Calcium and neurosecretion

Ca2+ signalling and Ca2+-activated ion channels in exocrine acinar cells

The development of the calcium signalling field, from its early beginnings some 40 years ago to the present, is described. Calcium signalling in exocrine gland acinar cells and the effects of neurotransmitter- or hormone-elicited rises in the cytosolic calcium ion concentration on ion channel gating are reviewed. The highly polarized arrangement of the organelle systems in living acinar cells is described as well as its importance for the physiologically relevant local and polarized calcium signalling events.

Polyamines in nerve terminals and secretory granules isolated from neurohypophyses

In isolated nerve terminals from ox neurohypophyses the following concentrations of polyamines [pmol (microgram protein)-1 (mean +/- SEM)] were found: spermine: 2.07 +/- 0.14 (n = 3), spermidine: 0.22 +/- 0.01 (n = 4), putrescine: 0.20 +/- 0.01 (n = 4). In secretory granules isolated from the same tissue, the concentrations were: spermine: 0.57 +/- 0.02 (n = 3), spermidine: 0.07 +/- 0.04 (n = 3), putrescine: 0.13 +/- 0.04 (n = 3). After incubation of isolated nerve terminals with the polyamines, they were taken up as a function of time and concentration, approaching saturation at high concentrations. The kinetic parameters of their synthesizing enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, in ox neurohypophyseal nerve terminals (apparent Km 0.75 mM and Vmax 22.5 pmol mg protein-1 h-1) were comparable to those previously found in cerebral cortex of rats. When isolated, hemilobes from rat neurohypophyses were incubated in a medium which contained spermidine (5 mM), and were stimulated by 56 mM K+, release of vasopressin was smaller than in control experiments. However, after removal of spermidine and after restimulation, 50 min after initial stimulation, the release was significantly elevated. It is suggested that polyamines may take part in modulation of vasopressin release.

Ca2+ releasing effect of perezone on adrenal cortex mitochondria

Ca2+ energy-coupled transport was analized in adrenal cortex mitochondria using the sesquiterpenic drug perezone. Perezone promotes Ca2+ efflux by inducing collapse of the membrane potential and oxidation of pyridine nucleotides. The effect of perezone on mitochondrial Ca2+ release follows a dose-response relationship and is dependent of the reduction of the drug. These data suggest that perezone may produce a cytotoxic effect through an impairment in Ca2+ homeostasis.

Studies of vasopressin in the human cerebrospinal fluid

The development of sensitive radioimmunoassays has permitted measurement of the low concentration of vasopressin in the human cerebrospinal fluid. There is accumulating evidence to suggest that vasopressin is involved in a variety of brain functions. As an effective blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier to vasopressin has been demonstrated, the concentration of vasopressin in the cerebrospinal fluid probably reflects the release of vasopressin within the brain. In human subjects without intracranial disease, the concentration of vasopressin in the cerebrospinal fluid is in the range 0.5-2.0 pg/ml with only little diurnal variation. Intracranial disorders associated with increased intracranial pressure may cause increased cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin concentrations, whereas degenerative brain diseases are associated with low concentrations. Only little is known about the physiologic stimuli which alter the concentration of vasopressin in cerebrospinal fluid. The concentration in cerebrospinal fluid is not influenced by a number of stimuli that cause release of vasopressin into the blood, i.e. changes in plasma osmolality, postural changes, and nausea. Elevation of the intracranial pressure, changes in the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid, electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus, and severe hemorrhage provoke an increase in cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin level.

