title: Expression of purinergic receptor channels and their role in calcium signaling and hormone release in pituitary gonadotrophs. Integration of P2 channels in plasma membrane- and endoplasmic reticulum-derived calcium oscillations.
abstract: The role of ATP as a positive feedback element in Ca2+ signaling and secretion was examined in female rat pituitary gonadotrophs. ATP and ADP, but not AMP or adenosine, induced a dose- and extracellular Ca2+-dependent rise in [Ca2+]i in identified gonadotrophs in a Mg2+- and suramin-sensitive manner. ATP, adenosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), adenosine-5'-O-(1-thiotriphosphate), 2-methylthio-ATP, and 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-ATP were roughly equipotent in rising [Ca2+]i in gonadotrophs, while ADP was effective only at submillimolar concentration range, and none of these compounds permeabilized the cells. On the other hand, alpha,beta-methylene-ATP, beta,gamma-methylene-ATP, and UTP were unable to induce any rise in [Ca2+]i. This pharmacological profile is consistent with expression of P2X2 and/or P2X5 purinergic receptor channels. Patch-clamp experiments showed that ATP induced an inward depolarizing current in gonadotrophs clamped at -90 mV, associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i. The ATP-induced [Ca2+]i response was partially inhibited by nifedipine, a blocker of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCC), but was not affected by tetrodotoxin, a blocker of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels. Thus, the P2-depolarizing current itself drives Ca2+ into the cell, but also activates Ca2+ entry through VSCC. In accord with this, low [ATP] induced plasma membrane-dependent [Ca2+]i oscillations in quiescent cells, and increased the frequency of spiking in spontaneously active cells. ATP-induced Ca2+ influx also affected agonist-induced and InsP3-dependent [Ca2+]i oscillations by increasing the frequency, base line, and duration of Ca2+ spiking. In addition, ATP stimulated gonadotropin secretion and enhanced agonist-induced gonadotropin release. ATP was found to be secreted by pituitary cells during agonist stimulation and was promptly degraded by ectonucleotidase to adenosine. These observations indicate that ATP represents a paracrine/autocrine factor in the regulation of Ca2+ signaling and secretion in gonadotrophs, and that these actions are mediated by P2 receptor channels.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Branch, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomić
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jobin
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Stojilkovic
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium