Endogenous adenosine regulates the apparent efficacy of 1-aminocyclopentyl-1S,3R-dicarboxylate inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in rat cerebral cortical slices

Astrocyte mGlu(2/3)-mediated cAMP potentiation is calcium sensitive: studies in murine neuronal and astrocyte cultures

Signal transduction mechanisms of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu(2/3)) remains a matter of some controversy, therefore we sought to gain new insights into its regulation by studying cAMP production in cultured neurons and astrocytes, and by examining inter-relationships of mGlu(2/3)-induced signalling with cellular calcium and various signalling cascades. mGlu(2/3) agonists 2R,4R-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (2R,4R-APDC) and (-)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY379268) inhibited 10 microM forskolin-stimulated production of cAMP in murine cortical neurons, striatal neurons and forebrain astrocytes in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). These agonists potentiated cAMP production in the presence of 1.8 mM Ca(2+) in astrocytes only. This potentiation was dependent on the extracellular Ca(2+) concentration (0.001-10 mM) and inhibited by the mGlu(2/3) antagonist LY341495 (1 microM), adenosine deaminase (1 U/ml) and the adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist ZM241385 (1 microM). Pre-incubation with the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122 (10 microM), L-type Ca(2+)-channel blockers nifedipine (1 microM) and nimodipine (1 microM), the calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-62 (10 microM) or pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml) inhibited this potentiation. In the absence of 1.8 mM Ca(2+), thapsigargin (1 microM) facilitated the potentiation of cAMP production. Measurement of the Ca(2+)-binding dye Fluo-3/AM showed that, compared to Ca(2+)-free conditions, thapsigargin and 1.8 mM Ca(2+) elevated [Ca(2+)](i) in astrocytes; the latter effect being prevented by L-type Ca(2+)-channel blockers. Potentiation of cAMP production was also demonstrated when astrocytes were stimulated with the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline (10 microM) in the presence of 1.8 mM Ca(2+), but not with the adenosine agonist NECA (10 microM) or the group I mGlu receptor agonist DHPG (100 microM). BaCl(2) (1.8 mM) in place of Ca(2+) did not facilitate forskolin-stimulated mGlu(2/3)-potentiation of cAMP. In short, this study in astrocytes demonstrates that under physiological Ca(2+) and adenylate cyclase stimulation an elevation of cAMP production is achieved that is mediated by PLC/IP(3)- and CaMKII-dependent pathways and results in the release of endogenous adenosine which acts at G(s) protein-coupled A(2A) receptors. These findings provide new insights into mGlu(2/3) signalling in astrocytes versus neurons, and which could determine the functional phenotypy of astrocytes under physiological and pathological conditions.

Developmental regulation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors modulating adenylate cyclase activity in the avian retina

The regulation of adenylate cyclase by neurotransmitters is observed in early development of the chick retina. In the present work we show that L-2-amine-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4), the major agonist of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), inhibits the accumulation of cyclic AMP induced by forskolin in the chick retina. This effect is observed after 8 days of development (E8), is maximal from E12-E17 and decreases at the post-hatching period (PH). The inhibition is also observed in cultures of retinal cells incubated for 2-8 days. We have also investigated the interaction between group III mGluRs and other receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase in the developing retina. The inhibition by L-AP4 is partially additive with that induced by the A1 adenosine agonist Cyclohexyladenosine and is not observed when cyclic AMP levels are increased with 2-chloroadenosine or dopamine. The group II mGluR agonist trans-(1S,3R)-1-amino-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid has an inhibitory effect only on PH retinas, indicating that group II and group III mGluRs have a differential ontogenesis in this tissue. The results show that Group III mGluRs are expressed early during chick retina development and do not interact with other receptors known to be coupled to adenylate cyclase in the developing retina.

Differentiation of group 2 and group 3 metabotropic glutamate receptor cAMP responses in the rat hippocampus

The effects of group 2- versus group 3-selective metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonists were examined against forskolin (10 microM)-, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP; 1 microM)- and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA; 10 microM)-stimulated cAMP accumulations in adult rat hippocampal slices (in the presence of adenosine deaminase). Group 2 mGlu receptor-selective ((1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1, 3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) and (2S,3S,4S)-alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)-glycine (L-CCG I)) and group 3 mGlu receptor-selective (L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) and L-serine-O-phosphate) agonists greatly inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation ( > 80% at maximally effective concentrations). In contrast, stimulation of cAMP by VIP or NECA was inhibited by group 3, but not by group 2, mGlu receptor agonists. In fact, group 2 mGlu receptor agonists greatly potentiated cAMP accumulation evoked by NECA. Both the inhibitory effects of 1S,3R-ACPD on forskolin-stimulated cAMP and the potentiating effects on NECA-stimulated cAMP accumulation were reversed by the competitive group 1/2 mGlu receptor antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine ((+)-MCPG). However, (+)-MCPG had no effects on L-AP4 inhibition of cAMP. Thus, the effects of group 2 versus group 3 mGlu receptor agonists on cAMP coupling can be pharmacologically as well as functionally differentiated in the rat hippocampus.

