title: Synergistic stimulation of Ca2+ uptake by glucagon and Ca2+-mobilizing hormones in the perfused rat liver. A role for mitochondria in long-term Ca2+ homoeostasis.
abstract: A perfused liver system incorporating a Ca2+-sensitive electrode was used to study the long-term effects of glucagon and cyclic AMP on the mobilization of Ca2+ induced by phenylephrine, vasopressin and angiotensin. At 1.3 mM extracellular Ca2+ the co-administration of glucagon (10 nM) or cyclic AMP (0.2 mM) and a Ca2+-mobilizing hormone led to a synergistic potentiation of Ca2+ uptake by the liver, to a degree which was dependent on the order of hormone administration. A maximum net amount of Ca2+ influx, corresponding to approx. 3800 nmol/g of liver (the maximum rate of influx was 400 nmol/min per g of liver), was induced when cyclic AMP or glucagon was administered about 4 min before vasopressin and angiotensin. These changes are over an order of magnitude greater than those induced by Ca2+-mobilizing hormones alone [Altin & Bygrave (1985) Biochem. J. 232, 911-917]. For a maximal response the influx of Ca2+ was transient and was essentially complete after about 20 min. Removal of the hormones was followed by a gradual efflux of Ca2+ from the liver over a period of 30-50 min; thereafter, a similar response could be obtained by a second administration of hormones. Dose-response measurements indicate that the potentiation of Ca2+ influx by glucagon occurs even at low (physiological) concentrations of the hormone. By comparison with phenylephrine, the stimulation of Ca2+ influx by vasopressin and angiotensin is more sensitive to low concentrations of glucagon and cyclic AMP, and can be correlated with a 20-50-fold increase in the calcium content of mitochondria. The reversible uptake of such large quantities of Ca2+ implicates the mitochondria in long-term cellular Ca2+ regulation.
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000804:Angiotensin II; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010656:Phenylephrine; D005934:Glucagon; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D002118:Calcium