Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 neuronal activity is independent of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated channels but is sensitive to protein kinase a-dependent phosphorylation

Endocrinology. 2008 Jul;149(7):3500-11. doi: 10.1210/en.2007-1508. Epub 2008 Mar 27.

Abstract

Pulsatile release of GnRH-1 stimulates the anterior pituitary and induces secretion of gonadotropin hormones. GnRH-1 release is modulated by many neurotransmitters that act via G protein-coupled membrane receptors. cAMP is the most ubiquitous effector for these receptors. GnRH-1 neurons express hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channel protein in vivo. HCN channels are involved in neuronal pacemaking and can integrate cAMP signals. cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is also activated by cAMP signals, and PKA-dependent phosphorylation modulates voltage-activated channels. In this report, these two pathways were examined in GnRH-1 neurons as integrators of forskolin (FSK)-induced stimulation. The HCN3 isoform was detected in GnRH-1 neurons obtained from mouse nasal explants. ZD7288, a HCN channel blocker, significantly reduced the efficiency of FSK to stimulate GnRH-1 neurons, whereas blockade of PKA with Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate triethylammonium did not attenuate the FSK-induced stimulation. To ensure that disruption of HCN channels on GnRH-1 neurons was responsible for reduction of FSK stimulation, experiments were performed removing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major excitatory input to GnRH-1 neurons in nasal explants. Under these conditions, Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate triethylammonium, but not ZD7288, altered the FSK-induced response of GnRH-1 neurons. These studies indicate that PKA-dependent phosphorylation is involved in the FSK-induced stimulation of GnRH-1 neurons rather than HCN channels, and HCN channels integrate the FSK-induced stimulation on GABAergic neurons. In addition, blockade of HCN channels did not modify basal GnRH-1 neuronal activity when GABAergic input was intact or removed, negating a role for these channels in basal GABAergic or GnRH-1 neuronal activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenylyl Cyclases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / genetics
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • Female
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism*
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, GABA-A / genetics
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tissue Culture Techniques

Substances

  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds
  • Potassium Channels
  • Pyrimidines
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • ICI D2788
  • Colforsin
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • imidazole mustard
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Adenylyl Cyclases