Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor-Sensitive Adenylate Cyclase System of Purified Somatotrophs: Effects of Guanine Nucleotides, Somatostatin, Calcium, and Magnesium*

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the adenylate cyclase system in a purified population of normal somatotrophs derived from rat pituitary and to determine the responses of this system to GRF, somatostatin, guanine nucleotides, and cations. Additionally, experiments were performed to evaluate the interrelationships among changes in adenylate cyclase activity, cellular cAMP levels, and GH release induced by GRF and somatostatin. The results obtained using homogenates and membrane preparations from somatotrophs included the following. 1) GRF caused guanine nucleotide-dependent concentration-related (Ka, approximately 10(-8) M) stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity. 2) Guanine nucleotides were effective in stimulating cyclase in the absence of GRF; the concentration of guanine nucleotide required for half-maximal stimulation was decreased more than 10-fold in the presence of GRF. 3) Adenylate cyclase activity increased with increasing concentrations of free Mg2+ (0.25-20 mM); activation by GRF and guanine nucleotide resulted in an approximately 7-fold increase in the enzyme's affinity for free Mg2+. 4) Somatostatin, up to 10(-6) M, did not alter basal or GRF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. 5) Ca2+ (0.5-11.9 microM) produced concentration-dependent inhibition of basal (up to 28%) and GRF-stimulated (up to 47%) cyclase activities; the inhibitory effect of Ca2+ was accompanied by a decrement (2- to 3-fold) in the apparent affinities of the enzyme for both GRF and guanine nucleotide. In intact somatotrophs, GRF produced concentration-dependent stimulation of GH release (Ka, approximately 6 x 10(-11) M), preceded by a marked elevation of cAMP levels. While somatostatin blocked GRF-induced GH release, the augmented cAMP levels were only slightly reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)