L with the phorbol ester resulted in a potentiation of the response at all concentrations tested. Removal of extracellular calcium by chelation with EGTA reduced the response to that seen with the phorbol ester alone. Forskolin at 0.1 mmol/L resulted in a five-fold increase (basal 0.6% +/- 0.2% total cell content vs. 2.8% +/- 0.9% total cell content, P less than 0.02) and was 1000-fold less potent than the phorbol ester. The peptides bombesin and gastrin at concentrations up to 1 mumol/L had no effect on basal secretion. Cholecystokinin-8 significantly stimulated somatostatin secretion with a maximal effect at 0.1 mumol/L resulting in an eightfold increase (basal 0.2% +/- 0.04% total cell content vs. 1.5% +/- 0.4% total cell content, P less than 0.02). These results indicate that human antral D cells are more responsive to agents acting through the c-kinase pathway (phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate, A23187, and cholecystokinin) than adenylate cyclase (forskolin).

Somatostatin regulation by cytokines

Inflammatory states are associated with nervous and neuroendocrine responses, which appear to be mediated through the actions of cytokines. Since endotoxin treatment in the rat is associated with declines in thyrotropin (TSH) secretion and growth hormone (GH) secretion, changes that may be explained by stimulation of hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIF), the effects of cytokines on SRIF were examined. In an in vitro model system consisting of fetal rat diencephalic cells interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were found to stimulate the synthesis and release of SRIF. This effect developed slowly over 24 hours and was dose- and time-dependent. Acute release of SRIF over periods up to 1 hour was not found. The mechanism of cytokine stimulation of SRIF is not known. Since the depletion of glial cells in the cultures inhibits the effect, mediators that depend on the presence glia may be involved. The ability of cytokines to stimulate brain SRIF is likely to prove relevant to our understanding in many areas, including brain development, brain responses to injury, and neuroendocrine changes in chronic illness.

VIP: molecular biology and neurobiological function

In the mammalian brain, a major regulatory peptide is vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). This 28 amino acid peptide, originally isolated from the porcine duodenum, was later found in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in endocrine cells, where it exhibits neurotransmitter and hormonal roles. Increasing evidence points to VIP's importance as a mediator or a modulator of several basic functions. Thus, VIP is a major factor in brain activity, neuroendocrine functions, cardiac activity, respiration, digestion, and sexual potency. In view of this peptide's importance, the mechanisms controlling its production and the pathways regulating its functions have been reviewed. VIP is a member of a peptide family, including peptides such as glucagon, secretin, and growth hormone releasing hormone. These peptides may have evolved by exon duplication coupled with gene duplication. The human VIP gene contains seven exons, each encoding a distinct functional domain on the protein precursor or the mRNA. VIP gene transcripts are mainly found in neurons or neuron-related cells. VIP gene expression is regulated by neuronal and endocrine signals that contribute to its developmental control. VIP exerts its function via receptor-mediated systems, activating signal transduction pathways, including cAMP. It can act as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and a secretagog. As a growth and developmental regulator, VIP may have a crucial effect as a neuronal survival factor. We shall proceed from the gene to its multiple functions.

Actions of excitatory amino acids on somatostatin release from cortical neurons in primary cultures

L-Glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA), quisqualate, and kainate were found to increase endogenous somatostatin release from primary cultures of rat cortical neurons in a dose-dependent manner. The rank order of potency calculated from the dose-response curves was quisqualate greater than glutamate = NMDA greater than kainate, with EC50 values of 0.4, 20, and 40 microM, respectively. Alanine, glutamine, and glycine did not modify the release of somatostatin. The stimulation of somatostatin release elicited by L-glutamate was Ca2+ dependent, was decreased by Mg2+, and was blocked by DL-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) and thienylphencyclidine (TCP), two specific antagonists of NMDA receptors. The NMDA stimulatory effect was strongly inhibited by APV in a competitive manner (IC50 = 50 microM) and by TCP in a noncompetitive manner (IC50 = 90 nM). The release of somatostatin induced by the excitatory amino acid agonists was not blocked by tetrodotoxin (1 microM), a result suggesting that tetrodotoxin-sensitive, sodium-dependent action potentials are not involved in the effect. Somatostatin release in response to NMDA was potentiated by glycine, but the inhibitory strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor did not appear to be involved. Our data suggest that glutamate exerts its stimulatory action on somatostatin release essentially through an NMDA receptor subtype.

Somatostatin inhibition of VIP-induced somatostatin release, cyclic AMP accumulation and 45Ca2+ uptake in diencephalic cells

The effect of somatostatin (SRIF) on VIP induction of SRIF secretion, cyclic AMP accumulation and 45Ca2+ influx was investigated in cultured diencephalic cells. [D-Trp8]SRIF suppressed VIP-stimulated SRIF release and decreased VIP-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. SRIF-14 blocked basal and VIP-stimulated 45Ca2+ entry into cells. The data suggest that the inhibitory effect of SRIF on VIP-induced SRIF release is partly due to a decrease in Ca2+ entry into cells.