cytochalasin-b and Adenoma

Using digitonin-permeabilized GH3 cells, we investigated both the release of prolactin (PRL) and changes in the cytoskeleton. We determined that permeabilized GH3 cells released PRL in a dose-dependent manner upon addition of micromolar Ca(2+). Phalloidin, a filamentous actin (F-actin) stabilizing agent, inhibited both Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent PRL release, whereas cytochalasin B, a destabilizing agent, had almost no effect on the release. Observation with a confocal laser scanning microscope revealed that F-actin existed mainly in the cortical region in the quiescent state. Increased cytosolic Ca(2+) induced a change in F-actin distribution: F-actin in the cortical region decreased, whereas F-actin inside the cells increased. This change in F-actin distribution was not observed when phalloidin was added. Addition of cytochalasin B induced patchy F-actin spots, but the pattern of the changes of F-actin distribution did not change. The time course of change in F-actin distribution showed that the F-actin network in the cortical region was reduced within 1 min, and Ca(2+)-dependent release of PRL continued for up to 20 min. These results suggest that the F-actin network near the membrane acts as a barrier to exocytosis and that Ca(2+) directly controls the cytoskeletal changes.

Topics: Actin Cytoskeleton; Actins; Adenoma; Animals; Calcium; Cytochalasin B; Cytoskeleton; Exocytosis; Microscopy, Confocal; Phalloidine; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin; Rats; Stimulation, Chemical; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Cultured cells in vitro from estrogen-induced rat prolactin-secreting adenomas (prolactinomas) were examined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy for the distribution of cytoskeletal proteins and alterations of cytoskeleton after treatment with bromocriptine, colchicine and cytochalasin B (CB). After 8 days in culture, prolactinoma cells were well expanded and developed cytoplasmic processes were seen. The cytoplasmic microtubules were observed as fine reticular networks radiating from perinuclear portions toward the cell periphery when decorated with an antibody against tubulin. On the other hand, the actin filaments showed diffuse and spotty distribution when detected with an anti-actin antibody. Contaminated fibroblasts showed a reticular distribution of microtubules and a parallel array of actin cables which corresponds to "stress fibers" throughout the cytoplasm. After treatment with bromocriptine, the reticular distribution of microtubules in prolactinoma cells changed into a coarse and sparse pattern, which was identical with the changes in the distribution of tubulin after treatment with colchicine. On the other hand, distribution of actin was not affected by bromocriptine. Bromocriptine treatment did not alter the distribution of microtubules and actin filaments in fibroblasts, whereas colchicine changed the distribution of microtubules in both prolactinoma cells and fibroblasts. CB treatment changed the localization of actin filaments in both kinds of cells. These in vitro studies indicated bromocriptine would selectively affect the cytoplasmic microtubular system of prolactinoma cells.

Topics: Actins; Adenoma; Animals; Bromocriptine; Cells, Cultured; Colchicine; Cytochalasin B; Estradiol; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Microtubule Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Tubulin

We measured the permeability of normal, adenomatous, colitic and malignant large bowel epithelial cells by immersing fragments of large bowel mucosa in radiolabelled inulin and comparing autoradiograph grain density inside and outside cells after incubation. All the carcinomas studied showed extensive uptake of inulin within 5 min, while normal, adenomatous and colitic epithelial cells completely excluded inulin for 30 min. We found no difference in the proportion of epithelial cells incorporating uridine into RNA in carcinomatous and normal mucosa, and this suggests that the increased inulin permeability of carcinoma cell membranes was not due to leakage into non-viable cells. Experiments with cytochalasin B also showed that increased pinocytosis by carcinoma cells could not account for the difference. The relative impermeability of adenomatous and colitic cells suggests that increased permeability is not caused by increased proliferation. The consistent finding of increased permeability in the plasma membranes of carcinoma cells suggests that this may be more than an epiphenomenon of malignancy. It also suggests that measurement of cell permeability may have a role in distinguishing malignant from benign epithelial neoplasms.

Topics: Adenoma; Cell Membrane Permeability; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Cytochalasin B; Epithelium; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Mucosa; Inulin; Pinocytosis; Rectal Neoplasms