Inhibition by methylmercuric chloride of prostaglandin E 1-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in glioma but not in neuroblastoma cells in culture

Abstract

The responses of prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1)-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in glioma (C-6) and neuroblastoma (NBP 2) cells in culture after acute (5 days) and chronic (6–7 weeks) treatment with low concentrations (0.1 μm) of methylmercuric chloride (CH 3HgCl) were investigated. The sensitivity of adenylate cyclase activity to PGE 1, as measured by the rise in the intracellular level of cyclic AMP, was markedly reduced in chronically treated glioma cells, but it was not affected in chronically treated NB cells. Acute treatments of glioma and NB cells with CH 3HgCl did not modify the effect of PGE 1 on the intracellular level of cyclic AMP. The responses of dopamine- and norepinephrine-sensitive adenylate cyclases in actuely treated neuroblastoma (NBA 2(1)) cells and norepinephrine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in acutely or chronically treated glioma cells did not change.