title: Catecholamine modulation of calcium currents in clonal pancreatic beta-cells.
abstract: The mechanisms by which norepinephrine and epinephrine activate alpha 2-adrenergic receptors and inhibit insulin release from the pancreatic beta-cell (19, 21, 23) are not yet clear but may involve modulation at several sites. Because intracellular calcium has been implicated in the secretory process, it has been suggested that catecholamines may inhibit secretion by blocking calcium influx, thus reducing the free cytosolic calcium concentration (23). The present study examines the effects of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and clonidine on calcium current in an SV40-transformed hamster beta-cell line (HIT cells). Under voltage-clamp conditions, calcium currents were reversibly inhibited by norepinephrine, epinephrine, and clonidine in the low nanomolar range. The effects were blocked by 1) the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine, 2) preincubation of the cells with pertussis toxin (PTX), and 3) guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S), the nonhydrolyzable GDP analogue that competitively inhibits the interaction of GTP with G proteins. In contrast, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) caused irreversible blockade by catecholamines. These effects could not be overcome by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), suggesting that the adenylate cyclase pathway is not involved in the G protein coupling with the channels. These studies show that catecholamines inhibit calcium currents in beta-cells through an alpha 2-adrenoreceptor PTX-sensitive G protein pathway and could inhibit insulin secretion by this mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Keahey
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kunze
mesh_terms: D037361:Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D051381:Rats; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D037361:Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; D015220:Calcium Channels; D013873:Thionucleotides; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); C023427:guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate); D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine