title: Maitotoxin increases inositol phosphates in rat anterior pituitary cells.
abstract: Maitotoxin is a potent marine poison that mobilizes calcium in most vertebrate cell types and accelerates secretion from anterior pituitary cells. It is not known whether voltage-sensitive calcium channels or other mechanisms initiate the effects of maitotoxin on anterior pituitary cells. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels may also be achieved by releasing internal calcium stores via inositol trisphosphate (InsP3). Indeed, maitotoxin rapidly increased inositol phosphate accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner. Calcium channel antagonists such as nifedipine and verapamil did not block this response nor did calcium-mobilizing agents (BAYk8644, A23187) mimic this effect. These data suggest that the mechanism by which maitotoxin acts at the pituitary may include the activation of an enzyme that produces the calcium-mobilizing signal InsP3.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sortino
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Delahunty
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasumoto
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cronin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D035964:Oxocins; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D008387:Marine Toxins; D035964:Oxocins; C020394:maitotoxin; D000095702:Polyether Toxins