Concanavalin A: its action in inducing Oocyte maturation-inducing substance in starfish follicle cells

Participation of Gs-proteins in the action of relaxin-like gonad-stimulating substance (GSS) for 1-methyladenine production in starfish ovarian follicle cells

Gonad-stimulating substance (GSS) in starfish is the only known invertebrate peptide hormone responsible for final gamete maturation, rendering it functionally analogous to gonadotropins in vertebrates. Recently, we purified GSS from radial nerves in the starfish Asterina pectinifera and identified the chemical structure as a heterodimer composed of two different peptides (A- and B-chain) with disulfide cross-linkages. This study examined the hormonal action of GSS on ovarian follicle cells obtained from ovaries in growing (stage IV) and fully grown (stage V) stages, and particularly the mode of signal transduction. The action of GSS on 1-MeAde production by follicle cells in stage V was mediated through the production of cAMP. In contrast, GSS failed to induce 1-MeAde and cAMP production by follicle cells in stage IV. According to competitive experiments using radioiodinated and radioinert GSS, highly specific binding was observed in follicle cells, though their affinities and numbers in stage IV were inferior to those in stage V. Interestingly, Gsα was not detected immunologically in follicle cell membranes of stage IV. Gβ was also faint in stage IV. Although adenylyl cyclase activity in stage V was dose-dependently activated by GSS in the presence of GTP, neither GSS in the presence of GTP nor nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs were effective on the activity in stage IV. These findings strongly suggest that the failure of GSS to produce 1-MeAde is because of a lack of Gs-proteins in follicle cells at stage IV.

Involvement of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in methylation during 1-methyladenine production by starfish ovarian follicle cells

Resumption of meiosis in starfish oocytes is induced by 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde) produced by ovarian follicle cells under the influence of a gonad-stimulating substance (GSS). With respect to 1-MeAde production, the effect of GSS on follicle cells results in the receptor-mediated formation of cyclic AMP (cAMP). It has also been reported that methylation is involved in 1-MeAde production by GSS. This study was undertaken to determine whether cAMP is the agent responsible for mediating methylation in 1-MeAde biosynthesis by isolated follicle cells of the starfish Asterina pectinifera. Methionine and selenomethionine enhanced 1-MeAde production by GSS in follicle cells. These stimulatory effects were dependent on the GSS concentration. Production of 1-MeAde by GSS was inhibited by ethionine and selenoethionine, competitive inhibitors of methionine. Like GSS, 1-MeAde production induced by concanavalin A, trypsin, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), which stimulated cAMP accumulation in follicle cells, was influenced by methionine and its related compounds. In contrast, although 1-methyladenosine (1-MeAde-R) induced 1-MeAde production by follicle cells without increasing cAMP levels, methionine and its related compounds had no effect. Use of [methyl-14C]methionine showed that a radiolabel was incorporated into 1-MeAde during incubation with GSS and IBMX, but not with 1-MeAde-R. These results strongly suggest that cAMP plays an important role in the process of methylation during 1-MeAde biosynthesis induced by GSS.

Mediation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in 1-methyladenine production by starfish ovarian follicle cells

Resumption of meiosis in starfish oocytes is induced by 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde) produced by ovarian follicle cells under the influence of a gonad-stimulating substance (GSS). It has also been reported that concanavalin A (Con A) and two serine proteolytic enzymes (trypsin and Pronase) can stimulate 1-MeAde production. This study was undertaken to determine if 1-MeAde production induced by these compounds is mediated through elevation of cAMP in starfish (Asterina pectinifera) follicle cells. GSS at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml significantly stimulated 1-MeAde accumulation in extracellular medium after 1-2 hr of follicle cell incubations. GSS also caused a four- to fivefold increase in intracellular levels of cAMP. The continuous presence of GSS was required for the maintenance of elevated levels of cAMP and 1-MeAde. Basal levels of intracellular cGMP were only about 20% of those of cAMP and were not influenced by treatment with GSS. At 1 mM, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor, stimulated both 1-MeAde and cAMP production in a concentration-dependent manner. Con A and two serine proteases also raised both cAMP and 1-MeAde production. Con A-induced (1.0 mg/ml) increases in cAMP and 1-MeAde were greater than the response to GSS (0.1 mg/ml) and were completely suppressed by treatment with alpha-methyl-D-mannoside (10 mM), a competitive inhibitor of Con A. These results strongly suggest that cAMP is a second messenger in the production of 1-MeAde by starfish ovarian follicle cells.

Stimulation of prostaglandin E production by concanavalin A in isolated Graafian follicles

Addition of Concanavalin A (Con A) to isolated rat Graafian follicles induced prostaglandin E (PGE) production after 2 h of incubation. PGE synthesis continued throughout 24 h culture period. Cyclic AMP accumulation was noted after 6 h of incubation with Con A. .Aspirin, indomethacin and flufenamate prevented both the stimulation of PGE production and of cyclic AMP accumulation by Con A; antibodies to PGE prevented the cyclic AMP production. These studies indicate that the interaction of Con A with the follicle results in PGE production. It seems that besides the known pathway for the induction of PGE synthesis in the ovarian follicle, via elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP, an additional pathway, via an external signal which is independent of cyclic AMP exists.

Ultrastructural changes in dog thyroid follicular cells elicit by concanavalin A in vitro

Dog thyroid follicular cells exposed to concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro showed changes in cell shape, induction of colloid droplets and alterations in the distribution of microvilli. Cells exposed to Con A plus suboptimal concentrations of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) showed pseudopods and their cytoplasm was virtually occupied with colloid droplets. This findings suggest that Con A potentiated pseudopod and colloid droplet formation induced by TSH.