Mercuric chloride inhibition of vasopressin release from the isolated neurointermediate lobe of the rat pituitary

The effects of HgCl2 and ouabain on vasopressin release and Ca2+ uptake and distribution was examined in the neurointermediate lobe of the rat pituitary. HgCl2 (0.5 mM) inhibited vasopressin release by approx. 90% in both basal and potassium depolarized states. With 0.1 mM HgCl2 vasopressin release was inhibited by 50% in the depolarized state, but release was not effected in basal state. On the other hand, ouabain (0.5 mM) caused a 3-fold stimulation of vasopressin release in the depolarized state. Both HgCl2 (0.5 mM) and ouabain (0.5 mM) increased net 45Ca+2 uptake by about 80% in groups of neurointermediate lobes. Following 45Ca+2 uptake, HgCl2 (0.5 mM), which is absorbed by the neurointermediate lobe, produced an increase in cytosolic 45Ca+2 content and a decrease in mitochondrial 45Ca+2 content compared to control. In comparison, ouabain (0.5 mM), which does not penetrate the neurointermediate lobe, gave no change in cytosolic 45Ca+2, but an increase in mitochondrial 45Ca+2. These results suggest that HgCl2 inhibits vasopressin release from the neurointermediate lobe of the rat pituitary at a point distal to Ca+2 uptake by the gland.

Immunocytochemical demonstration of calmodulin in cells secreting by exocytosis

Calmodulin is a regulator of several calcium-dependent cellular processes. It has been suggested that it plays a role in the mechanism of secretion. Employing an indirect immunoperoxidase technique at the light microscope level, this study demonstrates the presence of calmodulin in several exocytotic cells (mast cells, thyroid follicular cells, neurohypophyseal neurosecretory terminals, pancreatic beta-cells and pancreatic acinus cells) in rat and man. The positive staining reaction for calmodulin was granular and at least in the case of rat mast cells it appeared to be associated with the granule membrane.

Microinjection of calmodulin antibodies into cultured chromaffin cells blocks catecholamine release in response to stimulation

Polyclonal monospecific antibodies raised in sheep against rat testis calmodulin demonstrated cross-reactivity with bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cell calmodulin. This antibody immunoprecipitated a [35S]methionine-labelled protein from chromaffin cell extracts prepared from [35S]methionine prelabelled cells that comigrated on a sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis system with calmodulin. In addition, an excess of non-radioactive exogenous calmodulin was shown to readily compete with this labelled endogenous protein for the antibodies' binding sites. Erythrocyte ghosts were used as vehicles for microinjecting either preimmune immunoglobulin G or anti-calmodulin immunoglobulin G into chromaffin cells following a polyethylene glycol-induced cell fusion procedure. The efficiency of ghost cell fusion was monitored and found to be 43.6 +/- 1% (n = 33). Cell morbidity subsequent to fusion and microinjection was negligible (87.8 +/- 0.6% of the total cell population were viable cells; n = 33) as determined by the Trypan Blue exclusion test. The delivery of intact antibodies raised against calmodulin directly into the cytoplasm of cultured chromaffin cells by erythrocyte ghost-mediated microinjection, inhibited catecholamine output in response to stimulation by either acetylcholine (10(-4) M) or a depolarizing concentration of potassium (56 mM). However, under these conditions, the chromaffin cell's ability to accumulate exogenous catecholamines through a high affinity uptake system, as well as the kinetic parameters that characterize this uptake mechanism remained unaltered. Furthermore, microinjection of preimmune immunoglobulin G did not modify either catecholamine uptake or stimulation-induced amine release from chromaffin cells. It therefore appears that calmodulin may play a role in the process of stimulus-secretion coupling in the chromaffin cell in culture while it is of little significance to the high affinity amine uptake mechanism.

Ultracytochemical localization of Ca++-ATPase activity in pituicytes of the neurohypophysis of the guinea pig

Ca++-ATPase activity (cf. Ando et al. 1981) was examined both light- and electron-microscopically in the neurohypophysis of the guinea pig. Apart from a strong activity within the walls of the blood vessels, in the parenchyma of the neurohypophysis the reaction product of the Ca++-ATPase activity was restricted to the plasmalemma of the pituicytes. This reaction was completely dependent upon Ca++ and the substrate, ATP; the reaction was inhibited by 0.1 mM quercetin, an inhibitor of Ca++-ATPase. A reduction of the enzyme activity occurred by 1) adding Mg++ to the standard incubation medium, and 2) substituting Ca++ with Mg++ at varying concentrations. In all experiments the neurosecretory fibers were devoid of Ca++-ATPase activity. The function of the Ca++-ATPase activity in the plasmalemma of the pituicytes is discussed in connection with the regulation of the extracellular Ca++ concentration, which seems to be important with respect to the discharge of secretory material from the neurosecretory fibers.

