cosyntropin and sapropterin

Y-1 adrenal cortical tumor cells in culture, which contain substantial amounts of tetrahydrobiopterin [6R-(L-erythro-1',2'-dihydroxypropyl)5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin] (BH4) and GTP cyclohydrolase (GTP-CH), were used to study the regulation of BH4 biosynthesis by ACTH and cAMP. ACTH produced a dose-dependent increase in steroidogenesis, BH4 levels and GTP-CH activity. Maximal stimulation of BH4 biosynthesis occurred at the same concentration of ACTH that caused maximal stimulation of steroidogenesis. ACTH-(1-24) was more potent than ACTH-(1-39). The stimulation of BH4 biosynthesis by ACTH was dependent on cell density, being greater at lower cell densities, but was independent of time in culture. The lack of stimulation by ACTH at higher cell densities was due to an increase in the specific activity of GTP-CH in the control cells as density increased. This increase may be due in part to the increased release of steroids, since exogenous steroids added to low density cultures also resulted in an increase in the specific activity of the enzyme. Addition of steroids had no effect on ACTH-dependent stimulation of BH4 biosynthesis at low cell densities. (Bu)2cAMP, 8-bromo-cAMP, and forskolin all produced time- and dose-dependent increases in BH4 levels, GTP-CH activity, and steroidogenesis. Maximum increases in GTP-CH and BH4 occurred at concentrations similar to those required for maximal stimulation of steroidogenesis. In the Kin-8 mutant of Y-1 cells, which has a type 1 cAMP-dependent protein kinase with an altered regulatory subunit, ACTH was unable to increase BH4 levels or GTP-CH activity at a concentration that produced maximal stimulation of BH4 and steroid biosynthesis in the parent Y-1 line. These studies indicate that Y-1 cells in culture are useful for studying the regulation of BH4 biosynthesis in the adrenal cortex.

Topics: 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Biopterins; Bucladesine; Cell Line; Colforsin; Cosyntropin; Cyclic AMP; GTP Cyclohydrolase; Hydroxyprogesterones; Mice; Mutation; Progesterone; Pteridines

The regulation of GTP-cyclohydrolase (GTP-CH) activity and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels in the adrenal cortex were studied in intact and hypophysectomized rats. Treatment with a single dose of reserpine (5 mg/kg) or insulin-induced hypoglycemia (4 h) elevated adrenocortical BH4 3-fold by 10 h; BH4 levels remained elevated after 24 h and returned to control levels by 48-72 h. GTP-CH was significantly increased 24 h after hypoglycemic shock, and the increased enzyme activity preceded the changes in BH4 levels after reserpine treatment. Two and a half hours of stress by immobilization also increased GTP-CH activity and BH4 levels in the adrenal cortex. The activities of sepiapterin reductase and dihydrofolate reductase, putative enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway from GTP to BH4, were not increased by reserpine. Both reserpine and insulin increased the apparent maximum velocity for GTP, with no increase in the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate, further suggesting that the experimental treatments induce the synthesis of GTP-CH. Hypophysectomy completely blocked the reserpine-dependent increase in both cortical GTP-CH activity and BH4 content. The administration of purified porcine ACTH to intact and hypophysectomized rats elevated adrenocortical GTP-CH activity and cofactor levels. Synthetic ACTH-(1-24) also enhanced the enzyme activity and BH4 levels in the adrenal cortex. Thus, pituitary control of adrenal cortical GTP-CH synthesis and biopterin levels appears to be mediated through the secretion of ACTH. The changes in enzyme activity and cofactor levels after activation of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis or ACTH administration suggest that BH4, a cofactor for certain monooxygenases, has some function, as yet unknown, in the adaptive changes of the adrenal cortex in response to stress.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Biopterins; Cosyntropin; Cycloheximide; Guanylate Cyclase; Hypophysectomy; Insulin; Kinetics; Male; Pteridines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reserpine; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase