Glycogenolytic effects of the calcium ionophore A23187, but not of vasopressin or angiotensin, in foetal-rat hepatocytes

Biochem J. 1984 Jun 1;220(2):441-5. doi: 10.1042/bj2200441.

Abstract

Vasopressin, angiotensin and phenylephrine stimulate glycogenolysis in postnatal rat liver by a Ca2+-mediated mechanism not involving cyclic AMP. To determine whether these hormones promote glycogenolysis in foetal liver, we have examined their effects, and those of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, on glycogen metabolism in cultured foetal-rat hepatocytes. Vasopressin and angiotensin (0.1 nM-0.1 microM) had no effects on either glycogen synthesis (as assessed by [14C]glucose incorporation into glycogen) or phosphorylase a activity. However, A23187 at 1 and 10 microM inhibited glycogen synthesis by 31.3 and 89.1% respectively (both P less than 0.001) and stimulated phosphorylase a activity by 66.9 and 184.1% respectively (both P less than 0.01). Incubation of cells in Ca2+-deficient medium attenuated the effects of 10 microM-A23187 on glycogen synthesis and abolished the effects of 1 microM-A23187. As in postnatal liver, glucagon (1 and 20 nM) and isoprenaline (1 and 10 microM), which activate adenylate cyclase, inhibited glycogen synthesis and stimulated phosphorylase a activity in foetal hepatocytes. The minimal effective concentration of phenylephrine was 10 times that of isoprenaline. These results indicate striking differences in the ontogeny of cyclic AMP-mediated and Ca2+-mediated processes which regulate hepatic glycogenolysis. Since increases in cytosolic Ca2+ induce glycogenolysis in foetal-rat liver, the weak or absent responses to vasopressin, angiotensin and the alpha-adrenergic agonists may result from defects in hormone-receptor binding or in post-receptor events leading to the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Calcimycin / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fetus / metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / embryology
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver Glycogen / biosynthesis*
  • Phosphorylase a / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Vasopressins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Liver Glycogen
  • Vasopressins
  • Angiotensin II
  • Calcimycin
  • Phosphorylase a
  • Glucose