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Biomedical subjects

D M Shoback

Publications and source records attributed to D M Shoback.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transient osteoporosis of the hip in pregnancy: natural history of changes in bone mineral density.

A 31-year-old white female developed severe bilateral hip pain during the third trimester of pregnancy that persisted after parturition. Laboratory abnormalities (elevated alkaline phosphatase and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and radiographic changes (faint demineralization of the femur in the more symptomatic hip on plain films with evidence of bone marrow oedema and small joint effusions bilaterally on MRI) in the absence of other causes of focal osteoporosis were consistent with the diagnosis of transient osteoporosis of the hip in pregnancy. Although loss of bone mineral density (BMD) characterizes this syndrome, serial BMD measurements in symptomatic transient osteoporosis of the hip in pregnancy have not previously been reported. In the case reported here, serial bone density measurements were obtained over a 4-year period following the onset of symptoms. BMD in both femoral necks, which initially was approximately 20% lower than the average for age matched controls, increased markedly during the first year, plateaued during the following year, and then rapidly increased again following cessation of lactation. Unexpectedly, BMD in the lumbar spine, an asymptomatic site, was also markedly decreased at the time of presentation (31% lower than the mean of age-matched controls). Recovery of spinal density did not occur during the first year. However, spinal BMD did begin to increase during the second year and continued to rise after the cessation of lactation. In contrast to the marked reduction in bone density at these site of trabecular bone, cortical bone density in the forearm was normal. Possible aetiologies of pregnancy associated osteoporosis are discussed.

Adult

Mutational analysis of the cytoplasmic tail of the G protein-coupled receptor for parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein: effects on receptor expression and signaling.

The present studies were undertaken to examine the role of the cytoplasmic tail of the G protein-coupled receptor for PTH and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) on receptor signaling and expression. The wild type (WT) receptor (585 amino acids) and five truncated receptors whose cytoplasmic tails terminated at residues 507, 494, 474, 466, and 458 were expressed in COS-7 cells. Based on [125I]PTHrP binding, mutants T507, T494, and T466 displayed progressively decreased levels of expression, compared with WT. The tailless mutant T458 was not expressed in a functional form, whereas T474 was expressed at a level similar to WT. Comparable results were obtained when expression levels of WT and mutated PTH/PTHrP receptors were evaluated by Western blotting. Binding affinities were similar for all mutated receptors (IC50 = 1-2 nM). Immunocytochemistry showed that WT and mutated receptors were diffusely distributed, presumably at the cell surface, except for the tailless mutant T458, which displayed striking perinuclear localization. T458 did not display an adenylyl cyclase response to PTH, while the other mutants were similar to WT both with respect to their maximal adenylyl cyclase responses to PTH and to their EC50 values. Cai2+ signaling properties of these mutants were assessed as PTH-stimulated 45Ca efflux from Xenopus oocytes that had been injected with in vitro transcribed PTH/PTHrP receptor cRNAs. The WT and mutated receptors (except for T458) responded to PTH with significant (6- to 27-fold) increases in 45Ca efflux.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclases

Injection of bovine parathyroid poly(A)+ RNA into Xenopus oocytes confers sensitivity to high extracellular calcium.

Parathyroid cells detect increments in the extracellular [Ca2+], which lead to substantial increases in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and, ultimately, to suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. To determine whether mRNA from parathyroid tissue could confer sensitivity to high extracellular Ca2+, we isolated and injected total bovine parathyroid poly(A)+ RNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes. To assess translational activity of the RNA, PTH released into the media was measured. Intact PTH was detected in the medium for < or = 48 h, and injection of increasing amounts of RNA (approximately 0.5-50 ng/oocyte) led to the release of greater quantities of PTH. We screened for the expression of a putative Ca2+ sensor molecule by measuring 45Ca efflux from preloaded oocytes, in response to raising extracellular [Ca2+] from 0.7 to 5.7 mM. This increment in [Ca2+] stimulated 45Ca efflux by 249 +/- 52 cpm over 20 min from eggs injected with parathyroid poly(A)+ RNA (n = 22). This response was significantly greater than 45Ca efflux from any group of controls exposed to the same change in extracellular Ca2+ (p < 0.02), including oocytes injected with either water, cRNA for the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB receptor, or T cell poly(A)+ RNA. Size-fractionation of poly(A)+ RNA over sucrose gradients demonstrated that mRNA, which induced responsiveness to high extracellular Ca2+, was present in fractions with transcripts of approximately 5-9 kB. Injection of these fractions also conferred sensitivity to the presence of Ba2+ or Sr2+ (both at 5 mM) in the media.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Effects of phosphatidic acid on parathyroid hormone release, intracellular free Ca2+, and inositol phosphates in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.

The observation that increases in extracellular Ca2+ or the addition of divalent cations, such as Ba2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, or Sr2+, stimulate the accumulation of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) and its breakdown products in parathyroid cells strongly supports the idea that polyphosphoinositides are hydrolyzed under these conditions. Since phosphatidic acid is produced as a result of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, and it has been proposed that phosphatidic acid may be a second messenger for Ca2+ mobilization, we examined the effects of this compound on parathyroid cells. We assessed PTH release, intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), and inositol polyphosphate accumulation in response to phosphatidic acid. Natural phosphatidic acid reduced PTH release at 1.0 mM extracellular Ca2+ by 18 +/- 6%, 48 +/- 5%, 59 +/- 10%, and 79 +/- 6% at concentrations of 1, 10, 50, and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively (n = 5-11). The effect was not dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+, since phosphatidic acid (100 micrograms/ml) inhibited PTH secretion by 39 +/- 3% in medium with no added Ca2+ and 1.0 mM EGTA (n = 3). This agent rapidly and transiently increased [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by fura-2 fluorescence. At 1.0 mM extracellular Ca2+, [Ca2+]i rose from 309 +/- 8 to a peak of 356 +/- 26, 454 +/- 22, and 587 +/- 57 nM with the addition of 1, 10, and 100 micrograms/ml phosphatidic acid, respectively (n = 2-14). In the absence of extracellular Ca2+ (i.e. medium with 1 or 2 mM EGTA and no added Ca2+), phosphatidic acid produced a quantitatively smaller peak increment of 38 +/- 4% in [Ca2+]i, indicating that this compound could mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular stores (n = 3). At 1.0 mM extracellular Ca2+, phosphatidic acid (200 micrograms/ml) stimulated the accumulation of Inositol trisphosphate (InsP3), Inositol bisphosphate (InsP2), and Inositol monophosphate (InsP1) by 46 +/- 9%, 37 +/- 9%, and 59 +/- 11% after 60 sec, respectively (n = 5-7). Phosphatidic acid had no significant effect on forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. We further determined whether the specific fatty acid composition of phosphatidic acid might influence its effects in parathyroid cells by testing several synthetic compounds. Dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid (greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml) inhibited PTH release in a dose-dependent manner without significantly changing [Ca2+]i. Dioleoyl phosphatidic acid had modest biphasic effects on secretion, with 20 +/- 5% inhibition observed at lower doses (10 micrograms/ml) and a 27 +/- 8% stimulation of secretion at 100 micrograms/ml (n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Effects of protein kinase C activation on inositol phosphate generation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in bovine parathyroid cells.

Activators of protein kinase C, such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and the synthetic diacylglycerol dioctanoylglycerol (diC8), either stimulate or inhibit PTH release depending on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. By increasing PTH release at high extracellular Ca2+, these agents, in effect, block high Ca2(+)-induced inhibition of secretion. Since raising extracellular Ca2+ increases intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) formation in parathyroid cells, we assessed the effects of PMA pretreatment on [Ca2+]i and InsP3 to ascertain whether these second messengers might be altered by protein kinase C activation. Preincubation of parathyroid cells with PMA (10(-6) M) significantly lowered the intracellular Ca2+ response to raising extracellular Ca2+ from 0.5-2.0 mM. The peak increase in [Ca2+]i averaged 475 +/- 11 nM in PMA-treated cells compared to 703 +/- 44 nM in control cells. High extracellular Ca2(+)-induced InsP3 accumulation was also reduced after incubating the cells with PMA. To determine whether intracellular Ca2+ stores and/or transmembrane Ca2+ uptake were affected by activating protein kinase C, we examined intracellular Ca2+ responses to the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin after PMA pretreatment. At 0.5 mM Ca2+, ionomycin (10(-6) M) increased [Ca2+]i to an initial peak of 738 +/- 49 nM followed by a sustained increase to 501 +/- 30 nM in control cells (n = 15). After exposure to PMA (greater than or equal to 20 min), however, peak and sustained increments in [Ca2+]i were significantly lower at 550 +/- 32 and 394 +/- 16 nM, respectively (P less than 0.02, n = 8). In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, basal [Ca2+]i was 197 +/- 5 and peaked at 323 +/- 15 nM with ionomycin (10(-6) M) in PMA-treated cells (n = 16). The latter value was significantly less than the peak increase in [Ca2+]i to 461 +/- 19 nM observed with ionomycin (10(-6) M) in control cells (P less than 0.001, n = 15). With respect to secretion, either of the protein kinase C agonists (i.e. PMA or diC8) or the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin inhibited PTH release at 0.5 mM Ca2+. To determine whether the concomitant activation of protein kinase C- and Ca2(+)-dependent pathways could additively suppress PTH release, we assessed the effects of ionomycin and either PMA or diC8 on secretion. PTH release at 0.5 mM Ca2+ was reduced in an additive manner by either of these protein kinase C agonists plus ionomycin. At 2 mM Ca2+, protein kinase C agonists stimulated PTH release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Fluoride stimulates the accumulation of inositol phosphates, increases intracellular free calcium, and inhibits parathyroid hormone release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.

The stimulation of polyphosphoinositide (PPI) turnover is associated with cellular activation and hormone secretion in numerous systems. GTP-binding proteins appear to couple receptors to phospholipase-C-mediated PPI breakdown. We assessed the effects of fluoride, an activator of GTP-binding proteins, on inositol phosphate accumulation, intracellular free Ca2+ [(Ca2+)i], cAMP content, and PTH release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. Sodium fluoride (5-30 mM) produced marked dose-dependent increases in inositol phosphates. With anion exchange HPLC, we confirmed that 30 mM fluoride stimulated a rapid increase in 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate, a potent Ca2+-mobilizing compound. Using the Ca2+-sensitive probe fura-2, we determined that 30 mM fluoride increased [Ca2+]i from 339 +/- 9 to 650 +/- 39 nM (n = 8) within 30-60 sec at 1 mM extracellular Ca2+. After the depletion of extracellular Ca2+ by the addition of 1 mM EGTA, 30 mM fluoride increased [Ca2+]i 45 +/- 9% (n = 4), indicating that fluoride can mobilize intracellular Ca2+ stores. Fluoride (1-30 mM) also inhibited PTH release in dose-dependent fashion. Fluoride (30 mM) produced 72.8 +/- 4.2% suppression of maximal low Ca2+-stimulated PTH release comparable to the 83.7 +/- 3.7% inhibition by 2.0 mM extracellular Ca2+. Since changes in both [Ca2+]i and cAMP regulate PTH release, we measured the effect of fluoride on intracellular cAMP. Fluoride did not detectably change basal cAMP content, but it reduced forskolin-stimulated increases in cAMP. We conclude that fluoride may activate at least two GTP-dependent processes in parathyroid cells, resulting in PPI breakdown and cAMP accumulation. While both may contribute to the fluoride-induced suppression of PTH release, our findings suggest that the stimulation of PPI turnover leads to inhibition of PTH secretion.

Animals

High calcium and other divalent cations increase inositol trisphosphate in bovine parathyroid cells.

Calcium and other divalent cations rapidly increase intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in bovine parathyroid cells and inhibit PTH release. In other secretory cells, agonist-dependent generation of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) through polyphosphoinositide turnover initiates the rise in [Ca2+]i by mobilizing Ca2+ from intracellular stores. To determine whether polyphosphoinositide breakdown is involved in mediating the response to Ca2+ and the divalent cations Ba2+, Mn2+, and Sr2+, we measured the production of inositol polyphosphates in parathyroid cells. Within 120 sec of increasing extracellular Ca2+ to 2.0 mM, InsP3, inositol bisphosphate (InsP2), and inositol monophosphate (InsP1) rose 95 +/- 37%, 87 +/- 17%, and 96 +/- 29%, respectively, vs. values in cells at 0.5 mM Ca2+ (n = 5). Raising extracellular Ca2+ from 0.5-3.0 mM produced even greater peak increments of 134 +/- 13%, 179 +/- 35%, and 313 +/- 65% in InsP3, InsP2, and InsP1, respectively, by 120 sec (n = 4). Similarly, within 10 sec of their addition, BaCl2 (2 mM), MnCl2 (2 mM), and SrCl2 (4 mM) stimulated the production of InsP3 56 +/- 2%, 152 +/- 31%, and 160 +/- 25%, respectively, vs. that in untreated cells at 0.5 mM Ca2+. At later time points, InsP2 and InsP1 were increased. The Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin at concentrations up to 500 nM had no effect on inositol phosphates, although it inhibited PTH release in a dose-dependent manner. Since high Ca2+ and other divalent cations depolarize parathyroid cells, we assessed the effect of high extracellular K+ on inositol polyphosphates. The addition of depolarizing concentrations of K+ (40 mM) did not change inositol phosphates. Thus, Ca2+ and other divalent cations increase the production of InsP3, InsP2, and InsP1 in parathyroid cells by a mechanism independent of increases in [Ca2+]i and of membrane depolarization. We conclude that parathyroid cells express membrane receptors or sensors for Ca2+ and other divalent cations linked to polyphosphoinositide turnover.

Animals

Ouabain and low extracellular potassium inhibit PTH secretion from bovine parathyroid cells by a mechanism that does not involve increases in the cytosolic calcium concentration.

We have previously found that high extracellular calcium (Ca++) concentrations inhibit PTH release in association with a threefold to fourfold rise in cytosolic Ca++ concentration. Recent data have also shown that low extracellular potassium (K+) concentration or ouabain also inhibits PTH release to an extent comparable to that seen with high Ca++ and produce a marked rise in the intracellular sodium (Na+) content. These results suggested that low K+ and ouabain might modulate PTH release through increases in cytosolic Ca++ related to alterations in Na+-Ca++-exchange. In the present studies, we have examined further the mechanism(s) by which inhibition of the Na+-K+-ATPase regulates PTH release. Exposure of cells loaded with the Ca++-sensitive dye QUIN-2 to low K+ produced a 10% to 17% increase in cytosolic Ca++ at 0.5 to 1.0 mmol/L extracellular Ca++, which was statistically significant only at 0.75 mmol/L Ca++. In contrast, low K+ caused a statistically significant decrease in cytosolic Ca++ at 1.5 to 2 mmol/L Ca++, while ouabain lowered cytosolic Ca++ significantly by 23% to 46% at all Ca++ concentrations examined (0.5 to 2 mmol/L). Low K+ or ouabain had no effect on cellular levels of ATP or GTP or intracellular pH measured using the pH-sensitive dye BCECF [2', 7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein]. The inhibition of secretion by low K+ or ouabain, unlike that due to high extracellular Ca++, was not reversed by TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate), an activator of protein kinase C. Low K+ did produce a modest (30% to 40%) lowering of agonist-stimulated but not basal cAMP content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate

Renin suppression by saline is blunted in nonmodulating essential hypertension.

We have reported that 50% of subjects with normal renin essential hypertension have both delayed suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis following sodium infusion and a delayed rate of excretion of an acute salt load. In another study we have also described a subset of patients with essential hypertension (called nonmodulators) who have several abnormalities, including a pressor response to salt loading. To evaluate whether the abnormalities described in these different groups of patients actually occur in the same patient, we assessed the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis response to short-term saline loading in 38 hypertensive patients. Their ability to modulate was determined by their renal vascular response to infused angiotensin II on a high salt diet (200 mEq Na). In response to a 3-hour infusion of saline, 75 mEq/hr, the reduction in plasma renin activity at both 60 and 120 minutes was significantly greater (p less than 0.008) in patients with normal modulation than in the nonmodulators. Plasma aldosterone levels were also significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in those with intact modulation. Thus, nonmodulating essential hypertensive patients have abnormalities in several systems that influence sodium homeostasis, including altered adrenal and renal vascular response to angiotensin II, altered renal blood flow response to salt loading, and a delayed suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with short-term saline infusion.

Adult

Cholera toxin inhibits the T-cell antigen receptor-mediated increases in inositol trisphosphate and cytoplasmic free calcium.

The addition of monoclonal antibodies to the antigen receptor complex on the malignant human T-cell line Jurkat generates increases in inositol trisphosphate and in the concentration of cytoplasmic free calcium. Exposure of Jurkat cells to cholera toxin for 3 hr inhibited these receptor-mediated events and led to a selective, partial loss of the antigen receptor complex from the cellular surface. None of the effects of cholera toxin on the antigen receptor complex were mimicked by the B subunit of cholera toxin or by increasing intracellular cAMP levels with either forskolin or 8-bromo cAMP. These results suggest that a cholera toxin substrate can regulate signal transduction by the T-cell antigen receptor.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose

PTH release stimulated by high extracellular potassium is associated with a decrease in cytosolic calcium in bovine parathyroid cells.

We employed the calcium (Ca++)-sensitive, intracellular dye QUIN-2 to examine the role of cytosolic Ca++ in the stimulation of PTH release by high extracellular potassium (K+) concentrations. Addition of 55 mM KC1 to cells incubated with 115 mM NaC1 and 5 mM KC1 lowered cytosolic Ca++ at either low (0.5 mM) extracellular Ca++ (from 194 +/- 14 to 159 +/- 9 nM, p less than .01, N = 6) or high (1.5 mM) extracellular calcium (from 465 +/- 38 to 293 +/- 20 nM, p less than .01, N = 10). This reduction in cytosolic Ca++ was due to high K+ per se and not to changes in tonicity since addition of 55 mM NaC1 was without effect while a similar decrease in cytosolic Ca++ occurred when cells were resuspended in 60 mM NaC1 and 60 mM KC1. PTH release was significantly (p less than .01) greater at 0.5 and 1.5 mM Ca++ in QUIN-2-loaded cells incubated with 60 mM NaC1 and 60 mM KC1 than in those exposed to 115 mM NaC1 and 5 mM KC1. In contrast to most secretory cells, therefore, stimulation of PTH release by high K+ is associated with a decrease rather than an increase in cytosolic Ca++.

Aminoquinolines

Forskolin increases cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate content and parathyroid hormone release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.

We studied the effects of the positive-inotropic and hypotensive agent forskolin on parathyroid hormone (PTH) release, cAMP accumulation, and adenylate cyclase activity in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. Forskolin stimulated PTH release 1.7 to 3.7-fold at 10(-5) mol/L and increased cAMP content maximally 37.6-fold at 10(-4) mol/L. Forskolin induced a maximal increase in cAMP accumulation by 5 minutes of incubation. The rate of PTH release in forskolin-treated cells also reached maximal levels at five to ten minutes of incubation. There was a dose-dependent increase in PTH release and cAMP content over the range of 10(-7) to 10(-4) M forskolin with half-maximal stimulation at 10(-7) to 10(-6) mol/L for PTH release and between 10(-5) and 10(-4) mol/L for cAMP content. PTH release and cAMP accumulation were inhibited by increasing extracellular calcium concentrations in both control cells and those incubated with 10(-5) mol/L forskolin. Forskolin stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in lysates from parathyroid cells 15.7-fold with half-maximal activation between 10(-6) and 10(-5) mol/L forskolin. Forskolin-stimulated (10(-5) mol/L) and basal adenylate cyclase activities declined in parallel with increasing calcium concentrations. In contrast, phosphodiesterase activity was unaffected by forskolin at 10(-6) to 10(-4) mol/L. Forskolin, therefore, by directly activating adenylate cyclase, enhances cAMP accumulation and PTH release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. As with other agents activating cAMP accumulation in this system, these effects are inhibited by elevated calcium concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

Interaction of extracellular calcium and magnesium in the regulation of cytosolic calcium and PTH release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.

We examined the effects of varying the extracellular magnesium (Mg2+) concentration at different extracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentrations on cytosolic Ca2+ and PTH release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells using the fluorescent, Ca2+-sensitive dye QUIN-2. Raising extracellular Mg2+ from 0.5 to 5 mM produced significant (p less than 0.01) increases in cytosolic Ca2+ from 228 +/- 13 to 306 +/- 15 nM at 0.5 mM extracellular Ca2+ and from 199 +/- 9 to 299 +/- 19 nM at 1.0 mM extracellular Ca2+. The concentration of extracellular Mg2+ which produced half of the maximal increase in cytosolic Ca2+ was significantly higher, however, at 0.5 mM than at 1.0 mM extracellular Ca2+ [3.3 +/- 0.16 (n = 5) vs. 2.0 +/- 0.08 mM Mg2+ (n = 6), p less than 0.01]. High extracellular Mg2+ (5 mM) was associated with a similar inhibition of PTH release at 0.5 and 1.0 mM Ca2+ [67 +/- 2% (n = 4) and 59 +/- 5% (n = 7), respectively], but half-maximal inhibition of secretion occurred at a higher Mg2+ concentration with 0.5 than with 1.0 mM Ca2+ [3.5 +/- 0.43 (n = 4) vs. 2.0 +/- 0.21 mM (n = 5), respectively, p less than 0.01]. In contrast, in cells exposed to subphysiological extracellular Ca2+ concentrations (less than or equal to 10(-6) M), 5 mM Mg2+ had little or no effect on either cytosolic Ca2+ or PTH release. At 10 mM extracellular Mg2+ with less than or equal to 10(-6) M Ca2+, PTH release was inhibited 55 +/- 3% (n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Relationship between parathyroid hormone secretion and cytosolic calcium concentration in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.

The parathyroid cell is unusual among exocytotic systems in that low extracellular Ca2+ concentrations stimulate, while high Ca2+ concentrations inhibit, parathyroid hormone (PTH) release, suggesting that this cell might have unique secretory mechanisms. In the present studies, we used the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye QUIN -2 to examine the relationship between cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and PTH release in dispersed bovine parathyroid cells. The secretagogue dopamine, which enhances PTH release 2- to 3-fold in association with 20- to 30-fold increases in cellular cAMP, had no effect on the cytosolic Ca2+ level (261 +/- 28 vs. 236 +/- 22 nM for control cells at 1 mM extracellular Ca2+; P greater than 0.05). Dibutyryl-cAMP, which produces a comparable stimulation of PTH release, likewise did not modify the level of cytosolic Ca2+. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ produced a further decrease of the cytosolic Ca2+ to 82 +/- 10 nM. However, PTH secretion persisted at a near maximal rate despite this decrease of extracellular and cytosolic Ca2+ and was 95 +/- 2.5% of the rate of hormonal release at 0.5 mM extracellular Ca2+. In contrast, addition of the divalent cation ionophore ionomycin to parathyroid cells at 1.0 mM extracellular Ca2+ inhibited PTH secretion in association with an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ from 230 +/- 13 nM to 570 +/- 50 nM. Moreover, the magnitude of the ionomycin-induced reduction in PTH secretion (64 +/- 4% relative to the secretory rate at 0.5 mM Ca2+) was equivalent to the inhibition of PTH release caused by 1.5 mM extracellular Ca2+ (64 +/- 6%), which increased the cytosolic Ca2+ to similar levels (450 +/- 48 nM). Thus, the parathyroid cell differs from secretory cells thought to operate by stimulus-secretion coupling in the following ways: changes in PTH release can occur without detectable alterations in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, maximal rates of PTH secretion occur at cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations that fail to support exocytosis in other cell types, and increases in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration due to ionomycin inhibit rather than stimulate PTH release. Therefore, the control of PTH secretion by Ca2+ and other secretagogues may involve previously undefined mechanisms whereby hormonal release is relatively independent of the cytosolic Ca2+ at low levels of this parameter and is inversely related to cytosolic Ca2+ at higher levels of intracellular Ca2+.

Aminoquinolines

Phaeochromocytoma and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: apparent suppression of symptoms and noradrenaline secretion by calcium-channel blockade.

A 44-year-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a noradrenaline-secreting phaeochromocytoma is described. She experienced as great improvement in cardiovascular symptoms during double-blind treatment with the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine compared with the placebo period. Symptom relief on nifedipine therapy was associated with a pronounced decline in elevated urinary noradrenaline levels. This observation suggests that calcium-channel blockers interfere with the release of noradrenaline from phaeochromocytoma tissue and thus may be beneficial in patients with phaeochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Defect in the sodium-modulated tissue responsiveness to angiotensin II in essential hypertension.

In normal subjects, dietary sodium intake modulates renovascular, adrenal, and pressor responses to infused angiotensin II (AII). To examine the hypothesis that this modulation is abnormal in some patients with essential hypertension, we studied 18 hypertensives and 9 normal subjects twice--during dietary sodium restriction and during loading. Paraaminohippurate (PAH) clearance was used to assess renal plasma flow. AII was infused in graded doses (0.3-3.0 ng/kg per min). Plasma aldosterone, cortisol, renin activity, AII, sodium, potassium, and PAH clearance were measured at the onset and end of each AII dose. During dietary sodium repletion, eight of the subjects with essential hypertension showed a normal renovascular response (greater than 125 ml/min per 1.73 m2) to AII infusion (3 ng/kg per min). The decrement in renal blood flow in these normal responders (NR) was 168 +/- 10, which was comparable to the range in normotensive subjects (206 +/- 25 ml/min per 1.73 m2). All of the remaining hypertensive patients, designated abnormal responders (AbR), had lower (less than 125) renal blood flow responses to the same dose of infused AII (mean decrement: 84 +/- 11 ml/min per 1.73 m2) compared with the NR and normotensive subjects. Renal blood flow responses to all AII doses were statistically greater on a high-vs.-low salt diet in the NR (P less than 0.001, chi-square) and normotensives (P = 0.004, chi-square) but sodium intake had no effect on this response in the AbR. Basal renal blood flow in NR increased significantly (P less than 0.001, paired t test) with dietary sodium repletion, from 491 +/- 36 (low salt) to 602 +/- 40 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (high salt), but was almost identical in the AbR on differing dietary sodium intakes (429 +/- 24 vs. 425 +/- 26 ml/min per 1.73 m2). The adrenal responses to sodium intake and infused AII also differed in the two subgroups. In the NR, the adrenal response to AII was significantly greater (P = 0.011, Wilcoxon signed rank test) after sodium restriction. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the aldosterone response to AII infusion between the low and high sodium diets in the AbR. Thus, a substantial subgroup of essential hypertensives has an abnormality in responsiveness to AII in two systems central to volume homeostasis: the kidney and adrenal. They fail to modulate their renal blood flow and aldosterone responses to AII with changes in dietary sodium intake. Moreover, basal renal blood flow does not increase appropriately with increased sodium intake. These abnormalities, which may be due to an increased local production of AII or a defect in the AII receptors in these three target tissues, could contribute to the elevated blood pressure.

Adolescent

Endogenous angiotensin II as a determinant of sodium-modulated changes in tissue responsiveness to angiotensin II in normal man.

Dietary sodium restriction reduces vascular smooth muscle, particularly renovascular, responsiveness to infused angiotensin II (AII), while the responsiveness of the adrenal and the AII-renin short feedback loop to AII is enhanced. To determine whether circulating AII mediates these changes in responsiveness, we studied 11 sodium-restricted and 9 sodium-replete normal subjects before and after 75 h of converting enzyme inhibitor pretreatment with MK421. All subjects received infusions of paraaminohippurate (PAH) to assess renal plasma flow during graded AII infusion (0.3-10 ng/kg X min) before and after MK421 administration. Plasma aldosterone, cortisol, PRA, AII, sodium, potassium, and PAH clearance were measured at the onset and end of each AII dose. In sodium-restricted subjects, preinfusion AII and aldosterone levels were significantly reduced, (P less than 0.001) to the range found in sodium-replete subjects, after 75 h of MK421 administration, whereas blood pressure and PAH responses to infused AII were significantly enhanced (P less than 0.01). Blood pressure and PAH responses to infused AII in sodium-replete subjects were not significantly modified by MK421 treatment, confirming that the drug effect was specific. In contrast, the plasma aldosterone increment and PRA decrement after AII infusion were similar before and after MK421 on both diets. Thus, sodium-modulated changes in PAH and blood pressure responsiveness to infused AII depend on circulating AII levels. However, circulating AII does not mediate sodium modulation of adrenal or PRA short-feedback loop responsiveness to infused AII. Two different mechanisms determine sodium modulation of tissue responsiveness to AII; in one, circulating AII via a receptor mechanism is the mediator, and in the other, some other factor(s) also linked to sodium intake must be responsible.

Adolescent