title: Role of the cAMP signaling pathway in the regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion in GT1 cells.
abstract: We studied the signaling pathways coupling gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion to elevations in cAMP levels in the GT1 GnRH-secreting neuronal cell line. We hypothesized that increased cAMP could be acting directly by means of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) cation channels or indirectly by means of activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). We showed that GT1 cells express the three CNG subunits present in olfactory neurons (CNG2, -4.3, and -5) and exhibit functional cAMP-gated cation channels. Activation of PKA does not appear to be necessary for the stimulation of GnRH release by increased levels of cAMP. In fact, pharmacological inhibition of PKA activity caused an increase in the basal secretion of GnRH. Consistent with this observation activation PKA inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity, presumably by inhibiting adenylyl cyclase V expressed in the cells. Therefore, the stimulation of GnRH release by elevations in cAMP appears to be the result of depolarization of the neurons initiated by increased cation conductance by cAMP-gated cation channels. Activation of PKA may constitute a negative-feedback mechanisms for lowering cAMP levels. We hypothesize that these mechanisms could result in oscillations in cAMP levels, providing a biochemical basis for timing the pulsatile release of GnRH.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Center, and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143-0556, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Vitalis
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Costantin
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paruthiyil
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iiri
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taga
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013449:Sulfonamides
chemical_list: D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007473:Ion Channels; D007546:Isoquinolines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D005576:Colforsin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; C063509:N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide; D004298:Dopamine