ABSTRACT

The 21-amino steroid U74006F is a potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation and has been shown to affect beneficially the acutely injured central nervous system. Therapeutically, it is desirable for this compound to be devoid of steroid side-effects. We have demonstrated a significant (P < 0·001) inhibition of basal ACTH secretion from cultured rat pituitary cells during a 24-h incubation at concentrations (10–100 μmol/l) previously demonstrated to inhibit lipid peroxidation in vitro. U74006F also inhibited corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF)-stimulated ACTH secretion significantly and the combination of dexamethasone and U74006F completely blocked CRF-41-stimulated ACTH secretion. Administration of U74006F in vivo (30 mg/kg, orally, every 6 h for 30 h) had no effect on ACTH levels in normal rats (84±38 vs 45±6 ng/l in control animals) but increased ACTH levels in adrenalectomized rats (1330±295 vs 464±79 ng/l in control animals, P < 0·02). This increase in ACTH was not observed when adrenalectomized animals were maintained on the same regime of U74006F for 5 days. Our data suggest that U74006F is capable of exerting inhibitory effects on ACTH secretion in vitro. In vivo, effects on ACTH secretion were stimulatory rather than inhibitory and only occurred short-term in adrenalectomized animals or chronically in adrenalectomized rats maintained on dexamethasone. No effects on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis were seen following short-term or chronic administration of U74006F in normal rats.

Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 126, 203–209

ABSTRACT

We have previously shown that a heat-stable component of Russell's viper venom (RVV) releases GH in a dose-dependent manner from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. We have now investigated the intracellular mechanisms involved in RVV-stimulated GH release by concomitant administration of RVV with known intracellular mediators in rat pituitary cells.

3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 0·5 mmol/l), added to cultured rat anterior pituitary cells simultaneously with RVV, at concentrations up to a maximally effective dose of 10 μg/ml, increased GH release (3·7-fold, 4·0-fold and 2·0-fold; P < 0·001) compared with the effect of venom alone. These effects were additive, indicating that RVV and IBMX stimulate through different intracellular messengers. RVV failed to increase the formation of basal or IBMX-stimulated intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP), confirming that RVV affects GH release through a cAMP-independent pathway. 12-0-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 0·1 μmol/l), added simultaneously with various doses of RVV (0·1–10 μg/ml), did not increase GH release beyond the maximal effect of RVV. This result indicates that RVV might be stimulating GH release through a similar mechanism to that of TPA (by activating protein kinase C).

When pituitary cells were perifused with Ca²⁺-free medium or verapamil (50 μmol/l), RVV-stimulated GH release was inhibited by 65 and 42% respectively. This reflects the recognized requirement of Ca²⁺ for secretory processes. However, RVV (10 μg/ml) had no significant effect on intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentrations as measured using the fluorescent Ca²⁺ probe quin-2.

These findings indicate that the mechanism of action of RVV on GH release is independent of a change in both cAMP levels and intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentrations, and is dependent upon protein kinase C.

Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 127, 111–117

ABSTRACT

We have demonstrated that the novel hypothalamic peptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating poly-peptide (PACAP-38; 0·1–100 nmol/l) caused an increase in the release of GH, ACTH, LH and α-subunit and accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP from dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells in static culture for 24 h. There were no significant effects on TSH or prolactin release over the same time-period. PACAP-38 (10 nmol/l) increased the release of GH by 1·3-fold (P<0·05), ACTH by 1·9-fold (P<0·05), LH by 3·5-fold (P<0·001) and α-subunit by 2·0-fold (P< 0·005) and the accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP by >2-fold (P<0·001) after 24 h. However, the time-course for the effect of PACAP-38 (1 mmol/l) on hormone release and intracellular cyclic AMP levels showed a temporal dissociation. The effect of PACAP-38 on GH and ACTH levels did not reach significance until 24 h whereas the effect of PACAP-38 on LH and α-subunit release reached significance after 4 h implying a different mechanism of action for their release.

To investigate the PACAP-induced secretion of LH and α-subunit further, we examined the effects of PACAP after down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC). PACAP-38 at a dose maximal for the stimulation of LH and α-subunit release (10 nmol/l) added together with the PKC activator, 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 0·1 μmol/l) had no greater effect on LH and α-subunit release than TPA alone over a 4 h incubation period. Increasing the pretreatment time with TPA (0–5 h) at a dose (0·1 μmol/l) known to deplete PKC activity substantially, reduced the ability of PACAP-38 to stimulate LH and α-subunit release and intracellular cyclic AMP levels significantly. We conclude that the stimulatory actions of PACAP on LH and α-subunit relies in part on PKC activity.

Journal of Endocrinology (1992) 134, 33–41

ABSTRACT

Acute and chronic hypopituitarism is associated with severe envenoming by the Burmese Russell's viper. We have demonstrated that in vitro, Burmese Russell's viper venom (0·1–10 μg/ml) causes a dose-dependent release of GH, TSH and ACTH from dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells in culture. At 10 μg/ml, venom causes a significant increase in the release of GH (344%, P<0·001), TSH (168%, P<0·005) and ACTH (>700%, P<0·001). We have also shown that the component (or components) responsible for this stimulatory effect is stable to heat (60 °C, 1 h) and mild trypsinization. Repeated addition of venom (1 μg/ml) to pituitary cells in a perifusion column system demonstrated attenuation of GH release. This reduced response was not due to depletion of the GH pool since the pituitary cells were subsequently able to respond to both GH-releasing factor (GRF) stimulation and KCl depolarization. Somatostatin in a dose which abolished GRF-stimulated GH release failed to affect venom-stimulated GH release, implying that venom acts in a cyclic AMP-independent manner. We conclude that Burmese Russell's viper venom has direct effects on pituitary hormone release in vitro. Whether these effects contribute to its known actions in vivo on the function of the pituitary remains to be established.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 122, 489–494

Catheters were implanted into 16 ewes and their foetuses between days 110 and 124 of gestation. Hypophysectomy was attempted in eight of these foetuses. Continuous infusion of synthetic ACTH (10 μg/h) or dexamethasone (1 mg/24 h) into the foetus, starting between days 124 and 129, induced premature parturition. The concentration of progesterone in the maternal peripheral plasma decreased before parturition in all animals, while the level of oestradiol increased in ewes with intact foetuses or in those in which hypophysectomy was incomplete. When hypophysectomy was complete, no increase in the maternal level of oestradiol occurred before delivery. The concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-oxo-prostaglandin F_2α increased in the peripheral plasma of ewes with intact or hypophysectomized foetuses infused with ACTH. It is suggested that an intact foetal pituitary gland is required for the rise in the level of oestrogen prepartum, but that this rise is not essential for increased prostaglandin production or parturition.