title: In vitro secretion of calcitonin from a rat C cell line: effect of repetitive stimulation with the calcium channel agonist BAY K 8644.
abstract: Calcium and BAY K 8644 acutely stimulate calcitonin secretion by influx of extracellular calcium (Ca) through voltage-dependent calcium channels, leading to an increase in cytosolic free Ca. Repetitive exposure to BAY K 8644 (10(-6) M) resulted in an increase in calcitonin (CT) secretion in the rat C-cell line (rMTC 6-23) lasting 9 hours, in comparison to that of 3 mM Ca2+ which lasted 6 hours. Equimolar concentration of nifedipine did not inhibit the stimulatory effect of BAY K 8644 as compared to the nifedipine only group. The decrease in stimulated CT secretion during long-term exposure to BAY K 8644 is due to desensitization of cells which may be attributed to down-regulation of dihydropyridine receptors. After 12 h exposures to 3 mM Ca2+ alone, BAY K 8644 (10(-6) M) alone or in combination with nifedipine (10(-6) M), CT content decreased below the control level, indicating a decrease in synthesis. Overall cellular protein content was not affected by the test agents. Repetitive exposure of C-cells to BAY K 8644 revealed a desensitization of the stimulatory effect on CT secretion and a decrease in CT cell content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mekonnen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raue
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D051381:Rats; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D002116:Calcitonin; D002118:Calcium