Omission Of Extracellular Calcium Research Articles

Transgenic overexpression of γ-cytoplasmic actin protects against eccentric contraction-induced force loss in mdx mice

Backgroundγ-cytoplasmic (γ-cyto) actin levels are elevated in dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine whether further elevation of γ-cyto actin levels improve or exacerbate the dystrophic phenotype of mdx mice.MethodsWe transgenically overexpressed γ-cyto actin, specifically in skeletal muscle of mdx mice (mdx-TG), and compared skeletal muscle pathology and force-generating capacity between mdx and mdx-TG mice at different ages. We investigated the mechanism by which γ-cyto actin provides protection from force loss by studying the role of calcium channels and stretch-activated channels in isolated skeletal muscles and muscle fibers. Analysis of variance or independent t-tests were used to detect statistical differences between groups.ResultsLevels of γ-cyto actin in mdx-TG skeletal muscle were elevated 200-fold compared to mdx skeletal muscle and incorporated into thin filaments. Overexpression of γ-cyto actin had little effect on most parameters of mdx muscle pathology. However, γ-cyto actin provided statistically significant protection against force loss during eccentric contractions. Store-operated calcium entry across the sarcolemma did not differ between mdx fibers compared to wild-type fibers. Additionally, the omission of extracellular calcium or the addition of streptomycin to block stretch-activated channels did not improve the force-generating capacity of isolated extensor digitorum longus muscles from mdx mice during eccentric contractions.ConclusionsThe data presented in this study indicate that upregulation of γ-cyto actin in dystrophic skeletal muscle can attenuate force loss during eccentric contractions and that the mechanism is independent of activation of stretch-activated channels and the accumulation of extracellular calcium.

Stimulated Efflux of Amino Acids and Glutathione from Cultured Hippocampal Slices by Omission of Extracellular Calcium: LIKELY INVOLVEMENT OF CONNEXIN HEMICHANNELS

Omission of extracellular Ca(2+) for 15 min from the incubation medium of cultured hippocampal slices stimulated the efflux of glutathione, phosphoethanolamine, hypotaurine, and taurine. The efflux was reduced by several blockers of gap junctions, i.e. carbenoxolone, flufenamic acid, and endothelin-1, and by the connexin43 hemichannel blocking peptide Gap26 but was unchanged by the P2X(7) receptor inhibitor oxidized ATP, a pannexin1 hemichannel blocking peptide and an inactive analogue of carbenoxolone. Pretreatment of the slices with the neurotoxin N-methyl-d -aspartate left the efflux by Ca(2+) omission unchanged, indicating that the stimulated efflux primarily originated from glia. Elevated glutamate efflux was detected when Ca(2+) omission was combined with the glutamate uptake blocker l-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate and when both Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) were omitted from the medium. Omission of Ca(2+) for 15 min alone did not induce delayed toxicity, but in combination with blocked glutamate uptake, significant cell death was observed 24 h later. Our results indicate that omission of extracellular Ca(2+) stimulates efflux of glutathione and specific amino acids including glutamate via opening of glial hemichannels. This type of efflux may have protective functions via glutathione efflux but can aggravate toxicity in situations when glutamate reuptake is impaired, such as following a stroke.

Effects of creatine treatment on survival and differentiation of GABA‐ergic neurons in cultured striatal tissue

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a prominent loss of GABA-ergic medium-sized spiny neurons in the caudate putamen. There is evidence that impaired energy metabolism contributes to neuronal death in HD. Creatine is an endogenous substrate for creatine kinases and thereby supports cellular ATP levels. This study investigated the effects of creatine supplementation (5 mm) on cell survival and neuronal differentiation in striatal cultures. Chronic creatine treatment resulted in significant increased densities of GABA-immunoreactive (-ir) neurons, although total neuronal cell number and general viability were not affected. Similar effects were seen after short-term treatment, suggesting that creatine acted as a differentiation factor. Inhibitors of transcription or translation did not abolish the creatine-mediated effects, nor did omission of extracellular calcium, whereas inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase significantly attenuated the creatine induced increase in GABA-ir cell densities. Creatine exhibited significant neuroprotection against toxicity instigated either by glucose- and serum deprivation or addition of 3-nitropropionic acid. In sum, the neuroprotective properties in combination with promotion of neuronal differentiation suggest that creatine has potential as a therapeutic drug in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, like HD.

Glycolysis regulates the induction of lactate utilization for synaptic potentials after hypoxia in the granule cell of guinea pig hippocampus

Lactate is considered an alternative substrate that is capable of replacing glucose in maintaining synaptic function in adult neurons. But, we found recently that lactate could be utilized for maintenance of synaptic potentials only after the activation of NMDA and voltage-dependent-calcium channel during glucose deprivation. To clarify more on the relationship between glycolysis and induction of lactate utilization, we tested lower concentration of glucose with hypoxia to induce a relative shortage of anaerobic energy production. Population spikes are not maintained with lactate following hypoxia in 10 mM glucose medium, but are maintained at their original levels with lactate after exposure to hypoxia in lower concentration (5 mM) of glucose. Hypothermia during low glucose-hypoxia, bath application of the NMDA channel blocker and the voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker, as well as the omission of extracellular calcium prevented the induction of the lactate-supported population spikes. ATP levels in the tissue slices are relatively preserved in the conditions that block the induction of lactate-supported population spikes. From these observations, we propose that the energy source for maintenance of synaptic function in adult neuron changes from adult form (glucose alone) to immature one (glucose and/or lactate) after short of glucose supply.

Calcium and Osmotic Regulation of the Na+/H+Exchanger in Neonatal Ventricular Myocytes

A. N. Moor, R. Murtazina and L. Fliegel. Calcium and Osmotic Regulation of the Na+/H+exchanger in Neonatal Ventricular Myocytes. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology (2000) 32, 925–936. Intracellular pH regulation in primary cultures of neonatal cardiac myocytes has been characterized. Myocytes were exposed to hyperosmolar solutions to examine the effects on pH regulation by the Na+/H+exchanger. Exposure to 100 m m NaCl, sorbitol, N-methyl-D-glucamine, or choline chloride all caused significant increases in steady state pHiin myocytes. Omission of extracellular calcium or administration of calmodulin antagonists reduced the osmotic activation of the exchanger. The myosin light-chain inhibitor ML-7 completely blocked osmotic activation of the exchanger suggesting that myosin light-chain kinase is involved in osmotic activation of the exchanger in the myocardium. The calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor KN-93 inhibited the rate of recovery from an acute acid load as did trifluoperazine (TFP) and the calmodulin blocker W7, [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide]. Addition of the calcium ionophore ionomycin caused a large increase in resting pHiin isolated myocytes. However, this effect was largely resistant to HMA (5-(N,N-hexamethylene)-amiloride) indicating that an alternative mechanism of pHiregulation is responsible. The results demonstrate that the Na+/H+exchanger of the neonatal myocardium is responsive to calcium and osmotically responsive pathways and that myosin light-chain kinase is a key protein involved in mediating the osmotic response.

Blockade of chloride channels by DIDS stimulates renin release and inhibits contraction of afferent arterioles.

Calcium-activated chloride channels have been proposed to control renin release from juxtaglomerular cells and to be involved in the excitation-contraction coupling of the renal afferent arteriole. The hypothesis was tested on renin release from rat glomeruli and in microperfused rabbit afferent arterioles with the chloride channel blocker 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Renin secretion was equally enhanced by omission of extracellular calcium and by addition of 0.5 mM DIDS. The inhibitory effect of calcium was blocked by DIDS. The stimulatory effects of low calcium [with or without ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid] and DIDS were not additive. In the absence of chloride, basal renin release was suppressed and the stimulatory effect of DIDS was abolished. The DIDS-induced enhancement of renin release was not dependent on bicarbonate. Norepinephrine (5 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-6) M) and angiotensin II (1 x 10(-8)-10(-6) M) evoked reversible and dose-dependent contractions of microperfused rabbit afferent arterioles. DIDS (0.5 mM) did not affect the basal diameter of the arterioles but strongly inhibited the response to angiotensin II and attenuated the duration of the contractile response to norepinephrine. The results support the hypothesis that DIDS-sensitive calcium-activated chloride channels are involved in regulation of renin release and in the afferent arteriolar contraction after angiotensin II but do not play a pivotal role in the response to norepinephrine.

Excitatory amino acid receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover in primary cerebrocortical cultures.

1. Characterization of excitatory amino acid-induced accumulation of [3H]-phosphoinositides was carried out in primary cerebrocortical cultures isolated from foetal rats. 2. All of the excitatory amino acid receptor agonists examined caused concentration-dependent enhancement of phosphoinositide (PI) formation. The most potent excitatory amino acid receptor agonists were quisqualate, (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid ((1S,3R)-ACPD), ibotenate and glutamate with mean EC50 values of 0.9 +/- 0.4 microM, 15 +/- 5 microM, 15 +/- 3 microM and 41 +/- 8 microM respectively. 3. The selective ionotropic receptor antagonists kynurenic acid (1 mM), 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline (NBQX, 10 microM) and (+/-)-4-(3-phosphonopropyl)-2 piperazinecarboxylic acid (CPP, 100 microM), failed to block responses to quisqualate, (1S,3R)-ACPD or glutamate. D,L-2-Amino-3-phosphonopropionate (D,L-AP3) did not block 1S,3R-ACPD or quisqualate-induced PI turnover, but had an additive effect with quisqualate or (1S,3R)-ACPD. 4. Exposure of cultures to agonists in the absence of added extracellular calcium reduced the maximal quisqualate response by approximately 45%, revealing a two-component concentration-response curve. Concentration-response curves to ibotenate and glutamate became flattened by omission of extracellular calcium, whereas (1S,3R)-ACPD-stimulated PI turnover was unaffected. 5. Pretreatment of cultures with pertussis toxin markedly inhibited PI responses evoked by (1S,3R)-ACPD. 6. These results suggest that excitatory amino acid-stimulated PI turnover in cerebrocortical cultures is independent of ionotropic receptor activation and is mediated via specific G-protein-linked metabotropic receptors. The partial dependence of the responses to quisqualate, ibotenate and glutamate on the presence of extracellular calcium suggests that the effects of these agonists may be mediated by more than one receptor subtype.

The relationship between intracellular CA 2+ and the mitochondrial membrane potential in isolated proximal tubular cells from rat kidney exposed to the nephrotoxin 1,2-dichlorovinyl-cysteine

The effects of 1,2-dichlorovinyl-cysteine (DCVC) on the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca 2+] i) and the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) were investigated in freshly isolated rat kidney proximal tubular cells (PTC). Prior to cell death, DCVC induced a rise in [Ca 2+] i and a decrease in the ΔΨ. Omission of extracellular calcium still resulted in a DCVC-induced increase of [Ca 2+] i, indicating that calcium was released from intracellular stores. The β-lyase inhibitor amino-oxyacetic acid completely protected against mitochondrial damage and cell death, indicating that the DCVC effects are dependent onβ-lyase metabolism. Incubation of the PTC with DCVC together with the intracellular-calcium complexing agents EDTA/acetoxy-methyl (AM), EGTA/AM or Quin-2/AM delayed (but did not prevent) the decrease of the ΔΨ and cell death, which indicates a relationship between [Ca 2+] i and the decrease of ΔΨ. In individual cells four different responses induced by DCVC were observed; an increase of [Ca 2+] i without an effect on ΔΨ, a decrease of ΔΨ and an increase of [Ca 2+] i occurring simultaneously; an increase of [Ca 2+] i preceded by a decrease of ΔΨ and a decrease of ΔΨ without any increase of [Ca 2+] i. This indicates that the DCVC-induced effects on [Ca 2+] i and ΔΨ can appear independently. The data show that mitochondrial damage is potentiated by an elevation of [Ca 2+] i, thereby creating a situation which rapidly leads to cell death.

Genistein augments cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate(cAMP) accumulation and insulin release in MIN6 cells.

Effects of genistein on insulin release were studied using MIN6 cells, a glucose-sensitive insulinoma cell line. At the non-stimulatory concentrations of glucose, genistein did not affect insulin release, however, at the stimulatory concentrations of glucose, genistein significantly increased insulin release in a dose-dependent manner up to 20 micrograms/ml. The content of cAMP in MIN6 cells was also elevated significantly by genistein and the dose-response relationship between the genistein and cAMP accumulation was consistent with the relationship between the genistein and insulin release. These effects were inhibited by calcium antagonists or by the omission of extracellular calcium. Isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX;0.1mM) increased both cAMP accumulation and insulin release in MIN6 cells and there were no additive effects by the addition of genistein. The accumulation of cAMP might have, at least in part, resulted from phosphodiesterase inhibition by genistein. These results suggest that genistein augments glucose-induced insulin release by the contribution of cAMP accumulation and calcium modulation which depends on extracellular calcium.

Superoxide anion increases intracellular pH, intracellular free calcium, and arachidonate release in human amnion cells

We determined the effects of superoxide anion, produced by addition of xanthine oxidase to hypoxanthine, on the intracellular pH (pHi) and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and release of arachidonate in human cultured amnion cells. Superoxide anion induced a prompt increase of pHi and subsequent increase of [Ca2+]i. The evoked pHi was inhibited by pretreatment with anion channel blockers but not affected by omission of extracellular Na+ or addition of amiloride. The increase of [Ca2+]i was inhibited significantly by the absence of extracellular calcium or by the addition of a calcium channel blocker, cobalt. NH4Cl, which can generally increase pHi, also increased [Ca2+]i of amnion cells. But the increase of [Ca2+]i induced by the NH4Cl was significantly less than that induced by the amount of superoxide anion causing a similar increase in pHi. These results show that superoxide anion, crossed through anion channel in membrane, increased [Ca2+]i at least partially via increase of pHi and that the calcium mobilization was dependent on both extracellular and intracellular sources. Superoxide anion induced the release of arachidonate in a dose-dependent manner and this induction was inhibited by omission of extracellular calcium. These data suggest that the release of arachidonate was dependent on the increase of [Ca2+]i. We also determined the viability of cells in the presence of superoxide anion by flow cytometry. Superoxide anion at the levels used in these experiments did not change the percentage of viable cells. These findings suggested that superoxide anion may regulate biological functions in amnion cells via pHi, [Ca2+]i mobilization, and the release of arachidonate without damaging the cells.

Post-translational modification of spectrin induced by excitatory amino acids in cultured cerebellar granule cells

We have utilized primary cultures from rat cerebellum, 95% enriched in granule cells, to investigate the expression of proteins of the cortical cytoskeleton and of the synaptic vesicles and the relationship between excitatory amino acid receptors activation and calcium dependent proteolysis of fodrin. Exposure of neuronal cell cultures to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in the absence of Mg(2+) and in the presence of glycine causes the appearance of 150 kDa proteolytic fragment (s) of-fodrin as detected by immunoblots. The effect of NMDA on fodrin proteolysis is inhibited by the NMDA antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV), by 3 mM Mg(2+), by calpain I inhibitor and by the omission of extracellular calcium. The kainate, at the same concentration of NMDA, is less effective and no degradation of fodrin is observed after exposure of cerebellar neurons to quisqualate. These findings suggest that calcium/calpain I-dependent fodrin proteolysis is selectively associated to the functional activation of NMDA receptors.

Cytotoxic effect of oxygen on the skeletal muscle of mouse diaphragm

Incubation of the isolated mouse diaphragm with a high rate of oxygenation (10 ml s-1, 95% O2 + 5% CO2) causes a characteristic cellular damage with widely-separated myofibrils and swollen sarcotubular system within 10 min. This damage was ameliorated by inhibitors of the hydroxyl radical (.OH), desferrioxamine, dimethyl thiourea and 120 mM mannitol, and by incubation at 8 degrees C. It was not prevented either by inhibitors of the pathway leading to sarcolemma damage (nordihydroguaiaretic acid, alpha-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene) nor by agents and treatments that inhibit the oxygen paradox of cardiac muscle (glucose, omission of extracellular calcium, incubation at 30 degrees C, superoxide dismutase and catalase). Nevertheless there are similarities between these two types of damage triggered by O2 and the possibility that in both an NAD(P)H oxidase is stimulated and cytotoxic oxygen radicals are generated is discussed.

Calmodulin Dependence of Somatostatin Release Stimulated by Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor

Experiments were performed in vitro to examine the possible role of calcium and calmodulin in GRF-induced somatostatin (SRIF) release from the median eminence. Adult male rats were used as tissue donors. The median eminences were first prestimulated in 0.4 ml Krebs Ringer bicarbonate glucose buffer (pH 7.4) containing bacitracin at 37C in an atmosphere of 95% O2, 5% CO2 with constant shaking for 30 min. When calcium was omitted, this medium was used during the prestimulation and stimulation periods. After prestimulation, the medium was discarded and replaced by medium containing the different substances to be tested (GRF, EGTA, calcium channel blockers, and calmodulin inhibitors). The stimulation of SRIF release induced by 10(-10) M GRF was not inhibited by omission of extracellular calcium or when the remaining CA+2 was chelated with 10(-4) M EGTA. The calcium channel blockers, nifendipine and verapamil (10(-6) M), failed to alter the increase of SRIF release induced by rGRF. Three calmodulin inhibitors were employed to examine the possible influence of calmodulin on GRF-induced SRIF release. Trifluoperazine (10(-6) M), triflupromazine (10(-6) M) and penfluridol (10(-7) M) had an inhibitory effect on the stimulation of SRIF release induced by GRF and failed to alter resting release. Thus, GRF can evoke SRIF release independently of extraterminal Ca+2 concentration and Ca+2 influx into the nerve terminals, but the releasing process involves translocation of Ca+2 from intracellular stores. The inhibitory effect of the calmodulin inhibitors on GRF-induced SRIF release, suggests that the translocated Ca+2 must bind to calmodulin in order to release SRIF.

Role of phosphoinositide metabolism in induction of memory in isolated perifused rat islets.

Prior exposure of isolated perifused rat islets to 20 mM glucose or 10 mM glyceraldehyde amplifies their subsequent insulin secretory response to 10 mM glucose. The involvement of phosphoinositide turnover in the induction of this "time-dependent potentiation" (TDP) was investigated. In islets in which inositol-containing phospholipids were prelabeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, the addition of 20 mM glucose augments the efflux of 3H. This effect persists for approximately 50 min after the cessation of stimulation. Direct measurements of labeled inositol phosphate accumulation confirmed that this increase in 3H efflux is primarily the result of a persistent increase in phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and not due to the slow efflux and/or degradation of performed [3H]inositol phosphates. The duration of the increase in 3H efflux parallels the duration of TDP. Mannoheptulose abolishes both the increase in 3H efflux evoked by 20 mM glucose and TDP. The omission of extracellular calcium plus 0.5 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid also abolishes both of these effects of high glucose. D-Glyceraldehyde (10 mM) addition to 3H-inositol-prelabeled islets results in an acute efflux of 3H, a persistent efflux after removal of the D-glyceraldehyde from the perifusion medium, and the induction of TDP. Similar to the results obtained with high glucose, the return of 3H efflux rates to prestimulatory values is accompanied by the abolition of TDP. These results suggest that events associated with persistent stimulant-induced increases in phosphoinositide hydrolysis may participate in the induction and maintenance of TDP.

Influence of the oral hypoglycemic agent linogliride (McN-3935) on insulin secretion from isolated rat islets of Langerhans.

The influence of a new orally effective hypoglycemic compound, linogliride (McN-3935), on insulin release from isolated perifused rat islets was investigated. At a concentration of 100 microM, linogliride was without effect on insulin secretion in the absence of glucose. While 5.5 mM glucose alone produced a weak secretagogue effect, the secretory response was dramatically (5- to 6-fold) increased by the addition of 100 microM linogliride. This concentration of linogliride did not affect the conversion of [5-3H]glucose to 3H2O, a measure of the rate of glycolysis by the islet. Insulin secretion in response to the combination of 100 microM linogliride and 5.5 mM glucose was abolished by the omission of extracellular calcium. Mannoheptulose (10 mM), an inhibitor of glucose phosphorylation and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, markedly attenuated the insulinotropic effect of linogliride in parallel with reduced glucose usage. Paradoxically, in the presence of another metabolic inhibitor, 2-deoxyglucose (10 mM), the insulinotropic effect of linogliride (100 microM) in the presence of 5.5 mM glucose was not diminished despite the reduced glucose usage. Linogliride significantly increased the secretory response to other secretagogues, including 2.5 mM D-glyceraldehyde, 15 mM N-acetylglucosamine, 10 mM leucine, and 100 nM of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. These data suggest that linogliride amplifies a cellular signal generated during beta-cell activation by various stimulants.

Electrical properties of Madin-Darby-canine-kidney cells. Effects of extracellular sodium and calcium.

In incompletely confluent Madin Darby canine kidney cells continuous measurements of the potential difference across the cell membrane (PD) were made with conventional microelectrodes during rapid changes of extracellular sodium and/or calcium concentration. During control conditions PD averages -50.6 +/- 0.7 mV. Reduction of extracellular sodium concentration from 131.8 to 17.8 mmol/l leads to a reversible hyperpolarization of the cell membrane to -65.3 +/- 1.1 mV. This hyperpolarization is not significantly reduced by omission of glucose or presence of amiloride (1 mmol/l) in the perfusates. Instead, 1 mmol/l amiloride depolarizes the cell membrane by +5.2 +/- 0.4 mV. 1 mmol/l barium depolarizes the cell membrane to -31.3 +/- 1.1 mV. Step increases of extracellular potassium concentration from 5.4 to 10 and 20 mmol/l depolarize the cell membrane by +5.5 +/- 0.5 mV and +16.5 +/- 1.8 mV respectively. In the presence of barium, the depolarizing effect of increasing extracellular potassium concentration and of amiloride is almost abolished. Reduction of extracellular sodium concentration in the presence of barium, however, leads to a transient hyperpolarization of the cell membrane. During this transient hyperpolarization, increasing extracellular potassium concentration depolarizes the cell membrane despite the continued presence of barium. Omission of extracellular calcium (EDTA) depolarizes the cell membrane by +36.7 +/- 3.2 mV. In the absence of extracellular calcium, the hyperpolarizing effect of reduced extracellular sodium concentration is markedly reduced (-4.5 +/- 1.2 mV). 2 mumol/l A23187 in the presence of extracellular calcium hyperpolarizes the cell membrane to -72.5 +/- 0.6 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

NADPH and "cocktails" containing polyarginine reactivate superoxide generation in leukocytes lysed by membrane-damaging agents.

Human blood leukocytes generated large amounts of superoxide (O2-) following stimulation by certain "cocktails" of soluble agents consisting of poly-L-arginine (PARG), phytohemagglutinin, the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and polyanethole sulfanote (liquoid). A variety of cytochalasins, which markedly boosted O2- generation by the soluble cocktails, markedly depressed luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) which had been induced either by opsonized streptococci or by soluble agents. Glutathione, which totally reversed the inhibition of LDCL induced by cytochalasin A, failed to reverse the inhibition of LDCL induced by cytochalasin B. Generation of O2- by all the soluble agents employed, except PMA, was strongly inhibited either by the omission of extracellular calcium and magnesium or by treatment with the calcium blocker TMB-8. Generation of O2- was enhanced following stimulation of leukocytes with soluble agents if the cells had been exposed to slightly hypotonic buffers. Leukocytes, which had been preincubated for short periods (5 min) with PARG, saponin, digitonin, or lysolecithin (LL) and which lost their viability, and their O2- and LDCL-generating capacities following stimulation by soluble agents containing cytochalasin B, nevertheless regained these activities by the addition of NADPH. It is suggested that the lytic agents induced the leakage out of NADPH rather than acting as inactivators of the oxidase in the leukocyte membranes. Prolonged incubation of leukocytes with lytic agents failed to allow restoration, by NADPH, of the generation of SOD-inhibitable O2- generation. Since PARG acted both as a cytolytic agent and as a inducer of O2- generation, we postulate that lytic agents might also act as "primers" of the nascent membrane oxidase which could, however, be further potentiated and activated by soluble agents acting in "multiple hits," PARG could be totally replaced either by LL or by digitonin in the generation of O2- provided that both PHA and cytochalasin B were present in the reaction mixtures. We suggest that the various ingredients of the soluble "cocktails" may help to assemble components of the NADPH oxidase. Such an assembly and regulations are prerequisite for stimulation of the NADPH oxidase and the generation of oxygen radicals in leukocytes.

Differential effects of extracellular calcium removal and nonspecific effects of Ca 2+ antagonists on acid secretory activity in isolated gastric glands

The role of extracellular calcium in the action of the secretagogues, carbachol, histamine and forskolin, on parietal cell HCl secretion was investigated using glands isolated from rabbit gastric mucosa. Omission of calcium from the cellular incubation medium and chelation of a major portion of contaminating calcium with EGTA resulted in a disappearance of the initial transient response to carbachol (as measured by uptake of the weak base, amino[ 14C]pyrine), but the sustained response to carbachol persisted. Neither histamine nor forskolin-stimulated increase in amino[ 14C]pyrine uptake were affected by omission of extracellular calcium. Furthermore, the potentiating interactions between histamine and carbachol and between forskolin and carbachol appeared to occur independent of extracellular calcium. Attempts to assess the contribution of intracellular calcium to secretory activity using the Ca 2+ antagonists, verapamil, nifedipine, nicardipine and lanthanum, and the putative intracellular Ca 2+ antogonist, TMB-8 (3,4,5-trimethyloxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)-octyl ester) were unsuccessful. Nifedipine had no effect on secretagogue stimulated amino[ 14C]pyrine accumulation even at concentration well above the p A 2 reported for excitable tissues. Verapamil, nicardipine, lanthanum and TMB-8 all appeared to have nonspecific inhibitory effects on amino[ 14C]pyrine uptake. From these results we conclude that: (1) parietal cell HCl secretion can occur independent of extracellular Ca 2+; (2) influx of extracellular Ca 2+ enhances the response to carbachol but has little influence on the secretory response initiated by cAMP-dependent secretagogues; and (3) parietal cell Ca 2+ channels have a different molecular configuration than Ca 2+ channels in excitable cells.

Mouse hypothalamic somatostatin release: roles of calcium and calmodulin.

We employed a short term system of dispersed adult mouse hypothalamic cells, as previously described in the rat, to examine the roles of calcium and calmodulin in SRIF release. Incubation studies were performed 24 h after hypothalamic cell dispersion. SRIF release, as determined by RIA was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by the membrane-depolarizing agents KCl, ouabain, and veratridine as well as by the calcium ionophore A23187. The stimulation of SRIF release induced by depolarizing agents was abolished or diminished by 1) omission of extracellular calcium, 2) chelation of extracellular calcium by EGTA, and 3) the calcium channel blocker verapamil, indicating calcium dependence of this process. Three chemically distinct groups of calmodulin inhibitors were employed to study the role of calmodulin in stimulus-secretion coupling of hypothalamic SRIF. The neuroleptic calmodulin inhibitors trifluperazine (1 microM), chlorpromazine (10 microM), and promethazine (10 microM) as well as the naphthalene sulfonamide calmodulin inhibitor W7 (1 microM) and compound 48/80 (50 micrograms/ml) were all demonstrated to have an inhibitory effect on the stimulation of SRIF release induced by membrane depolarization. No inhibitory effect of the less potent naphthalene sulfonamide agent W5 was observed at 1 microM, although an inhibitory effect was seen at 10 microM. The stimulation of SRIF release induced by A23187 was not inhibited by omission of extracellular calcium or by verapamil, but was inhibited by EGTA and trifluperazine. These data demonstrate the role of calcium in membrane depolarization-induced stimulus-secretion coupling of mouse hypothalamic SRIF. Inhibition of the stimulatory response by low concentrations of three distinct groups of calmodulin inhibitors, i.e. neuroleptics, naphthalenesulfonamide agents and compound 48/80, suggests a role for calmodulin in this process.

Sparteine increases insulin release by decreasing the K + permeability of the B-cell membrane

The effects of sparteine on the pancreatic B-cell function have been studied with mouse islets. In the presence of a non-stimulatory concentration of glucose (3 mM), sparteine (0.2–1 mM) decreased the rate of 86Rb + efflux from islet cells, depolarized the B-cell membrane, induced a glucose-like electrical activity and stimulated insulin release. This increase in release was observed over a large range of glucose concentrations (3–20 mM), and was most marked in the presence of 10 mM glucose. At this concentration of glucose, the effect of sparteine was already detected with 0.02 mM and was maximal with 0.5 mM. Higher concentrations of sparteine only had a transient effect on insulin release. In the presence of 10 mM glucose, 0.2 mM sparteine decreased 86Rb + efflux and increased 45Ca 2+ efflux from islet cells. The effect on 86Rb + efflux was only transient in the presence of extracellular calcium, whereas the effect on 45Ca 2+ efflux required the presence of extracellular calcium. The electrical activity induced by glucose in B-cells was augmented by sparteine which, at a concentration of 0.5 mM, produced a persistent depolarization with continuous spike activity. The potentiation of insulin release by sparteine was not reversible, but was inhibited by adrenaline and completely blocked by omission of extracellular calcium. Sparteine reversed the increase in 86Rb + efflux and the decrease in insulin release caused by diazoxide. These results show that sparteine increases insulin release by reducing the K + -permeability of the B-cell membrane.