Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B I Posner

Publications and source records attributed to B I Posner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Compartmentalization of SHC, GRB2 and mSOS, and hyperphosphorylation of Raf-1 by EGF but not insulin in liver parenchyma.

Rat liver parenchyma harbors equal numbers of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin receptors. Following administration of a saturating dose of EGF (10 micrograms/100 g body weight), there was a rapid (t1/2 approximately 1.1 min) internalization of receptor coincident with its tyrosine phosphorylation at residue 1173 and receptor recruitment of the adaptor protein SHC, its tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with GRB2 and the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor, mSOS, largely in endosomes. This led to a cytosolic pool of a complex of tyrosine-phosphorylated SHC, GRB2 and mSOS. It was demonstrated that these constituents were linked to Ras activation by the characteristic decrease in Raf-1 mobility on SDS-PAGE, which was maintained for 60 min after a single bolus of administered EGF. While insulin administration (15 micrograms/100 g body weight) led to insulin receptor beta-subunit tyrosine phosphorylation and internalization, there was little detectable tyrosine phosphorylation of SHC, recruitment of GRB2, association of a complex with mSOS or any detectable change in the mobility of Raf-1. Therefore, in normal physiological target cells in vivo, distinct signaling pathways are realized after EGF or insulin receptor activation, with regulation of this specificity most probably occurring at the locus of the endosome.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Peroxovanadium compounds. A new class of potent phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitors which are insulin mimetics.

Twelve peroxovanadium (pV) compounds, each containing an oxo ligand, one or two peroxo anions, and an ancillary ligand in the inner coordination sphere of V, were synthesized, crystallized, and characterized by 51V NMR as > 95% pure. These compounds activated the insulin receptor kinase (IRK) of cultured hepatoma cells, stimulated lipogenesis in adipocytes, and inhibited the in situ dephosphorylation of autophosphorylated IRs and epidermal growth factor receptors of rat liver endosomes. The phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitory and IRK activating potencies of these compounds were linearly correlated (r = 0.74; p < 0.003), decayed in parallel in solution, and varied considerably with the ancillary ligands within these compounds. In vivo administration activated rat liver IRK in parallel with its tyrosine phosphorylation. Co-administration of insulin plus pV was markedly synergistic in both respects. pV administration significantly decreased circulating insulin and plasma glucose concentrations; the latter to levels seen after a dose of insulin yielding > or = 50% occupancy of IRs in vivo. Two compounds (mpV(pic) and mpV(2,6-pdc)) displayed relative specificity as phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitors by inhibiting IR dephosphorylation to a significantly greater degree than epidermal growth factor receptor dephosphorylation. Thus, pV compounds are the most potent phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitors described to date. Their capacity to activate IRK appears to derive from their phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitory activity. Their hypoglycemic action is due to a direct tissue effect.

Adipocytes↗

Endosomal proteolysis of insulin by an acidic thiol metalloprotease unrelated to insulin degrading enzyme.

Although insulin is degraded as a consequence of receptor-mediated endocytosis, the location and nature of the responsible proteinase(s) remain controversial. Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE; EC 3.4.22.11), a mainly cytosolic neutral thiol metalloendopeptidase of 110 kDa, has been proposed to be the main cellular clearance mechanism. However, endosomes concentrate and degrade internalized insulin demonstrating that IDE is unlikely to be the relevant enzyme for endosomal proteolysis of internalized insulin in liver parenchyma. In purified endosomal fractions insulin was actively degraded at acid pH and IDE was undetectable as evaluated by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, or chemical cross-linking procedures. Affinity purified endosomal acidic insulinase displayed a pH optimum of 4-5.5, a lack of inhibition by EDTA and N-ethylmaleimide, and a partial metal-ion requirement (for Mn2+) all of which distinguished it from IDE. A small but detectable presence of IDE in particulate nuclear (N) and large granule (ML) fractions was observed by differential centrifugation. By analytical centrifugation, IDE cosedimented with the organelle containing the peroxisomal marker proteins catalase and thiolase (median density, 1.21 g.cm-3). By preparative centrifugation, highly purified peroxisomes were observed to be enriched in IDE. Since all cloned cDNAs of IDE (human, rat, and Drosophila) reveal a deduced classical peroxisomal targeting sequence A/SKL at their carboxyl termini this may account for the peroxisomal location of IDE. Taken together, our studies identify an insulin-degrading enzyme in endosomes which is distinct from IDE. The latter's presence in peroxisomes suggests that its physiological substrate(s) in vivo are polypeptides other than insulin.

Animals↗

Concentration of intracellular hepatic apolipoprotein E in Golgi apparatus saccular distensions and endosomes.

The intrahepatic distribution of apolipoprotein E has been assessed by immunogold labeling of cryosections as well as by Western blotting of organelles isolated from liver homogenates. Both techniques supported the prior analytical fractionation studies of Wong (1989) who concluded that intrahepatic apoE was largely endosomal. All endosomal components decorated by gold particles indicative of apoE antigenicity in cryosections appeared filled with lipoprotein-like particles thereby accounting for this prominent morphological feature of isolated liver endosomes. The distribution of gold particles about the hepatic Golgi apparatus revealed a high content of apoE in closely apposed endosomes, ca. 400 nm in diameter, double labeled for apoE and internalized HRP. Remarkably, apoE (but not internalized HRP) was also observed within saccular distensions of all saccules of stacked Golgi cisternae but absent from the flattened saccular components as was also observed for apoB. This contrasted with albumin, the major secretory protein, which was uniformly distributed throughout the hepatic Golgi apparatus. These observations support a growing body of evidence for intra-Golgi sorting of secretory material in hepatic Golgi apparatus. The lack of any immunoreactive apoE or albumin in small 70-90 nm vesicles about the Golgi cisternae suggests limits to current models of vesicle-mediated intra-Golgi transport.

Albumins↗

The augmentation of insulin-like growth factor-I messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured rat hepatocytes: activation of protein kinase-A and -C is necessary, but not sufficient.

In previous studies it was shown that bovine GH (bGH) and glucagon, when individually added to primary rat hepatocyte cultures, modestly stimulated IGF-I mRNA levels 1.8- to 2.5-fold, but when combined, synergized to stimulate IGF-I mRNA levels by 10- to 12-fold. In the present study we have explored further the mechanism of this effect in primary rat hepatocyte cultures. Like glucagon, the addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (100 microM) or (Bu)2cAMP (150 microM) augmented IGF-I mRNA levels 1.8- to 2.0-fold, but when combined with bGH (50 ng/ml), they augmented levels up to 12-fold. The half-life of IGF-I mRNA, determined by incubating hepatocytes with actinomycin-D was 12 h. Although bGH did not affect the decay rate, glucagon (100 ng/ml) or (Bu)2cAMP (100 microM) reduced the rate of loss by about 70%. 4 beta-Phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate minimally stimulated IGF-I mRNA levels 1.2- to 1.4-fold, but displayed no synergism when added with bGH, glucagon, or (Bu)2cAMP. The stimulatory effect of bGH plus glucagon was inhibited 80% after preincubation with 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (10 microM) for 24 h. The addition of staurosporine, sphingosine, or H-7 [1-(5-isoquinolinyl sulfonyl)2-methyl piperazine] inhibited the stimulatory effect of bGH plus glucagon on hepatocyte IGF-I mRNA by 80%, 90%, and 85%, respectively. Preincubation with cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml) blocked the synergistic effect of bGH plus either glucagon or (Bu)2cAMP by 65-80%. The effect of glucagon, mediated via the activation of adenylate cyclase, involves in part the posttranscriptional stabilization of IGF-I mRNA levels. The effect of GH, mediated in part by the activation of protein kinase-C, appears to be at the level of transcription. The synergistic augmentation of hepatocyte IGF-I mRNA levels by GH and glucagon involves the activation of PKA and PKC, but also appears to require the synthesis of one or more protein(s).

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

The regulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured rat hepatocytes: the roles of glucagon and growth hormone.

In previous studies it was shown that bovine GH (bGH) suppressed and glucagon stimulated the level of 24- and 30- to 34-kilodalton insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the media of cultured rat hepatocytes. In the present study we have evaluated the regulation of IGFBP-1 gene expression in primary rat hepatocyte cultures. Glucagon produced a dose-dependent stimulation of hepatocyte IGFBP-1 messenger RNA (mRNA), attaining levels 2- to 6-fold greater than control at a glucagon concentration of 100 ng/ml. GH inhibited the accumulation of IGFBP-1 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner producing, 40-70% inhibition at 50 ng/ml. The effect of glucagon was comparable to and additive with dexamethasone (1 microM). The addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (100 microM) and (Bu)2cAMP (100 microM) augmented IGFBP-1 mRNA levels 5- to 6-fold. 4 beta-Phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (300 nM) was found to inhibit IGFBP-1 mRNA levels by 40-50%. The inhibitory effect of bGH on IGFBP-1 mRNA levels was abolished after preincubation with 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (10 microM) for 24 h, whereas glucagon's stimulatory effect was unaffected. The addition of staurosporine (500 nM) and H-7 (1 mM) abolished the inhibitory effect of GH but also significantly inhibited the stimulatory effect of glucagon, a result consistent with these agents acting on both protein kinase C (PKC) and PKA. In the presence of 10 micrograms/ml cycloheximide, IGFBP-1 gene expression was superinduced by bGH, whereas the effect of glucagon was uninfluenced. Thus the inhibitory action of GH involves, in part, the activation of PKC. Glucagon's stimulatory effect seems to involve the activation of PKA. The inhibitory effect of bGH on IGFBP-1 gene expression may require the continuing synthesis of one or more labile protein(s).

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Organelle-specific phosphorylation. Identification of unique membrane phosphoproteins of the endoplasmic reticulum and endosomal apparatus.

Highly purified endoplasmic reticulum fractions from rat liver and dog pancreas harbor membrane-associated kinases that phosphorylate integral membrane proteins of 90, 56, 35, and 15 kDa with [gamma-32P]GTP and of 90, 56, and 35 kDa with [gamma-32P]ATP. Of these, only the 35-kDa phosphoprotein was N-glycosylated. Screening of Golgi fractions, endosomes, plasma membranes, lysosomes, and mitochondria revealed phosphoproteins unique to each organelle. In particular, endosomes were found to harbor a 48-kDa extrinsic membrane protein and two or more integral membrane phosphoproteins of 30-35 kDa. None of these were N-glycosylated as judged by their insensitivity to digestion by N-glycosidase F and a lack of binding to concanavalin A or wheat germ agglutinin. Since the 30-35 kDa membrane phosphoproteins present in Golgi-free endosomal fractions were not detected in endosome-free, highly purified Golgi fractions and were found exclusively in horseradish peroxidase-containing endosomes as determined by the diaminobenzidine shift protocol, then these membrane phosphoproteins are unique to endosomes. Since membrane phosphoproteins unique to the endoplasmic reticulum have been shown to have important functional significance in calcium binding and as a membrane chaperone(s) (Wada, I., Rindress, D., Cameron, P.H., Ou, W.-J., Doherty, J.-J., II, Louvard, D., Bell, A.W., Dignard, D., Thomas, D.Y., and Bergeron, J.J.M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 19599-19610; Ahluwalia, N., Bergeron, J.J.M., Wada, I., Degen, E., and Williams, D.B. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 10914-10918), then the unique endosomal phosphoproteins may serve equally important functions in addition to serving as novel markers for the organelle.

Animals↗

Differential intracellular compartmentalization of phosphotyrosine phosphatases in a glial cell line: TC-PTP versus PTP-1B.

Intracellular levels of protein-phosphotyrosine are regulated by the protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family. Cellular compartmentalization may play an important role in modulating the function of these enzymes. The recent demonstration that PTP-1B is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (Frangioni et al: Cell 68:545, 1992) is consistent with this proposition. In this study we have examined the intracellular distribution of TC-PTP in a glial cell line (C6). Using indirect immunofluorescence we have shown that this enzyme is distributed differently from PTP-1B and is mainly concentrated in the perinuclear region of these cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peroxovanadate but not vanadate exerts insulin-like effects in human adipocytes.

Vanadate and peroxovanadate were recently reported to exert maximal or even supramaximal (peroxovanadate) insulin-like effects in rat adipocytes. To evaluate the response in human cells, isolated human adipocytes were exposed to insulin or various concentrations of vanadate (0-10 mmol/l) or peroxovanadate (0-5 mmol/l). Neither vanadate nor peroxovanadate affected 125I-insulin binding and insulin sensitivity. Vanadate exerted no apparent effect on 14C-U-glucose uptake, whereas 0.1 mmol/l peroxovanadate exerted a full insulin-like response (p < 0.001). No additive response was observed by combining either vanadate or peroxovanadate with insulin. Peroxovanadate at 0.1 mmol/l was as effective as insulin in inhibiting isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. Neither peroxovanadate nor insulin-inhibited lipolysis stimulated by N6-monobutyryl-cAMP, an analogue which is not hydrolysed by the cAMP-phosphodiesterase. It is concluded that peroxovanadate, but not vanadate, elicits a full insulin-like response in human adipocytes.

Adipose Tissue↗

The dephosphorylation of insulin and epidermal growth factor receptors. Role of endosome-associated phosphotyrosine phosphatase(s).

The autophosphorylation, from [gamma-32P]ATP, of insulin and epidermal growth factor receptors in rat liver endosomes peaked at 2-5 min and declined thereafter. When autophosphorylation from either [gamma-32P]ATP or unlabeled ATP was stopped after 5 min by adding excess EDTA +/- ATP, the phosphotyrosine (PY) content of each receptor decreased at 37 degrees C with a t 1/2 of 1.6 min. This was equally so whether the PY content of 32P-labeled receptors was analyzed by autoradiography of KOH-treated gels or by Western blotting with PY antibodies of immunoprecipitated receptors. The dephosphorylation reaction was strictly dependent on the presence of sulfhydryl, was unaffected by the addition of rat liver cytosol, and was temperature-dependent. The phosphotyrosine phosphatase(s) (PTPase(s)) appeared to be tightly anchored to the endosomal membrane, since the dephosphorylation reaction was unaffected by sodium carbonate and 0.6 M KCl treatments. However, treatment with Triton X-100 abolished dephosphorylation, implying an intimate association between the PTPase(s) and its substrate in an intact membrane environment. The powerful insulinomimetic agent pervanadate was the most potent inhibitor (50% inhibition at 1 microM). Increasing the dose of injected ligand augmented the rate of insulin and decreased that of EGF receptor dephosphorylation, respectively. Immunoblotting with specific antibodies failed to identify PTPase 1B or T-cell PTPase in ENs, whereas positive signals were seen in plasma membrane. These studies indicate that the phosphorylation state of receptor tyrosine kinases is dynamically regulated, with dephosphorylation, by closely associated PTPase(s), playing an important role.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Decrease in beta-subunit phosphotyrosine correlates with internalization and activation of the endosomal insulin receptor kinase.

In a previous study, we showed that the rat hepatic insulin receptor (IR) kinase of endosomes (ENs) was transiently activated to levels exceeding those of plasma membrane (PM) receptors following insulin injection. Phosphatase treatment of EN receptors abolished IR kinase activation implicating beta-subunit autophosphorylation as a mediator of the activation process (Khan, M. N., Baquiran, G., Brule, C., Burgess, J., Foster, B., Bergeron, J. J. M., and Posner, B. I. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 12931-12940). In the present study, the phosphotyrosine (PY) content of the IR beta-subunit in PM and ENs was estimated by two different methods. In one method, direct in vivo labeling with 32Pi followed by receptor immunoprecipitation was carried out. In the second method, immunoblotting with antibodies against the submembrane domain of the IR beta-subunit, encompassing residue 960 (alpha 960), and with antibodies against PY (alpha PY) was used to determine the content of PY/beta-subunit in PM and ENs following injection of insulin. By both methods, it was found that the PY content of PM IR was significantly greater than that of IR in ENs. With doses of 1.5 micrograms of insulin/100 g body weight (50% receptor occupancy) or 15 micrograms/100 g body weight (receptor saturation), the PY/beta-subunit of PM IR attained a level 2.0 to 2.5-fold of that observed for the IR of ENs. Surprisingly, the IR of ENs incorporated 3 to 5 times more PY/beta-subunit than those of PM consequent to autophosphorylation. Exogenous IR kinase activity (poly(Glu:Tyr)) in PM changed only slightly with insulin dose. In contrast, EN receptors exhibited a dose-dependent increase in kinase activity coincident with the decrease in PY/beta-subunit levels. A comparison of the proportion of receptor and kinase activity immunoprecipitated by alpha PY both before and after autophosphorylation indicated that ENs but not PM contained a small population of lightly phosphorylated but highly activated receptors. Since Thr12-Lys (IR kinase residues 1142-1153) efficiently inhibited IR autophosphorylation of both PM and EN receptors, Tris phosphorylation of beta-subunit regulatory tyrosines was unlikely. These results may be explicable by a dephosphorylation-dependent activation of IR kinase, as seen with the src family of tyrosine kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Association of the tyrosine phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor with a 55-kD tyrosine phosphorylated protein at the cell surface and in endosomes.

After the intraportal injection of EGF, the EGF receptor (EGFR) is rapidly internalized into hepatic endosomes where it remains largely receptor bound (Lai et al., 1989. J. Cell Biol. 109:2751-2760). In the present study, we evaluated the phosphotyrosine content of EGFRs at the cell surface and in endosomes in order to assess the consequences of internalization. Quantitative estimates of specific radioactivity of the EGFR in these two compartments revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR was observed at the cell surface within 30 s of ligand administration. However, the EGFR was also highly phosphorylated in endosomes reaching levels of tyrosine phosphorylation significantly higher than those of the cell surface receptor at 5 and 15 min after EGF injection. A 55-kD tyrosine phosphorylated polypeptide (pyp55) was observed in association with the EGFR at the cell surface within 30 s of EGF injection. The protein was also found in association with the EGFR in endosomes as evidenced by coprecipitation studies using a mAb to the EGFR as well as by coelution with the EGR in gel permeation chromatography. Limited proteolysis of isolated endosomes indicated that the tyrosine phosphorylated domains of the EGFR and associated pyp55 were cytosolically oriented while internalized EGF was intraluminal. The identification of pyp55 in association with EGFR in both hepatic plasma membranes and endosomes may be relevant to EGFR function and/or trafficking of the EGFR.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prolactin enhancement of its own uptake at the choroid plexus.

The choroid plexus contains PRL receptors that function in part to transport PRL from the blood into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The blood PRL concentration of female rats was altered by 1) three daily injections of haloperidol (chronic hyperprolactinemia) with or without bromocriptine administration 4 h before death, 2) bromocriptine alone for 4 h (acute hypoprolactinemia), and 3) a single vascular injection of ovine PRL (acute hyperprolactinemia). Changes in the uptake of PRL by the choroid plexus was assessed by quantitative in vivo autoradiography after the injection of radiolabeled PRL. Correlation of changes in PRL uptake at the choroid plexus with changes in PRL transport from blood to CSF was evaluated by subjecting CSF samples to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after vascular injection of radiolabeled PRL. Autoradiography revealed that both chronic and acute hyperprolactinemia resulted in a significant increase in the uptake of radiolabeled PRL by the choroid plexus compared to that in untreated control animals. In contrast, bromocriptine had no effect on PRL uptake at the choroid plexus relative to that in control (untreated) animals. Chronic hyperprolactinemia, but not acute hyperprolactinemia, resulted in a significant increase in the transport of radiolabeled PRL from the blood to the CSF compared to that in untreated controls. The results are consistent with the up-regulation of PRL receptors in the choroid plexus by circulating PRL and the consequent augmentation of transport of PRL from blood to CSF.

Animals↗

Characterization of the structure and glycosylation properties of intracellular and cell surface rat hepatic prolactin receptors.

In this study we examined the structure of the PRL receptor of rat liver. We used immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies to binding and nonbinding site epitopes of the PRL receptor to assess receptor subtypes in different hepatic subcellular fractions. Analysis of frozen-thawed cell fractions revealed 40- and 42-kilodalton (kDa) species. Digestion with neuraminidase indicated that both species were terminally sialylated. Freshly isolated membranes exhibited a single 42-kDa species in all subcellular fractions, whereas freeze-thawing generated the 40-kDa species. The carbohydrate linkages present in the PRL receptor were examined using enzymes to deglycosylate iodinated purified receptors. These studies indicated that oligosaccharides comprise about 7 kDa of receptor mass and that they are exclusively N-linked, consisting of tri- and/or tetra-antennary complex glycans. Monoclonal antibodies to the receptor recognized the deglycosylated receptor. Maximally deglycosylated receptors retained about 85% of their binding capacity. After in vivo tunicamycin treatment of rats, total PRL receptors (as determined by immunoblot analysis and binding activity) disappeared with a half-time of about 25 min. In this circumstance, no aglycosylated receptor species were recognized by monoclonal antibodies. Since deglycosylation of mature receptors did not markedly reduce binding capacity, we infer that mature receptors do not accumulate during the blockade of glycosylation by tunicamycin. Thus, glycosylation appears to be required for the acquisition of a mature receptor status, but is not necessary for the maintenance of that status.

Animals↗

A protein-tyrosine phosphatase with sequence similarity to the SH2 domain of the protein-tyrosine kinases.

The phosphorylation of proteins at tyrosine residues is critical in cellular signal transduction, neoplastic transformation and control of the mitotic cycle. These mechanisms are regulated by the activities of both protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). As in the PTKs, there are two classes of PTPases: membrane associated, receptor-like enzymes and soluble proteins. Here we report the isolation of a complementary DNA clone encoding a new form of soluble PTPase, PTP1C. The enzyme possesses a large noncatalytic region at the N terminus which unexpectedly contains two adjacent copies of the Src homology region 2 (the SH2 domain) found in various nonreceptor PTKs and other cytoplasmic signalling proteins. As with other SH2 sequences, the SH2 domains of PTP1C formed high-affinity complexes with the activated epidermal growth factor receptor and other phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. These results suggest that the SH2 regions in PTP1C may interact with other cellular components to modulate its own phosphatase activity against interacting substrates. PTPase activity may thus directly link growth factor receptors and other signalling proteins through protein-tyrosine phosphorylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The differential regulation by glucagon and growth hormone of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding proteins in cultured rat hepatocytes.

The liver is a major site of production of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding proteins (IGF-BPs). GH decisively influences IGF-I production. To study the role of GH and glucagon in the regulation of IGF-I and IGF-BP production, we examined IGF-I and IGF-BPs secreted by primary rat hepatocytes cultured in a serum-free medium. Glucagon (1 x 10(-8) M) stimulated IGF-I secretion and IGF-BP secretion. Bovine GH (bGH, 300 ng/ml) stimulated IGF-I secretion but suppressed IGF-BP secretion. Combining bGH and glucagon significantly augmented IGF-I secretion above the level seen with each individual agent. The inhibitory effect of bGH on IGF-BP secretion was reversed by glucagon. The major species of IGF-BPs secreted by hepatocytes were found, on Western ligand blotting, to be 24K and 30-34K. All species of secreted IGF-BPs appeared to be comparably affected by glucagon, bGH, and their combination. Northern analysis of IGF-I mRNA revealed three transcripts of 0.7-1.1 kilobases (kb), 1.8 kb, and 7.0 kb. Glucagon stimulated IGF-I mRNA levels 1.8- to 2.0-fold, whereas bGH stimulated IGF-I mRNA levels 2.0- to 2.5-fold. When hepatocytes were incubated with glucagon and bGH for 6 h, IGF-I mRNA levels were augmented 10-fold. Glucagon, in the presence of 50 ng/ml bGH, had a dose-dependent effect on IGF-I mRNA accumulation from a 6-fold level of stimulation at 50 ng/ml of glucagon to a 9-fold level of stimulation at 1000 ng/ml glucagon to a 9-fold level of stimulation at 1000 ng/ml glucagon. This study has demonstrated that glucagon, as well as GH, has significant effects on the production of both IGF-I and IGF-BPs. Of particular interest was the marked augmentation of hepatic IGF-I messenger RNA levels and the reversal of the low levels of IGF-BP production seen on adding glucagon to bGH.

Animals↗

The distribution of lactogen receptors in the mammalian hypothalamus: an in vitro autoradiographic analysis of the rabbit and rat.

The hypothalamus contains a high concentration of lactogen receptors as detected with in vitro radioreceptor assay techniques. In an effort to define the location of the lactogen receptors relative to specific hypothalamic nuclei, an in vitro autoradiography technique was applied to frozen sections of rat and rabbit brains. Three lactogenic hormones, i.e. human growth hormone (hGH), ovine prolactin (oPRL), and rat prolactin (rPRL), were radiolabeled with iodine-125. Competition for observed binding sites was assessed with unlabeled hGH, oPRL, and bovine growth hormone (bGH). Analysis of the autoradiographs with a microcomputer-based densitometry system revealed that the rabbit hypothalamus contains specific lactogen binding sites within the supraoptic, paraventricular, suprachiasmatic, ventromedial, arcuate, and dorsomedial nuclei and the medial preoptic area. Unlabeled bGH was effective in competing for binding sites in all areas when hGH but not oPRL was used as the radiolabeled ligand, suggesting the presence of growth hormone receptors in the rabbit hypothalamus with a distribution similar to that of the lactogen binding sites. In contrast to the rabbit, no lactogen binding sites were detected in the rat hypothalamus regardless of the ligand used in the assay. All of the ligands were successful, however, in detecting lactogen receptors within the rat choroid plexus and liver. The results from the rabbits indicate that the influences of prolactin on hypothalamic activity are mediated via lactogen receptors that are widely distributed throughout the various pertinent hypothalamic nuclei. The broad distribution of lactogen receptors in the rabbit hypothalamus attests to the extensive influence of prolactin on hypothalamic regulatory systems. The results from the rat raise questions as to the nature of rat brain prolactin receptors in comparison to prolactin receptors in rat peripheral tissues.

Animals↗