Release of intracellularly stored Ca2+ by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate--an overview

Influence of alimentary zinc deficiency on the concentration of the second messengers D-myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and s,n-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) in testes and brain of force-fed rats

The phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, presumably a Zn-metalloenzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate to inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and s,n-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). The activity of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was measured indirectly by determination of the metabolites IP3 and DAG in Zn deficiency. For this purpose 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats with an average live mass of 117 g were divided into 2 groups of 12 animals each. The Zn-deficient and the control group received a semisynthetic casein diet with a Zn content of 1.6 ppm and 115 ppm, respectively. In order to prevent the reduced feed intake that occurs in Zn deficiency and the associated energy and protein depletion from interfering with the experimental parameters, all animals were fed four times daily by gastric tube. This made it possible to supply all animals with adequate nutrients and to synchronize the feed intake exactly. After 12 d, the depleted rats were in a severe state of Zn deficiency, as demonstrated by the reduction of Zn in the serum and the femur by 74% and 43%, respectively, and the 28% lower serum activity of alkaline phosphatase. The radioimmunologically determined concentrations of IP3 were reduced by a significant 53% in the testes of the Zn-deficient rats (0.24 nmol IP3/g wet wt) compared to the control animals (0.51 nmol IP3/g wet wt), while the IP3 concentration in the brain was not affected by the alimentary Zn supply (1.7 and 1.6 nmol IP3/g wet wt, respectively). The DAG concentrations in the testes (474 vs 471 nmol DAG/g wet wt) and the brain (594 vs 640 nmol DAG/g wet wt), which were determined by radioenzymatic methods, showed no significant differences in relation to the alimentary Zn supply. The fact that the Zn concentration in the Zn-deficient rats was reduced only in the testes and not in the brain and that high concentrations of DAG may also result from other metabolic processes suggests that the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C in the mammalian organism is a Zn-metalloenzyme whose activity is reduced in alimentary Zn deficiency in tissues suffering Zn loss.

Plasticity of cholinoreceptors of neurons of the common snail after effects on inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate- and CA(2+)-dependant mobilization of stored CA2+ and the level of phosphatidic acid

The influences on the depth of extinction of the inward current induced by acetylcholine (the ACh-current) of a number of compounds affecting the mobilization of stored Ca2+ and the intracellular level of Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messengers, namely, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), inositol hexakisphosphate, TMB-8 (an inhibitor of (IP3)-dependent Ca2+ mobilization), tetracaine (an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-dependant mobilization of Ca2+), as well as phospholipase D, which leads to the formation of phosphatidic acid through the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, were investigated in identified RPa3 and LPa3 neurons of the common snail using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique for the recording of the potential on the membrane. The participation of IP3, of IP3-dependant, and Ca(2+)-dependant mobilized intracellular Ca2+, as well as phosphatidic acid in the regulation of the plasticity of the cholinoreceptors of the neurons was demonstrated.

Calcium signalling in platelets and other nonexcitable cells

By virtue of their biological simplicity and widespread availability, platelets frequently have been used as a model system to study signal transduction. Such studies have revealed that changes in intracellular free calcium concentration are central to platelet functioning. The following article reviews current concepts of platelet structure and function, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms involved in platelet Ca2+ signalling.

Calcium control on InsP3-induced discharge of calcium from permeabilised hepatocyte pools

The control exerted by intralumenal and cytosolic Ca2+ on InsP3-induced release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ pools in suspensions of saponin-permeabilised rat hepatocytes was investigated by combined Quin-2 and 45Ca2+ measurements at 20 degrees C. We failed to detect a major effect of intralumenal Ca2+ in regulating this release, as various manipulations in which the load of the Ca2+ pools was varied by a factor of two did not significantly affect the apparent relative efficiency of InsP3 in releasing Ca2+; these manipulations included loading the Ca2+ pools up to various steady state levels by preliminary equilibration at various external free Ca2+ concentrations, as well as emptying them progressively through the blockade of pump-mediated Ca2+ uptake. As regards Ca2+ on the cytosolic side, in contrast with recent results obtained with other systems, we found that, at maximal doses, InsP3-induced Ca2+ release was not stimulated by raising Ca2+ from very low to submicromolar or micromolar concentrations, and that only relatively high concentrations of free Ca2+ inhibited this release (half-maximal inhibition was between 3 and 15 microM). Such elevated Ca2+ concentrations reduced the size of the InsP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool. We also noted that the apparent cooperativity of InsP3 activation of release at pCa 5 was noticeably less than that observed at pCa 7. As a result, at low InsP3 concentrations, a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ from pCa 7 to pCa 5 stimulated InsP3-mediated Ca2+ release. These results are discussed in the context of the current speculations about tissue specificity, heterogeneity, quantal release, oscillations, and the several different mechanisms that may control InsP3-induced Ca2+ release.

Protein kinase C-mediated contractile response of the rat vas deferens

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in mediating contractile responses in the rat vas deferens was studied. Phorbol-12,13-diacetate (PDA) in the presence of 20 mM K+ elicited a concentration-dependent response with an EC50 of 190 nM. The non-PKC activator 4 alpha-phorbol (2 microM) was unable to elicit contraction in 20 mM K+ buffer. Incubation of rat vas deferens with the PKC inhibitor iso-H7 (30 microM) attenuated the response to norepinephrine (NE) and neurokinin A, with maximal effects depressed to 42 and 39% of control, respectively. Responses to 60 mM K+ and 2 microM PDA (20 mM K+) was also significantly inhibited by iso-H7. In the presence of 2 microM PDA and 20 mM K+, the NE concentration-effect curve was shifted 3.6-fold to the right of the control curve in a parallel manner. 4 alpha-Phorbol (20 mM K+) at the same concentration did not produce this effect. These results suggest a significant role for PKC in the contractile response of the rat vas deferens.

Differential modulation of spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release from hair cells: some novel hypotheses

It has been generally accepted that even in the absence of mechanical stimulation of the transductional elements, a resting depolarizing current exists which is ultimately responsible for the spontaneous release of neurotransmitter. Movement of the transductional elements modulates this resting current and thereby the evoked release of neurotransmitter occurs. Recent data from our laboratory and others have led us to question whether the relationship between spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release is as simple as stated. Indeed, a variety of experimental manipulations appear to influence the two modes of release differently. Examination of our results and the results of others has led us to four hypotheses: 1. the two modes of neurotransmitter release are processed differently by the hair cells; 2. cyclic AMP is involved in spontaneous but not evoked neurotransmitter release; 3. there is a positive feedback step involving an excitatory amino acid and its receptor on the hair cell in evoked neurotransmitter release and; 4. different pools of calcium are involved according to the mode of release. Accordingly, there may be several biochemical steps between the transductional movement of the stereocilia at the apex of the hair cells and the ultimate release of the neurotransmitter at the base of these cells. Some of these biochemical steps are different depending on whether the mode of release is spontaneous or evoked. These biochemical steps may amplify or at least interact with the biophysical processes previously described in the hair cells.