Decreased activity and impaired induction of nitric oxide synthase by lipopolysaccharides in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The effect of diabetes was determined on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in rat heart and liver. The diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) and NOS activity was determined after 1 or 12 weeks post-STZ injection. In both tissues, the majority of NOS activity was associated with endothelial constitutive calcium-sensitive NOS (ecNOS) isoform and found in the particulate (100,000xg pellet) fraction in young rats.

Differential nature of cross-talk among three G-coupled receptors regulating adenylyl cyclase in rat cardiomyocytes chronically exposed to receptor agonists.

Chronic exposure of cells to cognate agonists has been established to cause homologous desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors. In this work, we show that exposure of adult rat cardiomyocytes to isoproterenol (ISO) for 24 h led to the desensitization of beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) coupled adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, which was associated with an increased inhibition of AC by M2-muscarinic receptor (MR) agonist, carbachol (Cch), and a decreased inhibition of AC by A1-adenosine receptor (AdR) agonist, N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA). Chronic exposure of cells to Cch caused the desensitization of M2-MR-coupled AC, decreased the inhibitory action of R-PIA on AC and increased ISO-stimulated AC, while chronic exposure to R-PIA caused the desensitization of A1-AdR-coupled AC and modestly increased ISO-stimulated AC without any significant effect on Cch inhibition of the enzyme.

Protein phosphorylation in rat cardiac microsomes: effects of inhibitors of protein kinase A and of phosphatases.

The phosphorylation of rat cardiac microsomal proteins was investigated with special attention to the effects of okadaic acid (an inhibitor of protein phosphatases), inhibitor 2 of protein phosphatase 1 and inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A). The results showed that okadaic acid (5 microM) modestly but reproducibly augmented the protein kinase A-catalyzed phospholamban (PLN) phosphorylation, although exerted little effect on the calcium/calmodulin kinase-catalyzed PLN phosphorylation. Microsomes contained three other substrates (M(r) 23, 19 and 17 kDa) that were phosphorylated by protein kinase A but not by calcium/calmodulin kinase.

Phosphorylation of inhibitory subunit of troponin and phospholamban in rat cardiomyocytes: modulation by exposure of cardiomyocytes to hydroxyl radicals and sulfhydryl group reagents.

Myocytes were isolated from rat heart ventricles and then incubated with [32P]-sodium phosphate to label intracellular ATP stores. Incubations of the [32P]-labelled cardiomyocytes with a beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (10 microM) and with a plant diterpene forskolin (100 microM) which directly stimulates adenylyl cyclase increased the phosphorylation of an inhibitory subunit of troponin (TN-I) and phospholamban (PLN). Brief exposure (1 min) of labelled myocytes to the hydroxyl radical generating system (H2O2 plus FeCl2) decreased markedly the stimulatory action of isoproterenol and forskolin on TN-I and PLN phosphorylation.

Altered responsiveness of guanylyl cyclase to nitric oxide following treatment of cardiomyocytes with S-nitroso-D,L-acetylpenicillamine and sodium nitroprusside.

The stimulation of cardiomyocyte guanylyl cyclase by nitric oxide (NO)-donor drugs was examined before and after exposure of these cells to the NO-donor drugs: S-nitroso-d,l-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Short- (2-hr) and long-term (24-hr) exposure attenuated the maximal stimulation of GC by either SNAP or SNP by up to 80% ("desensitization"). However this "desensitization" of the myocardial GC was atypical in nature in that the reduction in maximal NO-stimulated GC activity was associated with an increase in the affinity of the GC towards either NO-donor, a finding not as yet reported.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-pump dysfunction in rat cardiomyocytes briefly exposed to hydroxyl radicals.

The effects of hydroxyl radical exposure of intact cardiomyocytes on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function were investigated. For this purpose, isolated rat heart myocytes were exposed briefly (1 min) to the hydroxyl radical generating system (H2O2/FeCl2 or FeSO4) or 5-5'-dithiobis-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB), a sulfhydryl oxidizing reagent, and following this a SR-enriched fraction was isolated. Marked decreases in the SR calcium uptake activities were seen in the myocytes exposed to either the hydroxyl radical-generating system or DTNB.

Enhanced forebrain nitric oxide synthase activity in epileptic fowl.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was examined in forebrain, cerebellum and optic lobes of adult domestic fowl, having a hereditary primary generalized convulsive disorder. NOS was approximately 2-fold higher in only the forebrain of adult epileptic fowl compared to non-epileptic (carrier) hatchmates. A significant increase in NOS was also evident in forebrains of 1-day-old epileptic chicks.

Alterations in inotropy, nitric oxide and cyclic GMP synthesis, protein phosphorylation and ADP-ribosylation in the endotoxin-treated rat myocardium and cardiomyocytes.

To evaluate the effects of the in vivo endotoxin treatment of the rat on (1) the contractile responses in the subsequently isolated papillary muscle to adrenergic and cholinergic agonists and (2) the biochemical parameters (cyclic GMP, nitric oxide synthesis, protein phosphorylation and ADP-ribosyslation) in the subsequently isolated cardiomyocytes. Following the in vivo endotoxin treatment (4 mg/kg i.p.

Expressed alpha 1-adrenoceptors in adult rat brown adipocytes are primarily of alpha 1A subtype.

The main objective of this study was to characterize the alpha 1-adrenoceptors expressed in adult rat brown adipocytes. For this purpose, membrane fractions were prepared from brown adipose tissue as well as from isolated brown adipocytes. The following are major findings: (i) BAT membranes were considerably enriched in alpha 1-adrenoceptors (specific [3H]prazosin binding, Bmax, 79.

Regulation of phospholamban and troponin-I phosphorylation in the intact rat cardiomyocytes by adrenergic and cholinergic stimuli: roles of cyclic nucleotides, calcium, protein kinases and phosphatases and depolarization.

Protein phosphorylation was investigated in [32P]-labeled cardiomyocytes isolated from adult rat heart ventricles. The beta-adrenergic stimulation (by isoproterenol, ISO) increased the phosphorylation of inhibitory subunit of troponin (TN-I), C-protein and phospholamban (PLN). Such stimulation was largely mediated by increased adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, increased myoplasmic cyclic AMP and increased cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase (A-kinase)-catalyzed phosphorylation of these proteins in view of the following observations: (a) dibutyryl-and bromo-derivatives of cyclic AMP mimicked the stimulatory effect of ISO on protein phosphorylation while (b) Rp-cyclic AMP was found to attenuate ISO-dependent stimulation.

M1 muscarinic receptors heterologously expressed in cardiac myocytes mediate Ras-dependent changes in gene expression.

Stimulation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes induces hypertrophic changes including activation of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) gene. This receptor couples to Gq to activate phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C, which have been implicated as mediators of the hypertrophic response. To directly determine whether receptor coupling to Gq/PLC is sufficient to induce ANF expression, we expressed wild-type and chimeric muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChRs) with altered G-protein coupling properties in cardiac myocytes and examined their ability to activate an ANF promoter/luciferase reporter gene.

Vasopressin (V1) receptor characteristics in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

We report saturable, high-affinity, specific, reversible binding sites for both [3H]arginine vasopressin ([3H]AVP) and d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-[3H]AVP, a V1-selective antagonist, in cultured smooth muscle cells obtained from rat aorta (RA) and rat mesenteric artery (RMA). Specific binding of [3H]AVP had the following characteristics in adherent monolayers of RA and RMA smooth muscle cells: dissociation constant (KD) = 1.42 and 1.

Divalent cation-sensitive antagonist binding to heart muscarinic receptors.

1. The binding of (-) [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB), a potent muscarinic antagonist, to cardiac muscarinic receptors was examined in washed particles and microsomes isolated from rat heart atria. 2.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the sino-atrial node and right atrium of bovine heart.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were identified by the specific binding of [H](-)quinuclidinylbenzilate [( 3H](-)QNB) and [3H]oxotremorine-M [( 3H]Oxo-M), to membranes isolated from the sino-atrial (SA) node and right atrium (RA) of bovine heart. The density of [3H](-)QNB binding sites was greater in the SA node compared to the RA. Specific [3H](-)QNB binding was saturable and occurred to a single population of binding sites in both regions.

Effects of sulfhydryl agents, trifluoperazine, phosphatase inhibitors and tryptic proteolysis on calcineurin isolated from bovine cerebral cortex.

Calcineurin was discovered as an inhibitor of calmodulin stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and its ability to act as a calmodulin binding protein largely explains its inhibitory action on calmodulin regulated enzymes. Recent studies establish calcineurin as the enzyme protein phosphatase whose activity is regulated by calmodulin and a variety of divalent metals. In this work, we have investigated the effects of several agents including sulfhydryl agents, trifluoperazine (a calmodulin antagonist), PPi, NaF and orthovanadate and of tryptic proteolysis on the calcineurin inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (called inhibitory activity) and on protein phosphatase activity.

Divalent cation effects on calcineurin phosphatase: differential involvement of hydrophobic and metal binding domains in the regulation of the enzyme activity.

The effects of divalent metals, metal chelators (EDTA, EGTA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate were investigated on the phosphatase activity of isolated bovine brain calcineurin assayed in the absence (called intrinsic) and presence of calmodulin. Intrinsic phosphatase was increased by Mn2+, was unaffected by Mg2+, Ca2+, and Ba2+, and was markedly inhibited by Ni2+, Fe2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+. When assayed in the presence of calmodulin, many divalent metals (Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+), besides Mn2+, increased modestly the phosphatase activity at low concentrations (10-100 microM) and inhibited it markedly at high concentrations.

Pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins in the sino-atrial node and right atrium of bovine heart.

Three apparently distinct pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive substrates, with Mrs of 39, 40 and 41 kDa, were identified in membranes prepared from the sino-atrial (SA) node and right atrium of bovine heart. Based on their biochemical characterization, the effects of guanine nucleotides/MgCl2 on their PTX-catalyzed [32P]ADP ribosylation, and the PTX-induced decrease in radiolabelled agonist high-affinity binding to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors present in these membranes, we tentatively identify these proteins as the alpha-subunits of the G0 and Gi subtypes of G-proteins. These results indicate that PTX alters the G-protein modulation of SA nodal and atrial muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by disrupting at least one of a group of PTX-sensitive G-proteins present in these tissues.

MgCl2-sensitive and Gpp(NH)p-sensitive antagonist binding states of rat heart muscarinic receptors: preferential detection at ambient temperature assay and location in two subcellular fractions.

Some novel observations dealing with antagonist binding to cardiac particulate muscarinic receptors are described. Gpp(NH)p increased (2-3 fold) the specific binding of [3H]-QNB or [3H]-NMS, both potent muscarinic antagonists, to washed particles (WP), but not microsomes (MIC), when the binding was conducted at 30 degrees C. Magnesium, on the other hand, increased (2-3 fold) the binding of these antagonists to MIC, but not to WP, under the same condition.

Calcium antagonizes the magnesium-induced high affinity state of the hepatic vasopressin receptor for the agonist interaction.

1. The present study describes the role of Ca2+ in the regulation of the hepatic vasopressin V1 receptor. With low concentrations of Ca2+, there was a small increase in [3H]-arginine vasopressin [( 3H]-AVP) binding, but above 10 mM, Ca2+ decreased the binding of this agonist.

Muscarinic cholinergic receptor mediated inhibitory transduction of adenylate cyclase activity in subcellular fractions from rat heart: improved detection in sodium phosphate buffer.

Cholinergic inhibition of myocardial adenylate cyclase activity in cell-free fractions has been known for many years, although the reported degrees of inhibition have been rather modest (20-30%), notably in rat heart fractions. The present study conducted with rat heart subcellular fractions document following major findings: (1) Myocardial adenylate cyclase activity and notably its cholinergic inhibition in cell-free fractions are notoriously labile to storage at 4 degrees C whereas its stimulation by beta adrenergic receptor agonists or forskolin are reasonably well preserved during storage. (2) Among four buffers (Tris, glycylglycine, imidazole and sodium phosphate) examined, sodium phosphate buffer afforded the best preservation of cholinergic inhibitory response of adenylate cyclase.

Two distinct, divalent cation-sensitive, antagonist binding states of heart muscarinic receptors: differential modulation by guanine nucleotide.

1. The binding of [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB), a muscarinic antagonist, to cardiac muscarinic receptors was investigated in two subcellular fractions (washed particles and microsomes) isolated from rat heart atria and ventricles. 2.

Hepatic vasopressin receptor: differential effects of divalent cations, guanine nucleotides, and N-ethylmaleimide on agonist and antagonist interactions with the V1 subtype receptor.

Previously, we reported that magnesium (Mg2+) enhanced the binding affinity of arginine vasopressin [( 3H]AVP) to a single class of sites in rat liver microsomes. In the present study we have examined the effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides on the binding characteristics of both the nonselective agonist and the V1 receptor-selective antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-[3H]AVP, to microsomal and plasma membrane fractions of rat liver. At a subsaturating concentration (100 pM) of [3H]AVP, divalent cations increased specific binding in a concentration-dependent manner with the following rank order of potency: Co2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Mg2+ greater than Ca2+ = control.

Characterization of a specific, high affinity [3H]arginine8 vasopressin-binding site on liver microsomes from different strains of rat and the role of magnesium.

A single class of high affinity, low capacity, specific binding sites for [3H]arginine8 vasopressin (AVP) has been characterized in a plasma membrane-enriched microsomal fraction of the rat liver. Specific binding was saturable, linear with protein concentration, reversible, and 40-65% of the total binding. Binding at 25 C achieved a plateau after 30 min of incubation, whereas at 4 C, equilibrium was reached more slowly, and the level of binding was reduced.

Interaction amongst calcineurin subunits. Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of subunit B on calmodulin stimulation of subunit A phosphatase activity depend on Mn2+ exposure of the holoenzyme prior to its dissociation by urea.

Calcineurin was dissociated into subunits A and B by 6 M urea in the presence (method A) and absence (method B) of MnCl2 and dissociated subunits were isolated by gel filtration in urea in the absence (method B) or presence (method A) of MnCl2. Phosphatase activity was associated with the A subunit isolated by either method. The phosphatase activity (nmol/mg) of subunit A isolated by method A was greater (2-5-fold) than by method B.

Resolution of bovine brain calcineurin subunits: stimulatory effect of subunit B on subunit A phosphatase activity.

Calcineurin was dissociated into subunits A and B by SDS and the dissociated subunits were separated by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography in SDS. The phosphatase activity was associated with the A subunit and was detected only in the presence of MnCl2 of the various divalent cations tested. The Mn2+-dependent phosphatase of A subunit was stimulated (4-5-fold) by calmodulin.