Stimulus-secretion coupling in exocrine glands: the role of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, calcium and cAMP

Streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus alters the morphology, secretory function and acyl lipid contents in the isolated rat parotid salivary gland

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with numerous conditions including hypo-secretion of digestive enzymes. This study investigated the morphology, secretory function (alpha-amylase release) and acyl lipid contents in the isolated parotid gland of STZ-induced diabetic and age-matched control rats in order to provide insights into diabetes-induced salivary insufficiency. The techniques employed included light microscopy, colourimetric and gas chromatography (GC) analysis, respectively. Diabetes mellitus was induced in adult male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg per kg body weight). Control animals were injected with a similar volume of citrate buffer. The animals were tested for DM 4 days after STZ injection and 2 months later when they were humanely killed for the experiment. The morphological results showed diabetic parotid glands to be extensively infiltrated with lipid droplets of various magnitudes, whereas glands from control animals display normal structure with the absence of lipid droplets. The analysis of parotid secretory function revealed a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent decrease in alpha-amylase release in response to noradrenaline (NA) in STZ-treated glands when compared to age-match control parotid glands. Furthermore, the levels of acyl lipids (16:0, 16:1, 18:0 and 18:1) in diabetic parotid glands was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced compared to control glands, along with a reduced ratio of 16:1/16:0. The results indicate DM can elicit changes in the morphology, secretory function and acyl fatty acid quantity in the isolated rat parotid gland.

Effects of ageing on morphology, amylase release, cytosolic Ca2+ signals and acyl lipids in isolated rat parotid gland tissue

Xerostomia (oral dryness sensation) is due to dryness of the oral cavity and it is more prevalent in the elderly. This study investigated the effect of ageing on parotid gland structure and function of control (2-6 months) and aged (12, 16-18 and 22-24 months) rats employing light microscopic, colorimetric, gas chromatographic and microspectrofluorimetric methods to investigate the morphological changes of the parotid glands, amylase release, endogenous lipid distribution and cytosolic free calcium levels, respectively. When compared to controls, age-related changes were apparent in glands obtained from rats aged 16-18 and 22-24 months, which included reduced acinar cell distribution, enlarged parotid ducts with fatty and connective tissue and mast cell infiltrations. Parotid acini from 12, 16-18 and 22-24-month-old glands showed significant (p < 0.05) age-related decreases in amylase release, compared to controls when challenged with acetylcholine (ACh). No change in basal calcium signals was observed in parotid acini from 2-6 to 16-18-month-old-animals. However, stimulation of 16-18-month-old parotid acini with 10(-5)M ACh resulted in a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in both peak and plateau phases of the cytosolic Ca2+ signal when compared to control. Gas chromatography of de novo and essential acyl lipids revealed no changes in the amount of either acyl lipid group in glands obtained from 2-6 to 22-24-month-old animals. Lipid analysis of phospholipid associated acyl chains showed a higher relative proportion of linoleic acid in older glands. The results reveal that ageing is associated with marked and distinct morphological changes including infiltrations of lipids and mast cells of the parotid gland and decreases in amylase release and cytosolic Ca2+ signals.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca associated with achalasia of the cardia, adrenocortical insufficiency, and lacrimal gland degeneration: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca secondary to lacrimal gland degeneration may parallel degenerative changes in esophageal and adrenocortical function

OBJECTIVE/DESIGN

This study aimed to examine and describe three siblings with alacrima, the eldest of whom had associated achalasia and adrenocortical insufficiency.

PARTICIPANTS

Three affected siblings and four age-matched control subjects participated. INTERVENTION/MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The three children underwent complete ophthalmologic examinations; computed tomographic scanning of brain, orbit, chest, and abdomen; and measurement of serum cortisol. All three were subjected to a short synacthen challenge. Lacrimal gland biopsies were performed on the two younger subjects, and specimens were studied by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

All three children showed virtually absent tear secretion as tested by the Schirmer test. The resulting keratopathy was most severe in the oldest child, who developed bilateral corneal melting. The two younger children showed interpalpebral corneal staining with rose bengal. All three children improved after punctal occlusion. Addison's disease was present in the oldest child. Computed tomographic scanning showed absent lacrimal and shrunken adrenal glands in association with achalasia of the cardia in the oldest child. The lacrimal glands were found to be reduced in size in the next eldest child. When evaluated by electron microscopy, the lacrimal gland biopsy specimens from the two younger children showed neuronal degeneration associated with depletion of secretory granules in the acinar cells.

