Glutamate-stimulated, guanine nucleotide-mediated phosphoinositide turnover in astrocytes is inhibited by cyclic AMP

The use of permeabilized cells to assay protein phosphorylation and catecholamine release

A number of approaches can be used to determine the protein kinases and protein phosphatases acting on particular phosphoproteins in vivo. Cell permeabilization represents one such approach. In this overview we discuss the different permeabilization procedures used in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells and in particular the use of digitonin. The effect of various factors on the extent of digitonin-permeabilization, protein phosphorylation and catecholamine release are also discussed. The factors include the permeabilization medium, the ions such as calcium, and the second messengers, such as cAMP, IP3, cADPR and calmodulin. The effect of specific peptide inhibitors of protein kinases on tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation is illustrated. Advantages and disadvantages of cell permeabilization procedures are discussed throughout the text.

GFAP phosphorylation studied in digitonin-permeabilized astrocytes: standardization of conditions

Cycles of assembly/disassembly of the intermediate filaments of astrocytes are modulated by the phosphorylation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The sites on GFAP are localized at the N-terminal where they are phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent and Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases. Phosphorylation of GFAP has been investigated in brain slices, astrocyte cultures, cytoskeletal fractions and purified systems. Here we describe a different approach to study GFAP phosphorylation. We show that permeabilization of astrocytes in culture with digitonin allows direct access to the systems phosphorylating GFAP. Conditions for the permeabilization were established with an assay based on the exclusion of Trypan blue. Incubation of permeabilized cells with cAMP and Ca(2+) increased the phosphorylation state of GFAP. Immunocytochemistry with anti-GFAP showed that permeabilized astrocytes retained their typical flat, fibroblast morphology and exhibited well preserved glial filaments. On incubation with cAMP the filaments apparently condensed to form long processes. The results suggest the approach of studying structural changes in glial filaments in parallel to protein phosphorylation, in the presence of specific modulators of protein kinases and phosphatases has considerable potential.

Forskolin inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and Ca+2 Mobilisation in canine cultured aorta smooth muscle cells

The effect of forskolin on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced inositol phosphate (IP) and Ca2+ mobilisation was investigated in canine cultured aorta smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). Pretreatment of ASMCs with forskolin attenuated 5-HT-induced IP accumulation and Ca2+ mobilisation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The half-maximal effects (pEC50) of forskolin to attenuate IP and Ca2+ responses to 5-HT occurred at concentrations of 6.28 and 6.64, respectively. Pretreatment of ASMCs with cholera toxin caused a similar inhibition on 5-HT-induced responses. Even after treatment with forskolin for 24 h, the 5-HT-induced responses were still inhibited. The inhibitory effect of forskolin resulted from both a depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration-effect curves of 5-HT in these responses. The water-soluble forskolin analogue L-858051 [7-deacetyl-7beta-(gamma-N-methylpiperazino)-butyryl forskolin] significantly inhibited the 5-HT-stimulated IP accumulation. In contrast, the addition of 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, an inactive forskolin analogue, had little effect on IP response. Moreover, SQ-22536 [9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9-H-purin-6-amine], an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and both H-89 [N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-iosquinolinesulphonamide] and HA-1004 [N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-iosquinolinesulphonamide], inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IP in ASMCs. These results indicate that activation of cAMP/PKA might inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated IP accumulation and consequently reduce Ca2+ mobilisation, or inhibit both responses independently.

Effect of forskolin on bradykinin-induced calcium mobilization in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

The effects of increases in intracellular adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) on bradykinin (BK)-induced generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) and Ca2+ mobilization were investigated in canine cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). Pretreatment of TSMCs with either forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP attenuated BK-stimulated responses. The inhibitory effects of these agents produced both a depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration-response curves of BK. The water-soluble forskolin analogue L-858051, 7-deacetyl-7 beta-(r-N-methylpiperazino)-butyryl forskolin, significantly attenuated BK-stimulated IPs accumulation, while 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, an inactive forskolin, had little effect on IPs response. Moreover, SQ-22536, 9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9-H-purin-6-amine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and both H-89, N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, and HA-1004, N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, inhibitors of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), reversed the ability of forskolin to attenuate BK-stimulated IPs accumulation. The KD and Bmax, values of the BK receptor for [3H]BK binding were not significantly changed by forskolin treatment for 30 min and 4 h. The AlF4(-)-induced IPs accumulation was attenuated by forskolin, indicating that G protein(s) are directly activated by AlF4- and uncoupled to phospholipase C by forskolin treatment. These results suggest that activation of cyclic AMP/PKA might inhibit the BK-stimulated PI breakdown and consequently reduce the [Ca2+]i increases or inhibit independently both responses, which is distal to the BK receptor in canine cultured TSMCs.

Regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced calcium mobilization by cAMP-elevating agents in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

The effects of increases in cellular adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on 5-hydroxytryptamine-(5-HT-) induced generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) and increases in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were investigated using canine cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). Cholera toxin and forskolin induced concentration- and time-dependent cAMP formation with half-maximal effects (-logEC50) produced at concentrations of 7.0 +/- 0.5 and 4.9 +/- 0.4 respectively. Pretreatment of TSMCs with either forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP inhibited 5-HT-stimulated responses. Even after treatment for 24h, these agents still inhibited the 5-HT-induced Ca2+ mobilization. The inhibitory effects of these agents produced both depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration response curves of 5-HT. The water-soluble forskolin analogue L-858051 [7-deacetyl-7beta-(gamma-N-methylpiperazino)-butyryl forskolin] significantly inhibited the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IPs. In contrast, the addition of 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, an inactive forskolin analogue, had little effect on this response. Moreover, SQ-22536 [9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9-H-purin-6-amine], an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and both H-89 [N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide] and HA-1004[N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide], inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IPs. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA was involved in these inhibitory effects of forskolin. The AlF4--induced accumulation of IPs was inhibited by forskolin, suggesting that G protein(s) are directly activated by AlF4-- and uncoupled from phospholipase C by forskolin treatment. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA might inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown and consequently reduce the [Ca2+]i increase or inhibit both responses independently.

Potentiation of bradykinin-induced inositol phosphates production by cyclic AMP elevating agents and endothelin-1 in cultured astrocytes

Cultured astrocytes express bradykinin (BK) receptors, which are coupled to phospholipase C (PLC) through G-protein to mediate phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis. The regulation of this BK receptor-G protein-PLC pathway by cAMP and endothelin-1 (ET-1) was explored by short-term (20 min) and long-term (24 h) treatment with 100 mu M dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) or 10 nM ET-1. Short-term treatment of cells with dBcAMP had no effect on BK-induced PI hydrolysis; however, long-term treatment resulted in potentiation of the BK response. Similar effects were seen after 10 mu M forskolin pretreatment of the cells. We further explored the site of action of 24 h dBcAMP pretreatment and found that AlF(4)-, ionomycin- or A3187-induced PI hydrolysis was not affected but (3H)BK binding was increased. These results indicate that the site of action of dBcAMP is the BK receptor and Scatchard plot analysis showed that the Bmax was increased but the Kd decreased. Cycloheximide (0.5 mu M) blocked the increase in (3H)BK binding, indicating that new synthesis of receptor protein might occur during 24 h pretreatment with dBcAMP. Twenty minutes pretreatment of cells with ET-1 resulted in desensitization of the ET-1 induced P1 response, while the BK response was unaffected. After 24 h pretreatment with ET-1, desensitization to ET-1 still occurred, while BK-induced PI hydrolysis was markedly potentiated. (3H)BK binding and AlF(4)--induced but not A23187- or ionomycin-induced PI hydrolysis were increased, indicating that the site of action of long-term ET-1 treatment was the BK receptor and G protein; Scatchard analysis showed an increase in Bmax but no effect on Kd. These effects were blocked by cycloheximide, indicating that new synthesis of both receptor protein and G protein might occur during 24 h pretreatment with ET-1. (3H)Thymidine uptake was inhibited or potentiated by dBcAMP and ET-1, respectively. Possible dBcAMP-induced differentiation and ET-1-induced proliferation may contribute to the increased expression of receptor proteins.

The stimulatory effect of L-glutamate and related agents on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta

The effects of L-glutamate, acetylcholine, and serotonin (5HT) were examined on generation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], in membrane preparations of the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta. Only L-glutamate and acetylcholine stimulated a significant elevation in Ins(1,4,5)P3. The response to L-glutamate was stereospecific; D-glutamate or L-aspartate were not as potent. A role for G-protein(s) was supported by the observations that sodium fluoride stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 generation, and the L-glutamate response was potentiated by GTP and GTP-S and was suppressed by GDPS. However, studies with pertussis and cholera toxins indicated that the putative G-protein(s) was not pertussis or cholera toxin sensitive. The pharmacological profile of the L-glutamate response was examined partially. Trans-ACPD was a very effective agonist at 10(-5)M. While 10(-3)M L-glutamate, NMDA, and AMPA significantly elevated Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels, quisqualate and kainate did not. The elevation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels by L-glutamate and NMDA was antagonized by the specific glutamatergic antagonists AP-5, AP-7, CNQX, and CPP. While the response to ACPD was antagonized by AP5, CPP and CPG, CNQX was without effect. Collectively, the data support the hypothesis that in the cestode H. diminuta, L-glutamate activation of a metabotropic (ACPD) and/or ionotropic-like AMPA/NMDA receptor subtypes proceeds via a G protein(s) to enhance phospholipase C activity, ultimately resulting in the elevation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels in the tissues.

Effect of cAMP elevating agents on carbachol-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and calcium mobilization in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

The effects of increases in intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on carbachol-induced generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) and increases in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were investigated in canine cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). The cAMP elevating agents, cholera toxin (CTX) and forskolin, induced concentration- and time-dependent cAMP formation with half-maximal effects (-logEC50) at concentrations of 7.6 +/- 1.3 g/ml and 4.8 +/- 0.9 M, respectively. Forskolin caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of carbachol-induced increase in [Ca2+]i with half-maximal inhibition (-logEC50) at 5.2 +/- 0.7 M. Pretreatment of TSMCs with either CTX (10 micrograms/ml, 4 h), forskolin (10-100 microM, 30 min), or dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM, 30 min) inhibited carbachol-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization and IPs accumulation. The inhibitory effects of these agents produced both depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration-response curve of carbachol without changing the EC50 values. After treatment with forskolin for 24 h, carbachol-induced IPs accumulation and Ca2+ mobilization were close to those of control group. SQ-22536 [9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine, 10 microM], an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and HA-1004 [N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide hydrochloride, 50 microM], an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit carbachol-induced IPs accumulation. Moreover, the inactive analogue of forskolin, 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, did not inhibit these responses evoked by carbachol, suggesting that activation of cAMP/PKA was involved in these inhibitory effects of forskolin. The KD and Bmax values of the muscarinic receptor (mAChR) for [3H]-N-methyl scopolamine binding were not significantly changed by forskolin treatment for 30 min and 24 h, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of forskolin is distal to the mAChR. The locus of this inhibition was further investigated by examining the effect of forskolin treatment on AIF4(-)-stimulated IPs accumulation in canine TSMCs. The AIF4(-)-induced response was inhibited by forskolin, supporting the notion that G protein(s) are directly activated by AIF4- and uncoupled to phospholipase C by forskolin treatment. We conclude that cAMP elevating agents inhibit carbachol-stimulated generation of IPs and Ca2+ mobilization in canine cultured TSMCs. Since generation of IPs and increases in [Ca2+]i are very early events in the activation of mAChRs, attenuation of these events by cAMP elevating agents might well contribute to the inhibitory effect of cAMP on tracheal smooth muscle formation.

Effects of protein kinase A activation on endothelin- and ATP-induced signal transduction

C6 glioma cells possess endothelin ETA receptor and P2 purinoceptor coupled to two signaling pathways, i.e. phosphoinositide turnover and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. In this study, the effects of raising cyclic AMP levels on the inositol phospholipid hydrolysis and adenylyl cyclase inhibition caused by endothelin-1 and ATP in C6 glioma cells were examined. Pretreatment with cAMP generating agents (forskolin, isoproterenol and cholera toxin) or dibutyryl cAMP for 10 min-3 h did not affect the inositol phosphate accumulation caused by endothelin and ATP. Long-term (8-24 h) pretreatment with isoproterenol, forskolin, cholera toxin or dibutyryl cAMP resulted in a 40-50% inhibition of endothelin- and ATP-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation, whereas the EC50 values of endothelin and ATP were not affected. Consistent with the effects on endothelin and ATP, NaF-induced inositol phosphate formation was also inhibited by cAMP generating agents to a similar extent. Permeabilized cells from 24 h isoproterenol-or forskolin-pretreated C6 cells also showed a diminished Ca(2+)-sensitivity of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and also attenuated the potentiation response caused by GTP gamma S. The inhibitory effects on adenylyl cyclase by endothelin, ATP and 2-methylthio-ATP were unaffected by 24 h pretreatment with isoproterenol or forskolin. Long-term treatment with dibutyryl cGMP did not affect the two signaling pathways caused by ATP and endothelin. It is concluded that the phosphoinositide turnover, but not the adenylyl cyclase inhibition caused by endothelin and ATP in C6 cells, was inhibited by protein kinase A-dependent pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Homologous and heterologous regulation of receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis

Signal transduction at a diverse range of pharmacologically distinct receptors is effected by the enhanced turnover of inositol phospholipids, with the attendant formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years towards the identification and characterization of the individual components of this pathway, much less is known of mechanisms that may underlie its regulation. In this review, evidence is presented for the potential regulation of inositol lipid turnover at the level of receptor, phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and substrate availability in response to either homologous or heterologous stimuli. Available data indicate that the extent of receptor-stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis is regulated by multiple mechanisms that operate at different levels of the signal transduction pathway.

Pharmacological dissociation of glutamatergic metabotropic signal transduction pathways in cortical astrocytes

Using cultured cortical astrocytes we demonstrate differential activation of metabotropic signal transduction pathways with 1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1S3R-dicarboxylic acid (1S3R-ACPD) and the glutamate transport inhibitor trans-2,4-pyrrolidine dicarboxylic acid (trans-2,4-PDC). Phosphoinositide hydrolysis was more potently stimulated by 1S3R-ACPD than by L-trans-2,4-PDC; however, L-trans-2,4-PDC was far more efficacious than 1S3R-ACPD at inhibiting cyclic AMP accumulation. The metabotropic receptor antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine ((+)-MCPG) inhibited 1S3R-ACPD stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis but not its ability to inhibit cyclic AMP accumulation thereby demonstrating a means to pharmacologically dissociate these two metabotropic signal transduction pathways in astrocytes. (+)-MCPG produced similar antagonism of the metabotropic agonist properties of L-trans-2,4-PDC. The metabotropic effects of L-trans-2,4-PDC could not be reduced with enzymatic treatment of the cultures to remove extracellular glutamate, suggesting that these effects are not secondary to the ability of this compound to inhibit glutamate uptake. Taken together the findings indicate the presence of multiple glutamatergic signal transduction pathways in astrocytes and suggest a similarity in the pharmacophores for metabotropic receptors and glutamate transporters.

Phloretin as an antagonist of prostaglandin F2 alpha receptor in cultured rat astrocytes

The effect of phloretin on prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration was examined in cultured rat astrocytes. Phloretin inhibited PGF2 alpha (1 microM)-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 16 microM. The inhibitory action of phloretin was specific for PGs. The addition of increasing concentrations of phloretin caused progressive shifts of the dose-response curves of PGF2 alpha to the right. In digitonin-permeabilized astrocytes, phloretin (100 microM) inhibited the stimulation induced by PGF2 alpha (1 microM) plus GTP gamma S (50 microM) without affecting that induced by GTP gamma S alone. PGF2 alpha at 1 microM transiently increased astrocytic intracellular Ca2+ concentration in 39% of the cells tested. The response was completely blocked by 100 microM phloretin and the calcium response recovered again after washing out phloretin. These results suggest that phloretin is an antagonist of PGF2 alpha receptor linked to phospholipase C in astrocytes.

Multiple mechanisms for inhibition of excitatory amino acid receptors coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis

Excitatory amino acid (EAA) analogues activate receptors that are coupled to the increased hydrolysis of phosphoinositides (PIs). In these studies, hippocampal slices were prepared from neonatal rats (6-11 days old) to characterize the effects of EAA analogues on these receptors. The concentrations of ibotenate and trans-(+/-)-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylate (trans-ACPD) required to evoke half-maximal stimulation (EC50 values) were 28 and 51 microM, respectively. Although the data for stimulation of PI hydrolysis by ibotenate and trans-ACPD were best fit to theoretical curves that had Hill slopes of 1, data for stimulation of PI hydrolysis by quisqualate were best fit to two sites. The EC50 values were 0.43 and 44 microM. The high-affinity sites were 70% of the total. A number of EAA analogues were tested for inhibition of PI metabolism. One of these, L-aspartate-beta-hydroxamate (L-A beta HA), was identified as a novel inhibitor of this response. L-A beta HA was equipotent as an inhibitor of PI metabolism stimulated by ibotenate, quisqualate, and trans-ACPD. The data for this inhibition were best fit to two sites. Between 32 and 48% of the total sites had high affinity with IC50 values in the range of 1.2-6.3 microM. The low-affinity sites had IC50 values between 610 and 2,700 microM. DL-2-Amino-3-phosphonopropionate (DL-AP3) was also equipotent as an inhibitor of PI hydrolysis stimulated by ibotenate, quisqualate, and trans-ACPD (IC50 values were 480-850 microM). In contrast to the data for L-A beta HA, the data for DL-AP3 were best fit to a single site. Both of these inhibitors reduced the maximal response caused by the agonists, consistent with noncompetitive mechanisms of action. Several experiments were designed to examine potential mechanisms for these noncompetitive effects. These studies suggest that either L-A beta HA and DL-AP3 bind to a site on the receptor and irreversibly block activation of the receptor, or that these inhibitors act via a distinct site that specifically regulates EAA receptors coupled to PI hydrolysis.

