6-thioguanosine-5--diphosphate and mastoparan

In addition to a bicarbonate-regulated soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), mammalian spermatozoa, like somatic cells, appear to contain receptor/G protein-regulated AC activity that contributes to the modulation of specialized cell processes. This study provides evidence that agents, known to influence somatic membrane-associated AC (mAC) but apparently not germ cell sAC, can modulate cAMP production and functional state in mouse spermatozoa. Specifically, forskolin significantly enhanced cAMP production and capacitation, while inclusion of 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine significantly blocked these responses. Furthermore, GTPgammaS and NaF stimulated cAMP, but GDPbetaS and mastoparan had no apparent effect, consistent with recent evidence that G(s), but not G(i), contributes to AC/cAMP regulation in uncapacitated cells. In addition, intact mouse spermatozoa were screened for all known mAC isoforms by immunolocalization, using commercially available specific antibodies. The most abundant isoforms appeared to be AC2, AC3, and AC8, each with distinct distributions in the acrosomal and flagellar regions; AC1 and AC4 also appeared to be present, although less abundantly, in the midpiece and acrosomal cap regions, respectively. Intriguingly, however, Western blotting revealed that the major immunoreactive proteins in mouse sperm lysates were considerably smaller (approximately 50-60 kDa) than their somatic cell counterparts, suggesting that mature spermatozoa contain multiple mACs which may function in a shortened form. Of particular interest were AC3 and AC8, located in the same regions as, and hence possibly directly associated with, specific cell surface receptors and G proteins that are able to regulate the spermatozoon's acquisition and maintenance of fertilizing ability via changes in AC/cAMP.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Animals; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Dideoxyadenosine; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Guanosine Diphosphate; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Isoenzymes; Male; Mice; Peptides; Receptors, Cell Surface; Signal Transduction; Sodium Fluoride; Sperm Capacitation; Spermatozoa; Thionucleotides; Wasp Venoms

Studies have shown that mastoparan and other amphiphilic peptides induce exocytosis of hormones from anterior pituitary cells. We have studied the effect of mastoparan on the secretion of prolactin from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells and on the concomitant functional status of signal-transducing pathways in lactotroph-enriched cell cultures. Mastoparan stimulation of prolactin secretion was dose-dependent, time-dependent, reversible and required the presence of calcium. Pretreatment of pituitary cell cultures with cholera and pertussis toxin had no effect on the secretory response, whereas encapsulation of guanosine 5-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP-beta-S) by reversible electropermeabilization inhibited mastoparan-stimulated secretion. Incubation of mastoparan with myo-[3H]inositol-labelled lactotroph-enriched anterior pituitary cell cultures resulted in increased formation of inositol phosphates compared with control cells, and encapsulation of GDP-beta-S blocked mastoparan-induced inositol lipid hydrolysis. Mastoparan caused translocation of protein kinase C activity from a soluble to a membrane-attached form. Mastoparan was able to increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in Fura-2-loaded individual lactotrophs. Omission of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium did not change the Ca2+ response in lactotrophs when stimulated with mastoparan. On the basis of these results it is concluded that mastoparan-induced release of prolactin is preceded by activation of the inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate/diacylglycerol pathway with resulting translocation of protein kinase activity and increment in intracellular Ca2+. However, other signal-transducing pathways may be involved in the secretory process.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Cells, Cultured; Cholera Toxin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guanosine Diphosphate; Inositol Phosphates; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Kinetics; Peptides; Pertussis Toxin; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Prolactin; Protein Kinase C; Rats; Thionucleotides; Virulence Factors, Bordetella; Wasp Venoms