CONCLUSION

In this disease, radiologic evidence of reducing lacrimal gland size with increasing age could represent a degenerative process. This may be paralleled by other signs and the possibility of adrenocortical insufficiency and achalasia of the cardia should be investigated in all children presenting with dry eyes. These children appear to have a progressive neuronal disease.

Differential distribution of neuronal markers and neuropeptides in the human lacrimal gland

BACKGROUND

The present study was undertaken in an attempt to broaden the spectrum of known neuronal markers and neuropeptides in the main lacrimal gland of the human by light-microscopic immunohistochemistry.

METHODS

Using antisera against the neuronal markers protein gene product (PGP) and S-100 protein (S-100), the distribution of nerve fibers in the human main lacrimal gland was studied. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were identified by their specific antisera.

RESULTS

The nerve fibers are distributed throughout the interstice between the glandular tubules. Associations were also found between nerve fibers and both the interlobular ductal system and blood vessels (mainly arterioles). Within the glandular lobules isolated groups of secretory cells stained positive for S-100 protein. Nerve fibers situated in the glandular interstice between the tubules showed predominantly positive immunoreactions for the neuropeptide VIP, while only very few fibers stained positive for CGRP, NPY and the catecholamine marker TH. Nerve fibers associated with interlobular blood vessels were mainly CGRP and NPY positive and stained only very rarely for VIP. The epithelia of interlobular ducts and excretory ducts were associated with CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers.

CONCLUSION

The neuropeptides identified in the lacrimal gland indicate the complexity with which a variety of biologic signals regulate and modulate the lacrimal gland.

The release of intracellular Ca2+ in lacrimal acinar cells by alpha-, beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic stimulation: the roles of inositol triphosphate and cyclic ADP-ribose

Stimulation of rat lacrimal acinar cells with acetylcholine (ACh) and the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline causes a rapid increase in inositol phosphates with 1-4 phosphate groups, resulting in release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Stimulation with the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, however, causes a release of Ca2+ from internal stores which is 36% of that observed with ACh stimulation, but without inositol phosphate production. This Ca2+ rise was completely inhibited by 100 microM ryanodine. Adrenaline (causing activation of both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors) induces a Ca2+ release with inositol phosphate synthesis identical to that occurring in the beta-adrenergic response. Thus, the signalling pathway for alpha-adrenergic stimulation occurs via a path different from that which releases Ca2+ via muscarinic cholinergic and beta-adrenergic stimulation. In permeabilized lacrimal acinar cells cyclic adenosine 5'-diphosphoribose (cADP-ribose) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] cause release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The Ca2+ release evoked by cADP-ribose, but not by Ins(1,4,5)P3, was abolished by 100 microM ryanodine, implicating a possible involvement of cADP-ribose in phenylephrine-induced Ca2+ signalling. When the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is raised by application of ionomycin, inositol phosphates are synthesized with a half-maximal effect seen at 425 nM. In contrast, loading cells with the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) reduced the adrenaline-induced inositol phosphate synthesis by 27%. The stimulation-induced rise in [Ca2+]i, therefore, appears to cause further synthesis of inositol phosphates, thereby amplifying the receptor-mediated response.