Second-messenger responses in brain slices to elucidate novel glutamate receptors

G-Protein-coupled or 'metabotropic' glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are a novel heterogenous family of excitatory amino acid receptors. Activation of mGluRs in the rat hippocampus by the mGluR-selective agonist 1S,3R-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) leads to multiple changes in second-messenger formation. These include increases in basal phosphoinositide hydrolysis, decreases in forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation, and enhancement of cAMP formation via a potentiation of the effects of endogenous adenosine. These changes in mGluR coupling to phosphoinositide hydrolysis and the formation of cAMP likely reflect the in situ expression of heterogenous populations of mGluRs. A number of electrophysiological studies on the functions of mGluRs in hippocampal circuitry, ontogeny, and cellular functions have also been described. Any or all of these mGluR-mediated changes in second messengers may underlie the reported cellular effects associated with the mGluR activation by 1S,3R-ACPD. However, mGluR agonists that have selectivity for different mGluR second-messenger pathways are needed to sort out the cellular consequences of activating in situ expressed mGluR subtypes linked to specific second-messenger pathways.

Interaction between metabotropic receptors and purinergic transmission in rat hippocampal slices

Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation by (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) in rat hippocampal slices was partially obliterated by the adenosine-depleting enzyme, adenosine deaminase, or by the adenosine receptor agonist, 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)-adenosine, suggesting that activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) modulates the release of endogenous adenosine. Consistent with this hypothesis, forskolin stimulated the release of purines from rat hippocampal slices, and this effect was reduced by 1S,3R-ACPD. To establish which transduction pathway is involved in the modulation of forskolin-stimulated purine release, we have tested the novel mGluR2 agonist, (2S,1'R,2'R,3'R)-2-(2,3-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG-IV), which reduced forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation but, as opposed to 1S,3R-ACPD, did not stimulate polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. DCG-IV was highly potent and more efficacious than 1S,3R-ACPD in inhibiting forskolin-stimulated purine release. Neither DCG-IV nor 1S,3R-ACPD reduced the release of purines stimulated by depolarizing concentrations of K+, suggesting that their effect was stimulus-specific. These results indicate that, in rat hippocampal slices, activation of mGluR2 receptors attenuates the release of purines induced by forskolin, a process that amplifies the final effect of forskolin on cAMP formation as a result of A2 purinergic receptor activation. Thus, the final effect of mGluR agonists on forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in hippocampal slices depends on both a direct inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and the inhibition of adenosine release.

Characterization of metabotropic glutamate receptors negatively linked to adenylyl cyclase in brain slices

We have characterized the pharmacological profile of activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors negatively linked to adenylyl cyclase (mGluR decreases cAMP) in brain slices. Among the putative mGluR agonists, (2S,1'R,2'R,3'R)-2-(2,3-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG-IV) and (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD), were the most potent inhibitors of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in hippocampal slices, followed by ibotenate, L-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionate (AP3), quisqualate, L-glutamate and beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation by DL-2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoate (AP4) was biphasic, suggesting that the drug interacts with more than one mGluR decreases cAMP subtype. Both L-AP4 and L-serine-O-phosphate (a restricted analogue of AP4) were much more effective in inhibiting forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation than their D-isomers, indicating that interaction of these drugs with the mGluR decreases cAMP is stereoselective. Despite the fact that DCG-IV and ibotenate behave as NMDA receptor agonists, their effect was insensitive to MK-801. The regional pattern of expression of mGluR decreases cAMPS, as estimated by using 1S,3R-ACPD as an agonist, did not correlate with the steady-state levels of mGluR2 mRNA. Thus, 1S,3R-ACPD inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP in slices from hippocampus, cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, olfactory tubercle or hypothalamus, but not in slices from olfactory bulb or cerebellum; in contrast, mGluR2 mRNA levels were high in the olfactory bulb and very low in the corpus striatum. 1S,3R-ACPD also inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in cortical membranes, excluding the involvement of trans-synaptic mechanisms in the activity of mGluR decreases cAMPS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)