Vasopressin induces breakdown of phosphoinositides in adrenal tumor Y-1 cells without a steroidogenic effect

Carbachol induces homologous steroidogenic refractoriness of bovine fasciculata-reticularis cells

Recently it was shown that the cholinergic agonist carbachol stimulates cortisol production in bovine ZFR cells via muscarinic receptor M(3). In the present study, we investigated the effect of chronic cholinergic stimulation on steroidogenic response and muscarinic receptor regulation in ZFR cells. Cortisol secretion of ZFR cells treated with 10(-4) M of carbachol decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The carbachol-elicited loss of response was associated with a decrease in M(3) receptor number, which was also time- and dose-dependent. The down-regulation of the receptors was not associated with the decrease of M(3) receptor mRNA level. The marked steroidogenic desensitization caused by pretreatment of carbachol did not alter ACTH or angiotensin II activated steroid response. Northern blot analysis showed that carbachol pretreatment did not change the gene expression of P450scc, P450cl7, 3betaHSD and StAR mRNAs. These results suggest that carbachol induces homologous steroidogenic refractoriness of ZFR cells.

High-performance liquid chromatographic study of the regulation of phospholipid metabolism in cultured adrenocortical cells

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the separation of phospholipids was developed for minute samples of total lipids (ca. 200 micrograms). The method was applied to the study of the phospholipid metabolism in adrenocortical cell cultures. A complete separation of the different cellular phospholipid classes was achieved in 40 min. Good resolution of the phospholipid peaks was obtained, which allowed the collection of each individual class of phospholipids for further analysis of radioactivity and fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. When cells were incubated with [U-14C]glycerol or [U-14C]palmitate the bulk of the radioactivity was found in cellular phosphatidylcholines. Exogenous phospholipids were incorporated into cellular lipids to a large extent, however without an increase in the cellular phospholipid content. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate induced a 20% increase in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the cellular phosphatidylethanolamines, but no change was detected in the cellular phosphatidylcholines. The developed method is well-suited to the study of the phospholipid metabolism in adrenocortical cells where the phospholipid metabolism is closely linked to the specialized functions of the cells.

Effects of angiotensin-II on inositol phosphate accumulation and calcium influx in bovine adrenal and Y-1 tumor adrenal cells

The present study compared the action of angiotensin II (A-II) in bovine adrenal fasciculata cells (BA) and Y-1 adrenal tumor cells which are sensitive and resistant respectively to its steroidogenic effect. In both models, A-II induced a time and dose-dependent inositol phosphate (Ins-Ps) accumulation and calcium influx. However, in Y-1 cells the Ins-Ps production was low and only Ins-P1 and Ins-P2 were accumulated. The calcium influx in BA cells was observed after 15 seconds and remained linear as long as the hormone was present, whereas in Y-1 cells calcium influx started prior to 15 seconds and reverted to basal values after 45 seconds. The effects of A-II on both cell types were specific since they were blocked by A-II antagonists. Taken together these results demonstrate the presence of functional A-II receptors in both cell types which are coupled to the two main intracellular messenger systems. Thus, the A-II steroidogenic refractoriness of Y-1 cells is probably related to some alteration(s) located beyond the calcium and/or protein kinase C A-II-messenger system.