Immunohistochemical and enzymehistochemical studies of peptidergic, aminergic and cholinergic innervation of the lacrimal gland of the monkey (Macaca fuscata)

The distribution of nerve fibers containing peptides which include calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and enzymes of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in the lacrimal gland of the monkey (Macaca fuscata) was studied using immunohistochemical and enzymehistochemical methods. We also examined the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG) using the same methods. All peptide- and enzyme-containing nerve fibers examined in this study were present in the lacrimal gland and a consistent distribution pattern for each substance was found. CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers were mainly distributed around the blood vessels in the interlobular connective tissue. The distribution pattern of SP-IR nerve fibers was similar to that of CGRP-IR nerve fibers, but they were much less in number. NPY-IR nerve fibers were observed mostly around the blood vessels and occasionally in the interstitial stroma between the acini. Numerous VIP-IR nerve fibers were found surrounding the acini, ducts and blood vessels. TH-IR nerve fibers were also been around the blood vessels and in the interstitial stroma between the acini, as were NPY-IR fibers. The highest concentration of acetylcholinesterase (AchE)-positive nerve fibers was present in the acini, ducts and blood vessels, showing a similar distribution to VIP-IR fibers. In the TG, 50% of medium and 30% of small ganglion cells were CGRP-IR cells, while 20% of medium and 25% of small ganglion cells were of the SP-IR types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of MeCh, thapsigargin, and La3+ on plasmalemmal and intracellular Ca2+ transport in lacrimal acinar cells

The Ca2(+)-mobilizing actions of the muscarinic receptor agonist, methacholine (MeCh), and the microsomal Ca2+ pump inhibitor, thapsigargin, were investigated in lacrimal acinar cells. As previously shown for parotid cells (J. Biol. Chem. 264: 12266-12271, 1989), thapsigargin activates both internal Ca2+ release and Ca2+ entry from the extracellular space without increasing cellular inositol phosphates. The inorganic Ca2+ antagonist La3+ inhibited MeCh- or thapsigargin-activated Ca2+ entry. However, when added before MeCh or thapsigargin, La3+ inhibited the extrusion of Ca2+ at the plasma membrane. This phenomenon was exploited in protocols designed to investigate the pathways for filling agonist-sensitive Ca2+ stores in lacrimal cells. The results show that, in contrast to previous suggestions that external Ca2+ is required to replenish agonist-regulated Ca2+ stores, the inhibition of Ca2+ extrusion permits recycling of Ca2+ released by MeCh back into an MeCh- and thapsigargin-sensitive pool. Thus, although extracellular Ca2+ is the major source for refilling the intracellular Ca2+ stores under physiological conditions, the pathway by which this Ca2+ enters the pool need not be a direct one. These results are consistent with the recently revised capacitative model for the refilling of intracellular Ca2+ stores through Ca2+ influx subsequent to Ca2+ depletion, according to which refilling of intracellular Ca2+ stores occurs via a cytoplasmic route rather than a direct channel between intracellular Ca2+ stores and the extracellular space.

Signal transduction and control of lacrimal gland protein secretion: a review

Proteins in lacrimal gland fluid are secreted primarily by the acinar cells. Secretory proteins are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum, modified in the Golgi apparatus, stored in secretory granules, and released upon a change in the cellular level of second messenger. The second messenger level is controlled by a process termed signal transduction. Agonists, primarily neurotransmitters in the lacrimal gland, bind to receptors in the basolateral membrane of secretory cells. This interaction activates enzymes in the membrane that cause production of second messengers. It has been hypothesized that second messengers stimulate secretion by activating specific protein kinases to phosphorylate proteins important for secretion. In the lacrimal gland, cholinergic agonists stimulate protein secretion. They act by activating phospholipase C to break down phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate into 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). 1,4,5-IP3 causes release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. This Ca2+, perhaps in conjunction with calmodulin, activates specific protein kinases that may be involved in secretion. DAG activates protein kinase C which stimulates protein secretion. alpha 1-Adrenergic agonists also stimulate lacrimal gland protein secretion. These agonists use a pathway that is separate from that utilized by cholinergic agonists and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The specific pathway has not been identified but may be DAG and protein kinase C. VIP, beta-adrenergic agonists, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone are lacrimal gland secretagogues. They activate adenylate cyclase to produce cAMP. cAMP stimulates protein kinase A, which perhaps causes protein secretion. Thus, three separate cellular pathways stimulate lacrimal gland protein secretion. Cholinergic agonists and VIP also stimulate lacrimal gland fluid secretion, and the same signal transduction pathways utilized by these agonists to stimulate protein secretion are most likely used for electrolyte and water secretion.