title: Multiple cytosolic calcium signals and membrane electrical events evoked in single arginine vasopressin-stimulated corticotrophs.
abstract: The action of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was investigated in single rat pituitary corticotrophs using indo-1 microfluorimetry, in part in combination with the monitoring of membrane electrical events with the perforated patch-clamp technique. In corticotrophs showing the series of short-lived [Ca2+]i rises (transient pattern) in response to corticotropin-releasing factor, 100 nM AVP evoked either the transient pattern or a [Ca2+]i spike followed by a sustained plateau (spike/plateau pattern). Not all corticotrophs responded to changes in AVP concentration in the same manner. Some cells exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i transient activity, whereas others showing the spike/plateau at high AVP concentrations responded to low agonist concentrations by two [Ca2+]i responses: a slow rising step or two to three sinusoidal-like oscillations. Combined [Ca2+]i and patch-clamp recordings as well as manipulation of extracellular Ca2+ showed that both transient pattern and the plateau of spike/plateau response depended on Ca2+ entry mainly through voltage-gated, dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels. By contrast, step, oscillations, and spike were due to Ca2+ release from internal stores. These Ca(2+)-mobilizing responses caused the activation of Ca(2+)-activated, apamin-sensitive K+ channels, which led to a membrane hyperpolarization. These results reveal cell-specific [Ca2+]i signals and associated electrical events in individual AVP-stimulated corticotrophs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie, Université de Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Corcuff
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Guérineau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mariot
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lussier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mollard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017275:Isradipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D015759:Ionomycin; D002118:Calcium; D017275:Isradipine