Acetylcholine- and caffeine-evoked repetitive transient Ca(2+)-activated K+ and C1- currents in mouse submandibular cells

1. Resting and acetylcholine-induced membrane currents were measured in single mouse submandibular acinar cells using the patch-clamp whole-cell current recording technique. 2. Micromolar ACh activated a large, sustained outward, Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current and a single transient inward Ca(2+)-dependent C1-current. 3. Nanomolar ACh induced a series of transients in both the K+ and C1- currents; C1- current activation was now observed throughout the period of agonist application. We consider this repetitive transient current activation better able to support sustained fluid and electrolyte secretion than the response elicited by a high dose of agonist. 4. Repetitive K+ and C1- current transients were also induced by 1 mM-caffeine, consistent with caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from the Ca(2+)-sensitive Ca2+ stores which are thought to comprise part of the pathway for activation of secretion. 5. The ACh-induced current transients were inhibited by 10 mM-caffeine, 100 microM-IBMX and 10 microM membrane-permeable cyclic AMP. Therefore, it seems likely that caffeine is able to inhibit agonist-induced calcium mobilization via a cyclic AMP-dependent pathway.

Endothelin receptors on cultured fetal rat diencephalic glia

The recently described family of proteins, the endothelins, are produced in neurons and bind to extravascular sites in the CNS. To characterize these receptors, we carried out studies on cultures of fetal rat diencephalic glia. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding studies was done for astrocytes (greater than 95% glial fibrillary acidic protein positive). For endothelin 3 (ET-3) and ET-1, respectively, a single receptor class of KD 0.41 +/- 0.05 and 0.62 +/- 0.04 nM and a receptor density of 42 +/- 0.8 and 58 +/- 1.1 fmol/mg of glial protein was found. Bound and cross-linked 125I-ET-3 or ET-1 showed a single predominant receptor band at Mr 52,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; a minor band at 50,000 was also seen. At concentrations equal to the receptor KD, the major brain form of ET, ET-3, stimulated a nearly 200% increase in the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into glia. ET-3 and ET-1 significantly impaired the ability of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to generate cyclic GMP, and isoproterenol to generate cyclic AMP. The ability of ET to inhibit ANP-induced cyclic GMP generation was reversed by cycloheximide and actinomycin-D, whereas the inhibition of isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP generation was partially and significantly blocked by inhibitors of calcium influx, protein kinase C action, or G protein activation, as well. Astrocytes from this part of the brain are a potential target cell for endothelin, assuming these findings are present in vivo. This neuropeptide may serve as a growth stimulator for astrocytes and modulator of the actions of catecholamines or ANP on glia by inhibiting second messenger generation.

Quisqualate-stimulated phosphatidylinositol breakdown in rat cerebellar membranes

The effect of quisqualate, an excitatory amino acid agonist, on the breakdown of exogenously added phosphatidylinositol was investigated in a membrane preparation from the cerebellum of young rats. Quisqualate stimulated phospholipase C activity in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S). Half-maximal activation of the quisqualate response required 0.15 microM GTP gamma S and was optimal at a free Ca2+ concentration of 300 nM. Phosphoinositide breakdown was also stimulated by quisqualate using either exogenous phosphatidylinositides 4,5-bisphosphate or endogenous labeled phosphoinositides as the substrate for phospholipase C in cerebellar membranes. In the presence of guanine nucleotides, other excitatory amino acid agonists, such as L-glutamate, trans-D,L-1-aminocyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylic acid, and ibotenate, but not N-methyl-D-aspartate, stimulated phosphatidylinositol breakdown. However, quisqualate displayed the highest response among these excitatory amino acid agonists. These data indicate that there is a direct activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C by excitatory amino acids through a process dependent on the presence of guanine nucleotides.

Glutamate and GABA receptors in vertebrate glial cells

Glial cells of the central nervous system express receptors for the main inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters, GABA and glutamate. The glial GABA and glutamate receptors share many properties with the neuronal GABAA and kainate/quisqualate receptors, but are molecularly and, in some aspects, pharmacologically distinct from their neuronal counterparts. The functional role of these receptors is as yet speculative: They have been proposed to control proliferation of astrocytes, serve to balance ion changes at GABAergic synapses, or they could enable the glial cell to detect neuronal synaptic activity.