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M B Vallotton

Publications and source records attributed to M B Vallotton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Measurement of perimitochondrial Ca2+ concentration in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells with aequorin targeted to the outer mitochondrial membrane.

Microdomains of high cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration in the proximity of mitochondria might have an important role in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. In the present study we have investigated local changes of free Ca(2+) concentration near the outer mitochondrial membrane ([Ca(2+)](om)) under stimulation with angiotensin II (Ang II) and K(+). Glomerulosa cells in primary culture were transfected with a recombinant cDNA encoding the N-terminal region of the human translocase protein 20 of the outer mitochondrial membrane, in frame with the Ca(2+)-sensitive photoprotein aequorin. This chimaeric aequorin (TomAeq) was associated with mitochondria-enriched subcellular fractions of transfected COS-7 cells and was susceptible to proteinase K, showing that it was targeted to the outer mitochondrial membrane, facing the cytosolic space. In bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells transfected with TomAeq cDNA, Ang II induced a transient [Ca(2+)](om) peak reaching 1.42+/-0.28 microM, which decreased immediately to the basal resting value. The peak response to Ang II was strikingly lower than the peak response of mitochondrial free Ca(2+) concentration, which increased to 5.4+/-1.2 microM. The smaller response of [Ca(2+)](om) to Ang II compared with the elevated matrix response did not result from buffering effects of the organelle, from altered mechanisms of intramitochondrial Ca(2+) transport or from differences in the affinity of the chimaeric aequorins for Ca(2+). This approach has allowed us to follow perimitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis in bovine glomerulosa cells under stimulation with Ca(2+)-mobilizing agonists and to reveal a strong gradient of Ca(2+) concentration between the mitochondrial matrix and the immediate environment of the organelle.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1999

Angiotensin II negatively modulates L-type calcium channels through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in adrenal glomerulosa cells.

In bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II and extracellular K+ stimulate aldosterone secretion in a calcium-dependent manner. In these cells, physiological concentrations of extracellular potassium activate both T-type (low threshold) and L-type (high threshold) voltage-operated calcium channels. Paradoxically, the cytosolic calcium response to 9 mM K+ is inhibited by angiotensin II. Because K+-induced calcium changes observed in the cytosol are almost exclusively due to L-type channel activity, we therefore studied the mechanisms of L-type channel regulation by angiotensin II. Using the patch-clamp method in its perforated patch configuration, we observed a marked inhibition (by 63%) of L-type barium currents in response to angiotensin II. This effect of the hormone was completely prevented by losartan, a specific antagonist of the AT1 receptor subtype. Moreover, this inhibition was strongly reduced when the cells were previously treated for 1 night with pertussis toxin. An effect of pertussis toxin was also observed on the modulation by angiotensin II of the K+ (9 mM)-induced cytosolic calcium response in fura-2-loaded cells, as well as on the angiotensin II-induced aldosterone secretion, at both low (3 mM) and high (9 mM) K+ concentrations. Finally, the expression of both Go and Gi proteins in bovine glomerulosa cells was detected by immunoblotting. Altogether, these results strongly suggest that in bovine glomerulosa cells, a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein is involved in the inhibition of L-type channel activity induced by angiotensin II.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1998

[Amiodarone and thyroid function: clinical implications].

World-wide, the incidence of amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction is estimated to be between 2% and 24%. More than 50% of patients who receive long-term amiodarone have abnormal results on thyroid function tests. However, most of these patients are euthyroid. In a euthyroid amiodarone-treated patient, an increase in serum thyroxine levels (total and free) and in serum reverse T3 levels and a decrease in serum T3 levels (total and free), are observed. TSH levels are within the normal range with chronic treatment (more than 3 months). The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of amiodarone prescription by cardiologists, to learn about their clinical practice in screening for thyroid dysfunction, and to formulate guidelines for clinical investigation of thyroid function before and during amiodarone treatment. A questionnaire was sent to 27 cardiologists in private practice in the Geneva area and to 12 cardiologists in Geneva University Hospital (19 and 7 questionnaires returned respectively). Cardiologists in private practice prescribe amiodarone quite frequently (once to twice per month and more). Clinical investigation prior to treatment involves history (95%), clinical examination (63%) or thyroid function tests (37% routinely, 16% where there is clinical suspicion of thyroid dysfunction). Thyroid function is investigated by determination of TSH (100%), free T4 (68%), free T3 (50%), total T3 (32%) or total T4 (26%). Antithyroid antibodies are measured only by 10% of the cardiologists in private practice. Cardiologists would restrict amiodarone prescription in cases of clinical hyperthyroidism (90%), clinical hypothyroidism (74%), in the presence of goitre in a hyper- or hypothyroid patient (79 and 63% respectively), and if antithyroid antibodies were positive (32%). During amiodarone treatment 84% of cardiologists in private practice repeat thyroid function tests occasionally and 16% only in the presence of clinical signs. Hypothyroidism is a reason for withdrawing amiodarone treatment for 58% of the cardiologists and 37% would prescribe substitution. Hyperthyroidism is a reason for immediately suspending treatment for 90% of the cardiologists, only 5% would continue and 16% would prescribe antithyroid drugs. In conclusion, there is considerable divergence of opinion among cardiologists concerning investigation and interpretation of thyroid function before and during amiodarone treatment. Simple and practicable guidelines are needed.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed1998

Angiotensin II potentiates adrenocorticotrophic hormone-induced cAMP formation in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells through a capacitative calcium influx.

Angiotensin II (AngII) plays a crucial role in the control of aldosterone biosynthesis in adrenal glomerulosa cells through the stimulation of two distinct Ca2+ entry pathways: (1) opening of voltage-operated calcium channels, and (2) activation of a capacitative Ca2+ entry that is dependent on calcium release from intracellular pools. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), on the other hand, a major hormonal regulator of steroidogenesis, induces an increase in intracellular cAMP through the activation of a G-protein-coupled adenylyl cyclase. Recent studies have demonstrated that the rise in cAMP induced by ACTH can be potentiated by AngII in bovine glomerulosa cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of AngII action on ACTH-induced cAMP production. In primary cultures of bovine glomerulosa cells, we found that AngII (100 nM), which had no effect by itself on cAMP production, significantly potentiated maximal ACTH-induced cAMP formation in the presence of extracellular calcium (1.2 mM). In contrast, in the absence of extracellular calcium, AngII did not affect ACTH-induced cAMP production. These results suggest that calcium entry into the cell plays an important role in the activation of the cyclase by AngII. The inhibition of voltage-operated calcium channels by nicardipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist blocking both low-threshold (T-type) and high-threshold (L-type) Ca2+ channels, did not significantly affect the potentiating effect of AngII. Moreover, the cAMP response to ACTH was insensitive to activation of these Ca2+ channels induced by potassium ions and, even when cytosolic free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) was kept elevated with the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, no stimulation of adenylyl cyclase was observed at concentrations of [Ca2+]c up to 640 nM. In contrast, thapsigargin, an activator of capacitative Ca2+ influx, mimicked the potentiating effect of AngII on ACTH-induced cAMP formation. In agreement with the characteristics of cAMP modulation by Ca2+ in these cells, the presence of type III adenylyl cyclase was observed by immunodetection in bovine glomerulosa cell membranes. In conclusion, these data suggest a tight coupling between the capacitative Ca2+ influx induced upon stimulation by either AngII or thapsigargin and a calcium-sensitive isoform of adenylyl cyclase, probably type III, in bovine glomerulosa cells.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1998

MAP kinase mediates epidermal growth factor- and phorbol ester-induced prostacyclin formation in cardiomyocytes.

We studied the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced prostacyclin (PGI2) production in cultured, spontaneously-beating neonatal ventricular rat cardiomyocytes. To this purpose, the effect of EGF on cardiomyocyte MAPK phosphorylation, MAPK activity and PGI2-production were investigated, and compared to those induced by the PKC activator 4 beta phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Both EGF (0.1 microM) and PMA (0.1 microM) induced the rapid and reversible phosphorylation of 42 KDa-MAPK in ventricular cardiomyocytes, responses that were accompanied by transient increases in MAPK activity (190-230% of control values within 5 min), and two- to three-fold increases in PGI2 formation. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors lavendustin (1 microM) and genistein (10 microM) strongly inhibited EGF-induced MAPK activation and PGI2-formation, but had no effect on PMA-stimulated responses. Experiments with the PKC inhibitor CGP 41251 (1 microM) or with PKC-downregulated cells demonstrated that in contrast to the PMA-stimulated responses, EGF-induced MAPK activation and PGI2-production were PKC-independent processes. Investigating the role of MAPK in EGF- and in PMA-promoted PGI2-formation, we found that the MAPK-inhibitor 6-thioguanine (500 microM), as well as the MAPK-kinase-inhibitor PD98059 (50 microM) abolished both EGF- and PMA-stimulated PGI2-production in cardiomyocytes. Our results indicate that MAPK-activation is at the basis of both growth factor receptor and PKC-dependent eicosanoid-formation in ventricular cardiomyocytes, where EGF-induced prostaglandin-production takes place via a PKC-independent pathway.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits calcium-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene transcription in adrenal glomerulosa cells.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a potent inhibitor of mineralocorticoid synthesis induced in adrenal glomerulosa cells by physiological agonists activating the calcium messenger system, such as angiotensin II (Ang II) and potassium ion (K+). While the role of calcium in mediating Ang II- and K(+)-induced aldosterone production is clearly established, the mechanisms leading to blockade of this steroidogenic response by ANP remain obscure. We have used bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa cells in primary culture, in which an activation of the calcium messenger system was mimicked by a 2-h exposure to an intracellular high-calcium clamp. The effect of ANP was studied on the following parameters of the steroidogenic pathway: 1) pregnenolone and aldosterone production; 2) changes in cytosolic ([Ca2+]c) and mitochondrial ([Ca2+]m) Ca2+ concentrations, as assessed with targeted recombinant aequorin; 3) cholesterol content in outer mitochondrial membranes (OM), contact sites (CS), and inner membranes (IM); 4) steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein import into mitochondria by Western blot analysis; 5) StAR protein synthesis, as determined by [35S]methionine incorporation, immunoprecipitation, and SDS-PAGE; 6) StAR mRNA levels by Northern blot analysis with a StAR cDNA; 7) StAR gene transcription by nuclear run-on analysis. While clamping Ca2+ at 950 nM raised pregnenolone output 3.5-fold and aldosterone output 3-fold, ANP prevented these responses with an IC50 of 1 nM and a maximal effect of 90% inhibition at 10 nM. In contrast, ANP did not affect the [Ca2+]c or [Ca2+]m changes occurring under Ca2+ clamp or Ang II stimulation in glomerulosa cells. The accumulation of cholesterol content in CS (139.7 +/- 10.7% of control) observed under high-Ca2+ clamp was prevented by 10 nM ANP (92.4 +/- 4% of control). Similarly, while Ca2+ induced a marked accumulation of StAR protein in mitochondria of glomerulosa cells to 218 +/- 44% (n = 3) of controls, the presence of ANP led to a blockade of StAR protein mitochondrial import (113.3 +/- 15.0%). This effect was due to a complete suppression of the increased [35S]methionine incorporation into StAR protein that occurred under Ca2+ clamp (94.5 +/- 12.8% vs. 167.5 +/- 17.3%, n = 3). Furthermore, while the high-Ca2+ clamp significantly increased StAR mRNA levels to 188.5 +/- 8.4 of controls (n = 4), ANP completely prevented this response. Nuclear run-on analysis showed that increases in intracellular Ca2+ resulted in transcriptional induction of the StAR gene and that ANP inhibited this process. These results demonstrate that Ca2+ exerts a transcriptional control on StAR protein expression and that ANP appears to elicit its inhibitory effect on aldosterone biosynthesis by acting as a negative physiological regulator of StAR gene expression.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1998

Inhibitory action of mibefradil on calcium signaling and aldosterone synthesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells.

Mibefradil is a new cardiovascular drug with peculiar Ca++ antagonistic properties. The most remarkable feature of mibefradil is its unique relative selectivity for T type calcium channels, a property that has been proposed to explain in part the beneficial pharmacological and clinical profiles of this drug. In adrenal glomerulosa cells, aldosterone biosynthesis and secretion in response to angiotensin II or extracellular potassium is dependent on a sustained influx of Ca++ through T type Ca++ channels. The effect of mibefradil on the steroidogenic function of glomerulosa cells was therefore investigated. Using the patch clamp technique, we found that mibefradil inhibits selectively and in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 3 microM)++ T type currents in bovine glomerulosa cells. In addition to this tonic (voltage independent) inhibition, the drug also induced a shift of the steady-state inactivation curve of these channels toward hyperpolarized voltages, contributing to its efficacy to prevent Ca++ influx into the cell through T type channels. Concomitantly, mibefradil reduced the cytosolic calcium responses to potassium and angiotensin II (as assessed with fluorescent probes), without affecting the capacitative Ca++ influx, and inhibited pregnenolone and aldosterone formation. This inhibition of steroidogenesis was not exclusively due to mibefradil action on voltage-operated Ca++ channels, because this agent also partially reduced steroid synthesis induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone or forskolin, two activators of the cyclic AMP pathway. In conclusion, mibefradil is highly effective in adrenal glomerulosa cells in reducing T type channel activity and aldosterone biosynthesis, two actions that should contribute to the beneficial effect of the drug in the treatment of hypertension.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1997

Submitochondrial distribution of three key steroidogenic proteins (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and cytochrome p450scc and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isomerase enzymes) upon stimulation by intracellular calcium in adrenal glomerulosa cells.

In adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II (Ang II) and potassium stimulate aldosterone synthesis through activation of the calcium messenger system. The rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis is the transfer of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane. This transfer is believed to depend upon the presence of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. The aim of this study was 1) to examine the effect of changes in cytosolic free calcium concentration and of Ang II on intramitochondrial cholesterol and 2) to study the distribution of StAR protein in submitochondrial fractions during activation by Ca2+ and Ang II. To this end, freshly prepared bovine zona glomerulosa cells were submitted to a high cytosolic Ca2+ clamp (600 nM) or stimulated with Ang II (10 nM) for 2 h. Mitochondria were isolated and subfractionated into outer membranes, inner membranes (IM), and contact sites (CS). Stimulation of intact cells with Ca2+ or Ang II led to a marked, cycloheximide-sensitive increase in cholesterol in CS (to 143 +/- 3. 2 and 151.1 +/- 18.1% of controls, respectively) and in IM (to 119 +/- 5.1 and 124.5 +/- 6.5% of controls, respectively). Western blot analysis revealed a cycloheximide-sensitive increase in StAR protein in mitochondrial extracts of Ca2+-clamped glomerulosa cells (to 159 +/- 23% of controls). In submitochondrial fractions, there was a selective accumulation of StAR protein in IM following stimulation with Ca2+ (228 +/- 50%). Similarly, Ang II increased StAR protein in IM, and this effect was prevented by cycloheximide. In contrast, neither Ca2+ nor Ang II had any effect on the submitochondrial distribution of cytochrome P450scc and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isomerase. The intramitochondrial presence of the latter enzyme was further confirmed by immunogold staining in rat adrenal fasciculata cells and by immunoblot analysis in MA-10 mouse testicular Leydig cells. These findings demonstrate that under acute stimulation with Ca2+-mobilizing agents, newly synthesized StAR protein accumulates in IM after transiting through CS. Moreover, our results suggest that the import of StAR protein into IM may be associated with cholesterol transfer, thus promoting precursor supply to the two first enzymes of the steroidogenic cascade within the mitochondria and thereby activating mineralocorticoid synthesis.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1997

[Pathophysiology of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension].

The role of left ventricular hypertrophy as an independent risk factor for subsequent cardio-vascular events is well established, therefore the authors, in this brief review, describe the endocrine function of the heart and the role played by various factors, including hormones, in the development of cardiac remodeling during the course of hypertension. They then outline the present state of our knowledge concerning transmembrane signaling in the cardiomyocyte in response to an activation of specific receptors for vasoactive hormones of the renin-angiotensin II-aldosterone system.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1997

Prostaglandin E2 measurements: their value in the early diagnosis of heterotopic ossification in spinal cord injury patients.

OBJECTIVE: To look for a possible relation between the occurrence of heterotopic ossification (HO) and the modifications of the 24-hour prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) urinary excretion. DESIGN: A 5-year prospective study to determine the 24-hour urinary excretion of PGE2 by radioimmunoassay with specific antisera not cross-reacting with TXA2, TXB2, 15-keto-PGE2 alpha, PGI2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. SETTING: The laboratory of a division of endocrinology and diabetology of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Of 262 acute spinal cord injury patients screened, 44 were eligible for the study. INTERVENTIONS: Serial diagnostic quantitative bone scannings with technetium 99m Tc methylene diphosphate (99mTc-MDP) and therapeutic assessment of radiotherapy and indomethacin. MEAN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hypothetical increase of PGE2 before and during HO formation. RESULTS: Of 44 patients, 8 developed an HO (18.8%) with concomitant marked increase of the PGE2 excretion for as long as the HO had not reached maturity. The results of the radiotherapy were inconclusive. Indomethacin was shown to be efficacious in holding back or slowing down the HO evolution. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of the 24-hour PGE2 urinary excretion appears to be a valuable indicator in the early diagnosis of HO. Indomethacin should be considered as an alternative to other existing therapies.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Role of cAMP and calcium influx in endothelin-1-induced ANP release in rat cardiomyocytes.

The mechanism of endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release was studied in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. These cells expressed a single high-affinity class of ETA receptor (dissociation constant = 54 +/- 18 pM, n = 3), but no ETB receptors. Incubation of cardiomyocytes with ET-1 led to concentration-dependent ANP release and prostacyclin production. ET-1-induced ANP release was affected by neither protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition or downregulation nor by cyclooxygenase inhibition, indicating that ET-1-stimulated ANP secretion is not a PKC-mediated, prostaglandin-dependent process. Furthermore, ET-1 significantly stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production and increased cytosolic calcium concentration in these preparations. Both ET-1-induced calcium influx and ANP release were decreased by the cAMP antagonist Rp-cAMPS, the Rp diastereoisomer of cAMP. Moreover, ET-1-induced ANP secretion was strongly inhibited in the presence of nifedipine as well as in the absence of extracellular calcium. Thus our results suggest that ET-1 stimulates ANP release in ventricular cardiomyocytes via an ETA receptor-mediated pathway involving cAMP formation and activation of a nifedipine-sensitive calcium channel.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1996

Calcium stimulates intramitochondrial cholesterol transfer in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells.

In adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates aldosterone synthesis through rises of cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]c). The rate-limiting step in this process is the transfer of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it is converted to pregnenolone by the P450 side chain cleavage enzyme. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of changes in [Ca2+]c and of Ang II on intramitochondrial cholesterol distribution. Freshly prepared bovine zona glomerulosa cells were submitted to a cytosolic Ca2+ clamp (600 nM) or stimulated with Ang II (10 nM). Mitochondria were isolated and subfractionated into outer membranes (OM), inner membranes (IM), and contact sites (CS). Cholesterol content was determined by the cholesterol oxidase assay. Stimulation of intact cells with Ca2+ led to a marked decrease in cholesterol content of OM (to 54 +/- 24% of controls, n = 5) and to a concomitant increase of cholesterol in CS and IM (to 145 +/- 14%, n = 5). When glomerulosa cells were exposed to Ang II, a marked increase of cholesterol in CS occurred (to 172 +/- 16% of controls, n = 5). No significant changes were detected in OM cholesterol, suggesting a stimulation of cholesterol supply to the mitochondria in response to Ang II. Cycloheximide specifically and significantly reduced Ca2+-activated cholesterol transfer to CS and IM. In conclusion, our data indicate that one of the main functions of the Ca2+ messenger is to increase cholesterol supply to the P450 side chain cleavage enzyme by enhancing endogenous intermembrane cholesterol transfer to a mitochondrial site containing the enzymes responsible for the initial steps of the steroidogenic cascade.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1996

Demonstration of an angiotensin II-induced negative feedback effect on aldosterone synthesis in isolated rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells.

Although both angiotensin II (Ang II) and potassium ion (K+) induce marked elevations of cytosolic free calcium concentration, [Ca2+]c, in adrenal zona glomerulosa cells-an effect which is thought to trigger aldosterone synthesis-Ang II is also known to reduce the sustained [Ca2+]c rise induced by K+. We have examined whether this effect of Ang II on the calcium messenger system is reflected at the level of the final biological response, aldosterone synthesis. In superfused isolated rat glomerulosa cells, K+ (8 mM) induced a sustained, 60-fold increase in aldosterone production. In contrast, the maximal response to Ang II (10 nM) amounted to only 10 times the basal production. When added subsequent to K+ stimulation, Ang II provoked an immediate and dramatic drop in aldosterone synthesis, to levels obtained with Ang II alone. Under conditions of maximal K+ stimulation, this effect depended upon Ang II concentration, while the well-known synergistic effect was observed with submaximal concentrations of both agonists. The inhibitory effect of Ang II could be reproduced with dioctanoylglycerol, a selective activator of protein kinase C. By contrast, the aldosterone response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was not affected by Ang II. At submaximal concentrations of ACTH, the steroidogenic effect of Ang II was even additive to that of ACTH. Thus, we have shown that, under conditions of maximal stimulation, Ang II exerts a profound inhibition of steroidogenesis in K(+)-stimulated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. This counter-regulatory mechanism may ensure adequate levels of aldosterone production in vivo.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1996

Sources and sites of action of calcium in the regulation of aldosterone biosynthesis.

The role of free calcium as a crucial intracellular messenger in the stimulation of aldosterone biosynthesis by various agonists is well established. Using electropermeabilized or Ca(2+)-clamped adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells, we have previously shown that Ca2+ entry into the mitochondrial matrix is required for the activation of steroidogenesis. We now describe the use of various strategies to answer the following questions: 1. Which pathway does Ca2+ follow before triggering steroidogenesis? 2. Which step of steroidogenesis is under the control of Ca2+? The first approach combined the patch-clamp method, in the perforated patch configuration, with microfluorimetry of Ca2+; in the second approach, ZG cells were transiently transfected with a chimeric cDNA encoding for the calcium-sensitive photoprotein aequorin linked to a mitochondrial targeting presequence; in a third approach, ZG mitochondria were isolated and fractionated into outer membranes, contact sites and inner membranes and the effect of prior exposure of the ZG cells to a physiologically elevated intracellular calcium concentration or to angiotensin II (Ang II) on cholesterol content was then examined in those three mitochondrial fractions. The results of these combined approaches allow us to propose the following scheme: The source of calcium which is predominantly responsible for mediating the steroidogenic effect of potassium appears to be funneled through the T-type calcium channels to close proximity of the mitochondria. This signal, as well as that triggered by Ang II, appears to be relayed within the mitochondrial matrix. This rise of mitochondrial calcium is associated with a transfer of free cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, via the contact sites. Thus the main role of the calcium messenger is to promote intramitochondrial cholesterol transfer and supply to the P450scc enzyme.

Aequorin↗
PubMed1996

Stimulation of atrial natriuretic peptide release by neurokinins in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

The effect of substance P (SP) on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release was studied in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Incubation of cells with SP led to a marked increase in ANP secretion, a response accompanied by increases in alpha-type protein kinase C (PKC) in the membranous cell fraction and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) formation and a small increase in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production. A role for PKC in SP-induced 6-keto-PGF1 alpha formation and ANP release was apparent insofar as the responses were suppressed by PKC inhibitors and in PKC-downregulated cells. Furthermore, SP-induced 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production was strongly correlated with SP-induced ANP secretion (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001, n = 27), suggesting a role for prostaglandins in SP-mediated ANP release. Supporting this, indomethacin abolished SP-induced ANP release, whereas PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and prostacyclin (PGI2) promoted ANP secretion in this system. Both the profile of SP-induced cAMP production and results obtained with prostaglandin antagonists suggest that a prostanoid FP receptor is at the basis of this response. Finally, both neurokinins A and B induced similar ANP responses, whereas cultured cells were found to contain mRNA transcripts coding for both neurokinin NK1 and NK3 receptor subtypes. Overall, these results suggest that SP induces ANP secretion in neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes through a PKC- and prostaglandin-dependent signaling pathway.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1996

Distinct functions of T- and L-type calcium channels during activation of bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells.

Calcium influx into adrenal glomerulosa cells is a key event during the stimulation of aldosterone secretion by physiological increases in extracellular potassium concentrations. Two types of voltage-operated calcium channels, T- and L-types, are present on bovine glomerulosa cells, but their respective functions are not yet clearly defined. Using the patch-clamp method in the perforated patch configuration combined with microfluorimetry of cytosolic calcium, we demonstrate that L-type channels are exclusively responsible for the sustained elevation of cytosolic calcium observed upon stimulation with extracellular potassium, even at low, physiological concentrations of this agonist. In contrast, aldosterone secretion appears closely related to T-type channel activity. Moreover, when the activity of each channel type is selectively modulated by pharmacological agents, such as dihydropyridines or zonisamide, the cytosolic calcium response can be clearly dissociated from the steroidogenic response. Similarly, modulation of T channel activation by protein kinase C results in a parallel inhibition of aldosterone secretion, without any effect on the levels of cytosolic free calcium. This direct functional link between T-type calcium channel activity and steroidogenesis suggests a model in which calcium entering the cell through these channels bypasses the cytosol to activate intramitochondrial steps of aldosterone biosynthesis.

Aldosterone↗