Characteristics of taurine release from cerebral cortex slices induced by sodium-deficient media

Taurine release from rat cerebral cortex slices as influenced by changes in sodium metabolism has been investigated. Superfusion of the slices with sodium deficient medium enhanced taurine release in a reversible manner. The enhancement was about 6 times greater than that induced by 50 mM potassium. Moreover, elevated potassium concentrations slightly decreased the enhancement produced by sodium-free medium. Omission of calcium ions increased the spontaneous efflux of taurine and diminished, but did not abolish, the release induced either by sodium-free or high-potassium medium. The changes in taurine release in the presence of calcium were parallel to the changes in concomitant calcium uptake. Sodium-deficient medium decreased the potassium content of the slices, indicating inhibition of the Na+, K+-ATPase. In agreement with this result, ouabain greatly increased the spontaneous efflux of taurine and eliminated the stimulation by sodium-free medium. The present results emphasize the importance of the resting-state sodium gradients for neural cells to retain high taurine concentrations. Thus, when the Na+, K+-ATPase activity is inhibited, a decrease in sodium gradients may lead to a redistribution of taurine between cytoplasmic and interstitial spaces. Such a mechanism would allow taurine to act as an unspecific modulator of neural membrane events.

Calmodulin binding to secretory granules isolated from bovine neurohypophyses

Secretory granules, isolated from bovine neurohypophyses on isoosmolar Percoll-sucrose-EGTA gradients had a calmodulin content of 0.09 +/- 0.01 micrograms/mg protein (SE, n = 6). The distribution of calmodulin on the gradient showed that it did not copurify with the granules. Specific binding sites for calmodulin with a high affinity (Kd = 2.43 +/- 0.27 X 10(-9) M (SE, n = 5] and a maximum binding capacity of 1.3 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg protein (SE, n = 5) could be demonstrated when such secretory granules were incubated with 125I-calmodulin.

Ca2+ uptake to purified secretory vesicles from bovine neurohypophyses

Purified secretory vesicles isolated from bovine neurohypophyses were found to take up Ca2+ when incubated at 30 degrees C in media containing 10(-7) to 10(-4) M free Ca2+. At 10(-4) free Ca2+ 19 nmol/mg protein were taken up within 30 min. The initial uptake at this Ca2+ concentration was about 2 nmol/mg protein per min. The uptake of Ca2+ to secretory vesicles was not affected by ATP, oligomycin, ruthenium red, trifluoperazine, Mg2+ or K+, but was inhibited by Na+ and Sr2+. From these characteristics it can be concluded that the uptake system does not utilize directly ATP (as the Ca2+-ATPases known to be present in the cell membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum) and is different from the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake system driven by respiration and/or ATP hydrolysis. However, Ca2+-Na+ exchange may well operate: In experiments using different concentrations of Na+ we found half-maximal inhibition of Ca2+ uptake with 33.3 mM Na+. An analysis of the data in a Hill plot indicated that at least 2 Na+ would be exchanged for 1 Ca2+. Also, it was found that Ca2+ previously taken up could be released again by external Na+ but not by K+.

Effects of Ca2+ and calmodulin on cyclic nucleotide metabolism in neurosecretosomes isolated from ox neurohypophyses

In neurosecretosomes, isolated from ox neurohypophyses, both guanylate and adenylate cyclase activity was shown to be predominantly membrane-bound. Membrane-bound adenylate cyclase was inhibited by increasing the ionized calcium concentration from 10(-7) M to 10(-5) M, but was stimulated by calmodulin in the presence of 10(-7) M and 10(-5) M ionized calcium. In contrast, neither calcium ions nor calmodulin affected the activity of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase. Soluble cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities increased with increasing ionized calcium concentration (10(-7) M to 10(-3) M). At 10(-7) M ionized calcium concentration, both soluble phosphodiesterase activities were stimulated by calmodulin. Both the membrane-bound phosphodiesterase activities were inhibited by a high ionized calcium concentration (10(-3) M) and not affected by calmodulin.

Sodium-dependent efflux of [3H]GABA from synaptosomes probably related to mitochondrial calcium mobilization

It has been suggested that mitochondria might modify transmitter release through the control of intracellular Ca2+ levels. Treatments known to inhibit Ca2+ retention by mitochondria lead to an increased transmitter liberation in the absence of external Ca2+, both at the frog neuromuscular junction and from isolated nerve endings. Sodium ions stimulate Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria isolated from excitable tissues. In the present study, the effect of increasing internal Na+ levels on [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) release from isolated nerve endings is reported. Results show that the efflux of [3H]GABA from prelabeled synaptosomes is stimulated by ouabain, veratrine, gramicidin D, and K+-free medium, which increase the internal sodium concentration. This effect was not observed when Na+ was omitted from the incubation medium and it was independent of external Ca2+, the experiments having been performed in a Ca2+-free, EGTA-containing medium. Since preincubation of synaptosomes with 2,4-diaminobutyric acid did not prevent the stimulatory effect of increased internal Na+ levels on [3H]GABA efflux, it appears to be unrelated to an enhanced activity of the outward carrier-mediated GABA transport. These results suggest that the augmented release of [3H]GABA may be due to an increased Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria elicited by the accumulation of Na+ at the nerve endings.

ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation by microvesicles isolated from bovine neurohypophyses

Microvesicles with and without coats were isolated from bovine neurohypophyses by a series of ultracentrifugation steps. They were similar to microvesicles previously isolated from brain. In the presence of ATP and Mg2+, the microvesicles accumulated calcium. Oxalate stimulated and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 inhibited calcium accumulation. In the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ the microvesicles also demonstrated ATPase activity. As judged by SDS electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels microvesicle protein composition was very different from that of neurosecretory granules, suggesting that they are not granule membranes "retrieved" after exocytosis. They may have an important function in regulation of Ca2+ ion concentration.

Synthesis, transport, and release of posterior pituitary hormones

Vasopressin and oxytocin are made and released by neurons of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Pulse labeling these neurons with radioactive amino acid indicates that the two hormones and their respective neurophysin carrier proteins are synthesized as parts of separate precursor proteins. The precursors seem to be processed into smaller, biologically active molecules while they are being transported along the axon.

Induction of exocytosis from glomus cells by incubation of the carotid body of the rat with calcium and ionophore A23187

Carotid bodies from adult rats were electron microscopically studied after incubation in glucose-containing salt solutions containing calcium and/or ionophore A23187 or neither. In the absence of the ionophore, adding or omitting calcium had no effect on the fine structure of the glomus cells. Incubation in the medium containing both 1 mM calcium and the ionophore caused the appearance of exocytotic membrane profiles in several glomus cells. Exocytosis was not seen when only A23187 and endogenous calcium was present. For exocytosis to occur, calcium appeared to be essential and the event seemed to be due to a rise in the intracellular calcium concentration caused by the ionophore.

The influence of pH on the absorption spectrum of arsenazo III

The absorption spectrum of arsenazo III in media containing K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ is sharply influenced by pH in the range of 7.5--5.0. The effect of pH is particularly pronounced in the wavelength range 532--602 nm due to the large pH dependence of the dissociation constant of Mg-arsenazo III complex. Therefore absorption changes at these wavelengths during muscle contraction cannot be used as reliable indicators of free ionized Ca2+ concentration in the cell. The effect of pH is less pronounced, but still noticeable at the wavelength pairs 575--650 or 660--685 nm. Multiple layers of muscle cells grown on polystyrene coils permit measurement of absorption changes of arsenazo III, introduced into the cells, by equilibration with 0.5 mM arsenazo III under routine culture conditions. The absorbance changes recorded at 660--685 nm are probably related to changes in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration.