Fingolimod Modulates the Gene Expression of Proteins Engaged in Inflammation and Amyloid-Beta Metabolism and Improves Exploratory and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Obese Mice.

Obesity is considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which has become one of the most important health problems, and is also linked with memory and executive function decline. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid that regulates cell death/survival and the inflammatory response via its specific receptors (S1PRs). Since the role of S1P and S1PRs in obesity is rather obscure, we examined the effect of fingolimod (an S1PR modulator) on the expression profile of genes encoding S1PRs, sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1), proteins engaged in amyloid-beta (Aß) generation (ADAM10, BACE1, PSEN2), GSK3ß, proapoptotic Bax, and proinflammatory cytokines in the cortex and hippocampus of obese/prediabetic mouse brains. In addition, we observed behavioral changes. Our results revealed significantly elevated mRNA levels of Bace1, Psen2, Gsk3b, Sphk1, Bax, and proinflammatory cytokines, which were accompanied by downregulation of S1pr1 and sirtuin 1 in obese mice. Moreover, locomotor activity, spatially guided exploratory behavior, and object recognition were impaired. Simultaneously, fingolimod reversed alterations in the expressions of the cytokines, Bace1, Psen2, and Gsk3b that occurred in the brain, elevated S1pr3 mRNA levels, restored normal cognition-related behavior patterns, and exerted anxiolytic effects. The improvement in episodic and recognition memory observed in this animal model of obesity may suggest a beneficial effect of fingolimod on central nervous system function.

Alpha-synuclein alters differently gene expression of Sirts, PARPs and other stress response proteins: implications for neurodegenerative disorders.

Alpha-synuclein (ASN) is a presynaptic protein that can easily change its conformation under different types of stress. It's assumed that ASN plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. However, the molecular mechanism of ASN toxicity has not been elucidated. This study focused on the role of extracellular ASN (eASN) in regulation of transcription of sirtuins (Sirts) and DNA-bound poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) - proteins crucial for cells' survival/death. Our results indicate that eASN enhanced the free radicals level, decreased mitochondria membrane potential, cells viability and activated cells' death. Concomitantly eASN activated expression of antioxidative proteins (Sod2, Gpx4, Gadd45b) and DNA-bound Parp2 and Parp3. Moreover, eASN upregulated expression of Sirt3 and Sirt5, but downregulated of Sirt1, which plays an important role in cell metabolism including Aß precursor protein (APP) processing. eASN downregulated gene expression of APP alpha secretase (Adam10) and metalloproteinases Mmp2, Mmp10 but upregulated Mmp11. Additionally, expression and activity of pro-survival sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1), Akt kinase and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 were inhibited. Moreover, higher expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and enhancement of apoptotic cells' death were observed. Summarizing, eASN significantly modulates transcription of Sirts and enzymes involved in APP/Aß metabolism and through these mechanisms eASN toxicity may be enhanced. The inhibition of Sphk1 and Akt by eASN may lead to disturbances of survival pathways. These results suggest that eASN through alteration of transcription and by inhibition of pro-survival kinases may play important pathogenic role in neurodegenerative disorders.

Sirtuins and their interactions with transcription factors and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases.

Sirtuins (SIRT1 to -7) are unique histone deacetylases (HDACs) whose activity depends on NAD+, thus making them capable of sensing the cellular metabolic status. Sirtuins orchestrate the stress response and damage repair, and are able to modulate the course of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite their classification as HDACs, sirtuins deacetylate a vast number of targets in many cellular compartments, and some display additional enzymatic activities including mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation. SIRTs interact with multiple signalling proteins, transcription factors and enzymes including p53, FOXOs (forkhead box subgroup O), PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), NF-B, and DNA-PK (DNA-dependent protein kinase). Sirtuins also interact extensively with the family of poly(ADP- ribose) polymerases (PARPs), a crucial and widespread class of NAD+-consuming post-translational protein modifiers. PARPs share a significant number of roles with sirtuins: these enzymes modulate DNA repair, gene expression, and the activities of signalling pathways. We focus on the expanding cross-talk between sirtuins, transcription factors and PARPs, which is a highly promising therapeutic target in a number of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including the most devastating: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

t-Butyl hydroperoxide and oxidized low density lipoprotein enhance phospholipid hydrolysis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated retinal pericytes.

Free radicals induced by organic peroxides or oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. In investigating this process, and the concomitant inflammatory response, the role of pericytes, cells supporting the endothelial ones in blood vessels, has received little attention. In this study we tested the hypothesis that tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) and oxLDL, administered in sublethal doses to the culture medium of retinal pericytes, function as prooxidant signals to increase the stimulation of the peroxidation process induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Confluent cell monolayers were exposed to t-BuOOH (25-400 microM), native LDL or oxLDL (3.4-340 nmol hydroperoxides/mg protein, 1-100 micro). LPS (1 microg/ml), t-BuOOH (200 microM), and oxLDL (100 microM), but not native LDL, incubated for 24 h with cells, markedly increased lipid peroxidation, cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activity and arachidonic acid (AA) release in a time- and dose-dependent manner. AACOCF(3), a potent cPLA2 inhibitor, and the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol strongly inhibited the prooxidant-stimulated AA release. Long-term exposure to maximal concentrations of t-BuOOH (400 microM) or oxLDL (100 microM) had a sharp cytotoxic effect on the cells, described by morphological and biochemical indices. The presence of t-BuOOH or oxLDL at the same time, synergistically increased phospholipid hydrolysis induced by LPS alone. 400 microM t-BuOOH or 100 microM oxLDL had no significant effect on the stimulation of an apoptosis process estimated by DNA laddering and light and electron microscopy. The results indicate that (i) pericytes may be the target of extensive oxidative damage; (ii) activation of cPLA2 mediates AA liberation; (iii) as long-term regulatory signals, organic peroxide and specific constituents of oxLDL increase the pericyte ability to degrade membrane phospholipids mediated by LPS which was used, in the present study, to simulate in vitro an inflammatory burst in the retinal capillaries.

Amyloid beta peptide 25-35 modulates hydrolysis of phosphoinositides by membrane phospholipase(s) C of adult brain cortex.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) is a key enzyme in signal transduction. A subset of muscarinic cholinergic receptors are linked to G-proteins that activate phospholipase C. Cholinergic pathways are important in learning and memory, and deficits in cholinergic transmission have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is also associated with increased beta-amyloid plaques. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of the amyloid beta (A beta) synthetic peptide homologous to residue 25-35 of A beta in nonaggregated and aggregated forms on the degradation of inositol phospholipids. Synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) and the cytosolic fraction from rat brain cortex served as a source of enzymes. The studies were carried out with radioactive inositol phospholipids in the presence of endogenous and 2 mM CaCl2. The enzyme(s) activity was evaluated by determination of the product formation of [3H]inositol-1-phosphate (IP1) or [3H]inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). Results show that the PI-PLC activity was significantly higher in cytosol compared to SPM, and this enzyme was stimulated by 2 mM CaCl2, but not by GTPgammaS or carbachol, a cholinergic receptor agonist. Activity of the SPM-bound PIP2-PLC was similar to that in cytosol and was not activated by 2 mM CaCl2. The SPM PIP2-PLC was significantly stimulated by GTPgammaS together with the cholinergic agonist, carbachol. Fresh-water-soluble A beta 25-35 activated PI-PLC in SPM markedly by two- to threefold, but this effect was absent in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2. Moreover, A beta 25-35 had no effect on basal PIP2-PLC activity and cytosolic PI-PLC and PIP2-PLC. The aggregated form of A beta 25-35 significantly inhibited PIP2-PLC only in the presence of endogenous CaCl2. It also inhibited the carbachol and GTP(gamma)S-stimulated PIP2-PLC. Our findings show that depending on the aggregation state and Ca2+ concentration, A beta modulates phosphoinositide degradation differently and exclusively in brain synaptic plasma membranes. Our data suggested that aggregated A beta peptide may be responsible for the significant impairment of phosphoinositide signaling found in brain membranes during AD.

Arachidonate transport through the blood-retina and blood-brain barrier of the rat after reperfusion of varying duration following complete cerebral ischemia.

The permeability-surface area product (PS) of [1-14C]arachidonate at the blood-retina and blood-brain barrier was determined by short carotid perfusion in young Wistar rats 1 or 6 h after recovery period following complete cerebral ischemia induced by temporary cardiac arrest. For the retina and structures of visual system, hypothalamus and olfactory bulb there was no significant difference over sham-operated rats among mean PSs. For cortex, hippocampus and striatum, significant increases were found at both time intervals of recovery after cardiac arrest. The ischemia-reperfusion model was characterized by a significant increase in tissue conjugated diene in the hippocampus and microsomal lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity in the cortex. Consistent with these findings, we also show ultrastructural evidence mainly represented by partial opening of interendothelial junctions and mild signs of tissue edema in surrounding neuropil, suggesting barrier leakiness predominantly in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum but almost absent in the retina microvessels. Our results indicate that ischemia-reperfusion does affect influex through blood-brain barrier into regional structures of rat central nervous system of arachidonate, a metabolic substrate and lipid mediator rapidly incorporated into microcapillary and brain lipids. The data also suggested that: (i) reactive oxyradicals were moderately generated during the early phase of ischemic-reperfusion process in the rat; (ii) after reperfusion, in vitro susceptibility of different brain regions to iron-induced peroxidation was highest in the hippocampus and lowest in the cortex and striatum; (iii) membrane phospholipid repair mechanisms were activated at the same time.

Arachidonate transport through the blood-retina and blood-brain barrier of the rat during aging.

The permeability-surface area product (PS) of [I-14C]arachidonate at the blood-retina (BRB) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) was determined after short carotid perfusion in Wistar rats at 4, 12 and 28 months of age. For the visual system structures, parietal and frontal cortex, striatum, hypothalamus, hippocampus and olfactory bulb there was no significant difference among mean PSs in any age group. Our results indicate that: (1) arachidonate is able to cross at relevant rate BRB and BBB; (2) in all brain regions except retina, optic tract and hippocampus, blood barriers have a transport capacity for arachidonate significantly higher than that for docosahexaenoate and palmitate as well; (3) aging does not affect influx into retina and other structures of rat central nervous system of the arachidonate, a metabolic substrate rapidly incorporated into microcapillary and brain lipids, and for which simple diffusion transport across the BRB and BBB may be postulated.

Amyloid beta(1-42) and its beta(25-35) fragment induce in vitro phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in bovine retina capillary pericytes.

We describe the inhibitory effect of full-length Abeta(1-42) and Abeta(25-35) fragment of amyloid-beta peptide on phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) metabolism in bovine retina capillary pericytes. Cell cultures were incubated with Abetas for 24 h. Peroxidation indices (malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase release) significantly increased after 20-50 microM Abeta(1-42) or Abeta(25-35) treatment. In addition, [Me-3H]choline incorporation into PtdCho strongly decreased while either 3H-choline or 14C-arachidonic acid release from prelabeled cells increased, indicating PtdCho hydrolysis. The effect was very likely due to prooxidant action of both Abeta peptides. Reversed-sequence Abeta(35-25) peptide did not depress 3H-choline incorporation nor stimulate PtdCho breakdown. With addition of Abetas at low concentrations (2-20 microM) to pericytes, marked ultrastructural changes, well connected to metabolic alterations, emerged including shrinkage of cell bodies, retraction of processes, disruption of the intracellular actin network. Cells treated with higher concentrations (50-200 microM) displayed characteristics of necrotic cell death. The data suggest that: (a) Abeta(1-42) and Abeta(25-35) peptides may modulate phospholipid turnover in microvessel pericytes; (b) together with endothelial cells, pericytes could be the target of vascular damage during processes involving amyloid accumulation.

Effect of amyloid beta peptide on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in adult and aged rat hippocampus.

It is suggested that the fibrillar amyloid beta peptide (A beta) in brain plays a direct role in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, probably through activation of reactive oxygen species formation. Free radicals and numerous neurotoxins elicit DNA damage that subsequently activates poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP, EC 2.4.2.30). In this study the effect of neurotoxic fragment (25-35) of full length A beta peptide on PARP activity in adult and aged rat hippocampus was investigated. In adult (4 month old) rat hippocampus the A beta 25-35 peptide significantly enhanced PARP activity by about 80% but had no effect on PARP activity in cerebral cortex and in hippocampus from aged (24-27 month old) rats. The effect of A beta peptide was reduced by half by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine. Stimulation of glutamate receptor(s) itself enhanced PARP activity by about 80% in adult hippocampus. However, A beta 25-35 did not exert any additional stimulatory effect. These results indicate that A beta, through NO and probably other free radicals, induces activation of DNA bound PARP activity exclusively in adult but not in aged hippocampus.

Age-related alteration of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in different parts of the brain.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a conserved enzyme involved in the regulation of DNA repair and genome stability. The role of PARP during aging is not well known. In this study PARP activity was investigated in nuclear fractions from hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex of adult (4 months), old adult (14 months) and aged (24-27 months) rats. Concomitantly, the free radical evoked lipid peroxidation was estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The specific activity of PARP in adult brain was about 25, 21 and 16 pmol/mg protein per min in hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, respectively. The enzyme activity was higher in all investigated parts of the brain of old adults. In aged animals PARP activity was lower in hippocampus by about 50%, and was unchanged in cerebral cortex and in cerebellum comparing to adult rats. The concentration of TBARS was the same in all parts of the brain and remained unchanged during aging. There is no direct correlation between PARP activity and free radical evoked lipid peroxidation during brain aging. The lowered enzyme activity in aged hippocampus may decrease DNA repair capacity which subsequently may be responsible for the higher vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to different toxic insults.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in the cat carotid body in hypoxia and hyperoxia.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce DNA damage with the ensuing activation of the chromosomal repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ROS also interact with the function of carotid body chemoreceptor cells. The possibility arises that PARP is part of the carotid chemosensing process. This study seeks to determine the presence of PARP and its changes in response to contrasting chemical stimuli, hypoxia and hyperoxia, both capable of generating ROS, in cat carotid bodies. The organs were dissected from anesthetized cats exposed in vivo to acute normoxic (PaO2 approximately 90 mmHg), hypoxic (PaO2 approximately 25 mmHg), and hyperoxic (PaO2 > 400 mmHg) conditions. Carotid body homogenate was the source of PARP and [adenine 14C] NAD was the substrate in the assay. Specimens of the superior cervical ganglion and brainstem were used as reference tissues. We found that PARP activity amounted to 27 pmol/mg protein/min in the normoxic carotid body. The activity level more than doubled in both hypoxic and hyperoxic carotid bodies. Changes of PARP in the reference tissues were qualitatively similar. We conclude that PARP is present in the carotid body but the augmentation of the enzyme activity in both hypoxia and hyperoxia reflects DNA damage, induced likely by ROS and being universal for neural tissues, rather than a specific involvement of PARP in the chemosensing process.

Acute hypoxia modulates arachidonic acid metabolism in cat carotid bodies. Role of dopamine.

The hypoxic stimulus of the arterial blood is transformed at the carotid body (CB) chemoreceptors into neuronal signals regulating respiration. The mechanism of chemotransduction is until now not well understood. In this study the regulation of arachidonic acid (AA) release and its incorporation into membrane glycerolipids were investigated. Moreover, the effect of hypoxia and dopamine (DA) on these processes was evaluated. The CB were excised from cats exposed in situ to normoxia or hypoxia. Then CB were homogenized and used as a source of enzyme(s). It was observed that Ca2+ enhanced the release of AA by 40-50% through the action of phospholipase C together with diacyl-glycerol lipase and phospholipase A2. Acute hypoxia significantly decreased AA incorporation into phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) and enhanced the level of AA radioactivity in diacylglycerol and AA-CoA. These results suggest that hypoxia induces inhibition of AA incorporation on the level of acyl-CoA-lysophospholipid:acylotransferases. DA decreased AA incorporation into PtdIns and exerted an additive inhibitory effect in hypoxic samples. These results demonstrate that AA metabolism in CB is significantly affected by hypoxia and that DA is not responsible for the hypoxia-induced alteration of lipid metabolism in CB.

ATP a potent regulator of inositol phospholipids-phospholipase C and lipid mediators in brain cortex.

Adenosine-5'trisphosphate (ATP) is stored and co-released with various neurotransmitters but it may also act as a fast excitatory neurotransmitter trough the activation of purinoreceptor(s). In this study the effect of ATP on phospholipase C (PLC) degrading labelled PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns in brain cortex slices, brain homogenate and subcellular fractions was investigated. It was found that ATP added into brain slices activated significantly and specifically PtdIns(4,5)P2 degradation and this process was inhibited by theophylline. Moreover, ATP maintained a higher level of inositol(1,4,5)P3 radioactivity in total water-soluble inositol metabolites. However, ATP added directly for the assay of PLC into brain homogenate or subcellular fractions inhibits phosphoinositide degradation in a receptor-independent manner and suppresses conversion of Ins(1,4,5)P3 into Ins(1,4)P2. Our results indicate that ATP acting extracellularly through a purinergic receptor(s) activates PtdIns(4,5)P2 degradation and release of Ins(1,4,5)P3. ATP acting directly on PLC inhibits in a receptor-independent manner phosphoinositide degradation, and protects against liberation of lipid-derived second messengers.

Differential effects of heterocyclic amines on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase A.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) have been shown to be carcinogenic in a variety of experimental systems. The purpose of the present study was to determine the in vitro effect of HCAs on the activity of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). HCAs were also tested on the arginine-specific mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase A (MART-A), an enzyme involved in signal transduction and cytoskeletal realignment. 3-Amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) at 1 mM caused a 134% increase in PARP-1 activity and a 93% decrease in activity at 5 mM (IC(50) = 2.2 mM). This dual effect is unique among inhibitors of this enzyme. On the other hand, Trp-P-2 activated MART-A at all concentrations tested, the peak being at 3 mM (>171% increase). In contrast, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) inhibited concentration-dependently both enzymes, PARP-1 (IC(50) = 0.22 mM) and MART-A (IC(50) = 2.8 mM). With nine other HCAs tested, predominantly inhibitory effects were observed. These results may assist our understanding of the carcinogenic mechanism of action and the dose-dependency of HCAs in animal bioassays.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 is a novel nuclear target for cholinergic receptor signaling in the hippocampus.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme involved in DNA repair and transcription regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PARP-1 in muscarinic cholinergic receptor signaling. Our data indicate that activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors by carbachol (1mM) in the presence of GTP gamma S evoked a significant enhancement of PARP activity in the adult rat hippocampus. Moreover, TMB-8 (10 microM), an antagonist of inositol 1, 4, 5 trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptor prevented the activation of PARP-1, which indicates that IP(3) /Ca(2+) signaling is involved in this pathway. The diacylglycerol (DAG)-regulated protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (GF109203X) (1 microM) only slightly enhanced PARP activity in hippocampal nuclear fractions, which suggests that DAG/ PKC is not involved in PARP activation.

Effects of p53 inhibitor on survival and death of cells subjected to oxidative stress.

Our previous data indicate that ischemia and amyloid beta peptide (A beta) cause an oxidative damage to macromolecules. In the present study we investigated the role of p53 protein in cell survival and death after administration of A beta. The experiments were carried out on pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12) and cortical primary neurons in culture. The cortical neurons were exposed (48 h, 10 microM) to the action of a short A beta 25-35 neurotoxic fragment and the involvement of p53 was evaluated after addition of the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha. Changes in cell morphology were evaluated by 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and the concentration-dependent effect of pifithrin-alpha on cells viability was determined. Additionally, we studied the effect of pifithrin-alpha on neuronal survival in vivo after a 5-min global brain ischemia followed by 7 days' reperfusion in gerbils. We found that A beta enhanced apoptotic cell death in cortical primary neurons. Pifithrin-alpha, at a 10 microM final concentration, protected the neuronal cells from the apoptotic death. However, at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM, the p53 inhibitor decreased PC-12 cells' viability in a dose-dependent manner. In in vivo experiments we did not observe any neuroprotection by pifithrin-alpha in the CA1 hippocampal layer, which suggests that its effects strongly depend on the duration and type of an ischemic insult. Our data indicate that pifithrin-alpha affects neuronal cells in a dual manner. It has a protective effect at a low concentration, but becomes neurotoxic at higher concentrations.

Non A beta component of Alzheimer's disease amyloid and amyloid beta peptides evoked poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-dependent release of apoptosis-inducing factor from rat brain mitochondria.

Amyloid beta peptide (A beta) and non-A beta component of Alzheimer's disease amyloid (NAC) are involved in pathomechanism of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and are deposited in the AD brain in the form of senile plaques. However, the mechanism of their neurotoxicity is not fully understood. In this study the sequence of events involved in NAC and A beta peptides evoked toxicity was investigated in brain slices, synaptosomes and in subcellular fractions. Radio-, immunochemical, spectrophotometrical methods and DNA electrophoresis were used in this study. Our data indicated that A beta 1-40 (25 microM) and NAC (10 microM) peptides induced liberation of free radicals and massive DNA damage that lead to activation of DNA bound enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). In consequence of these processes apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was released from mitochondria and was translocated to nucleus. The inhibitor of PARP, 3-aminobenzamide significantly decreased AIF release from mitochondria and its translocation. Both peptides under the investigational conditions had no effect on caspase-3 activity. Our data indicated that A beta and NAC peptides stimulate AIF-dependent apoptotic pathway that seems to be caspase independent process. The inhibition of PARP-1 may protect the brain against A beta and NAC toxicity.

Effect of hypoxia and dopamine on arachidonic acid metabolism in superior cervical ganglion.

Superior cervical ganglion (SCG) may play a modulatory role on ventilatory control through its efferent sympathetic fibres, which innervate cells in the carotid bodies. In this study the in vivo effect of acute hypoxia versus normoxia on arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism was investigated in cat SCG. Using SCG homogenate AA was incorporated into glycerolipids of normoxic SCG in the following order: neutral glycerolipids > phosphatidylcholine (PtdCh) > phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) > phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdE) > phosphatidylserine (PtdS) > and phosphatidic acid (PA). In vivo hypoxic treatment caused a significant decrease in incorporation of [1-14C]AA into PtdIns. Hypoxia had no significant effect on the level of AA radioactivity in diacylglycerol (DAG) as compared to control but significantly enhanced the level of arachidonoyl-CoA (AA-CoA) radioactivity. It was observed that dopamine (DA) one of the most important neurotransmitter in SCG decreases AA uptake into phospholipids of normoxic SCG. In normoxic SCG, DA significantly decreased, AA incorporation into PtdCh, PtdIns and DAG. Moreover, DA decreased the level of AA-CoA radioactivity. Hypoxia and dopamine has no effect on AA metabolism in medulla oblongata isolated from the same animals. These results indicate that arachidonic acid metabolism in SCG is sensitive to hypoxia and dopamine action. Moreover, these results indicate that hypoxia inhibits selectively AA incorporation on the level of acylCoA-lysophosphatidylinositol-acyltransferase.

Regulation of phospholipase C activity by calcium ions and guanine nucleotide in the normoxic cat carotid body.

The carotid bodies (CB) are a paired chemoreceptor organ located at the bifurcation of the common carotid arteries. High O2 tension suppresses while low tension activates afferent carotid chemoreceptor activity and the chemoreflex ventilatory response in the cat. The intracellular mechanism of chemotransduction is till now unknown. Previously we have shown different activities of phospholipase C (PLC) in normoxic, hypoxic and hyperoxic cat carotid body. Now we have addressed the question whether calcium ions and G-protein could be regulators of the formation of lipid derived messenger molecules in the cat carotid body. To answer this question, the PLC acting against [3H] inositol-phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) and [3H] inositol-phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] in the cat CB were investigated using labelled phospholipids as a source of the substrate. CB homogenate was used as a source of the enzyme. The results indicate that PLC acting on PtdIns is Ca2+-dependent, in contrary to that acting on PtdIns(4,5)P2 which remains active in the presence of 10 mM EGTA. PtdIns(4,5)P2-PLC is stimulated by GTPgammaS. In the presence of Ca2+, GTPgammaS has a synergistic stimulatory effect. PLC acting on PtdIns is not activated by GTPgammaS. In the presence of calcium ions dopamine and a nonhydrozylable analogue of acetylcholine, carbachol, have a small stimulatory effect of about 30% on PLC acting on PtdIns(4,5)P2. GTPgammaS enhances this effect. These results allow us to suggest that there are two pathways of phosphoinositides degradation in the CB, one of them is regulated by calcium ions/PtdIns-PLC/, the other one by G-protein / PtdIns(4,5)P2-PLC/.