scholarly journals Thyrotropin-releasing hormone increases cytosolic free Ca2+ in clonal pituitary cells (GH3 cells): direct evidence for the mobilization of cellular calcium.

1984 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Schlegel ◽  
C B Wollheim
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Gh3 Cells ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Surface Receptor ◽  
Intracellular Probe ◽  
Rat Pituitary Cells ◽  
Free Media

Changes in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration following cell surface receptor activation have been proposed to mediate a wide variety of cellular responses. Using the specific Ca2+ chelator quin2 as a fluorescent intracellular probe, we measured the Ca2+ levels in the cytosol of clonal rat pituitary cells, GH3 cells. We demonstrate that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) at nanomolar concentrations leads to a rapid and transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+. This increase was found to occur in Ca2+-free media in the presence of EGTA, thus at extracellular Ca2+ levels that are below the cytosolic concentrations, and was not prevented by verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker. Depolarization of GH3 cells with K+, which can mimic the action of TRH on prolactin release, increased cytosolic Ca2+ levels only in the presence of free extracellular Ca2+, and this increase could be blocked by verapamil. These data show that the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ due to TRH action that has been proposed by previous studies actually leads to an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+. The kinetic features of this response emphasize the key role of cytosolic free Ca2+ in stimulus-secretion coupling.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced upregulation of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor in clonal rat pituitary GH3 cells

1995 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
L M Atley ◽  
N Lefroy ◽  
J D Wark
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Gh3 Cells ◽  
Pituitary Hormone ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Hormone Production ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Trh Receptor

Abstract 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) is active in primary dispersed and clonal pituitary cells where it stimulates pituitary hormone production and agonist-induced hormone release. We have studied the effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) binding in clonal rat pituitary tumour (GH3) cells. Compared with vehicle-treated cells, 1,25-(OH)2D3 (10 nmol/l) increased specific [3H]MeTRH binding by 26% at 8 h, 38% at 16 h, 35% at 24 h and reached a maximum at 48 h (90%). In dose–response experiments, specific [3H]MeTRH binding increased with 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentration and reached a maximum at 10 nmol/l. Half-maximal binding occurred at 0·5 nmol 1,25-(OH)2D3/l. The vitamin D metabolite, 25-OH D3, increased [3H]MeTRH binding but was 1000-fold less potent than 1,25-(OH)2D3. In equilibrium binding assays, treatment with 10 nmol 1,25-(OH)2D3/l for 48 h increased the maximum binding from 67·4 ± 8·8 fmol/mg protein in vehicle-treated cells to 96·7 ± 12·4 fmol/mg protein in treated cells. There was no difference in apparent Kd (1·08 ± 0·10 nmol/l for 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated and 0·97 ± 0·11 nmol/l for vehicle-treated cells). Molecular investigations revealed that 10 nmol 1,25-(OH)2D3/l for 24 h caused an 8-fold increase in TRH receptor-specific mRNA. Actinomycin D (2 μg/ml, 6 h) abrogated the 1,25-(OH)2D3-induced increase in [3H]MeTRH binding. Cortisol also increased [3H]MeTRH binding but showed no additivity or synergism with 1,25-(OH)2D3. TRH-stimulated prolactin release was not enhanced by 1,25-(OH)2D3. We conclude that the active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-(OH)2D3, caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in [3H]MeTRH binding. The effect was vitamin D metabolite-specific and resulted from an upregulation of the TRH receptor. Further studies are needed to determine the functional significance of this novel finding. Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 147, 397–404

scholarly journals Alterations in the frequency and shape of Ca2+ fluctuations in GH4C1 cells induced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone and Bay K 8644

1995 ◽  
Vol 306 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
K D Brady ◽  
K A Wagner ◽  
A H Tashjian ◽  
D E Golan
Keyword(s):  
Fold Increase ◽  
Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Spike Frequency ◽  
Bay K 8644 ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Fall Time ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Spike Amplitude ◽  
Rat Pituitary Cells ◽  
Ca2 Channels

We have examined statistically the actions of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and Bay K 8644, an L-type Ca(2+)-channel agonist, on the frequency and shape of cytosolic Ca2+ spikes in individual GH4C1 rat pituitary cells. TRH induced a brief (0-40 s) suppression of Ca2+ spikes followed by a period (40-200 s) of increased spike frequency. TRH treatment reduced the rate of rise and amplitude of Ca2+ spikes, and increased the rate of fall, relative to spontaneous spikes before treatment. TRH had no significant effect on the correlation between spike amplitude and the spike decay time constant tau, suggesting that the increased rate of fall was due to enhanced Ca2+ extrusion and not to decreased Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release. Bay K rapidly (t1/2 = 9-13 s) induced a 2-fold increase in the rate of rise of spikes with no change in the total rise time, leading to an increase in spike amplitude. It increased by 2-fold the fall time of spikes, as predicted solely by the previously observed relationship between spike amplitude and fall time. Bay K therefore appeared to increase the number of Ca2+ channels participating in each spike event without altering the kinetics of channel activation or deactivation, and without influencing Ca2+ extrusion. After addition of Bay K, the interval between spikes gradually (t1/2 approximately 100 s) increased, whereas the rate of rise remained constant and maximal. To explain these actions of TRH and Bay K, we postulate that a fraction of L-type Ca2+ channels are inactivated during each spike and must be re-activated in order to participate in a subsequent spike. We conclude further that the changes in spike frequency and profiles induced by these secretagogues are most consistent with a model in which TRH induces increases in both Ca2+ influx and efflux while Bay K induces a large increase in Ca2+ influx but has little effect on efflux.

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