Striatal proenkephalin turnover and gene transcription are regulated by cyclic AMP and protein kinase C-related pathways

Regulatory interactions of stress and reward on rat forebrain opioidergic and GABAergic circuitry

Palatable food intake reduces stress responses, suggesting that individuals may consume such ?comfort? food as self-medication for stress relief. The mechanism by which palatable foods provide stress relief is not known, but likely lies at the intersection of forebrain reward and stress regulatory circuits. Forebrain opioidergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid ergic signaling is critical for both reward and stress regulation, suggesting that these systems are prime candidates for mediating stress relief by palatable foods. Thus, the present study (1) determines how palatable ?comfort? food alters stress-induced changes in the mRNA expression of inhibitory neurotransmitters in reward and stress neurocircuitry and (2) identifies candidate brain regions that may underlie comfort food-mediated stress reduction. We used a model of palatable ?snacking? in combination with a model of chronic variable stress followed by in situ hybridization to determine forebrain levels of pro-opioid and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA. The data identify regions within the extended amygdala, striatum, and hypothalamus as potential regions for mediating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis buffering following palatable snacking. Specifically, palatable snacking alone decreased pro-enkephalin-A (ENK) mRNA expression in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the nucleus accumbens, and decreased GAD65 mRNA in the posterior BST. Chronic stress alone increased ENK mRNA in the hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus; increased dynorphin mRNA in the nucleus accumbens; increased GAD65 mRNA in the anterior hypothalamus and BST; and decreased GAD65 mRNA in the dorsal hypothalamus. Importantly, palatable food intake prevented stress-induced gene expression changes in subregions of the hypothalamus, BST, and nucleus accumbens. Overall, these data suggest that complex interactions exist between brain reward and stress pathways and that palatable snacking can mitigate many of the neurochemical alterations induced by chronic stress.

Differential activation of enkephalin, galanin, somatostatin, NPY, and VIP neuropeptide production by stimulators of protein kinases A and C in neuroendocrine chromaffin cells

Neuropeptides function as peptide neurotransmitters and hormones to mediate cell-cell communication. The goal of this study was to understand how different neuropeptides may be similarly or differentially regulated by protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) intracellular signaling mechanisms. Therefore, this study compared the differential effects of treating neuroendocrine chromaffin cells with stimulators of PKA and PKC on the production of the neuropeptides (Met)enkephalin, galanin, somatostatin, NPY, and VIP. Significantly, selective increases in production of these neuropeptides were observed by forskolin or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) which stimulate PKA and PKC mechanisms, respectively. (Met)enkephalin production was stimulated by up to 2-fold by forskolin treatment, but not by PMA. In contrast, PMA treatment (but not forskolin) resulted in a 2-fold increase in production of galanin and somatostatin, and a 3-fold increase in NPY production. Notably, VIP production was highly stimulated by forskolin and PMA, with increases of 3-fold and 10-15-fold, respectively. Differences in elevated neuropeptides occurred in cell extracts compared to secretion media, which consisted of (i) increased NPY primarily in secretion media, (ii) increased (Met)enkephalin and somatostatin in secretion media (not cell extracts), and (iii) increased galanin and VIP in both cell extracts and secretion media. Involvement of PKA or PKC for forskolin or PMA regulation of neuropeptide biosynthesis, respectively, was confirmed with direct inhibitors of PKA and PKC. The selective activation of neuropeptide production by forskolin and PMA demonstrates that PKA and PKC pathways are involved in the differential regulation of neuropeptide production.

Both inducible and constitutive activator protein-1-like transcription factors are used for transcriptional activation of the galanin gene by different first and second messenger pathways

We investigated trans-acting factors mediating galanin (GAL) gene activation by protein kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways in chromaffin cells. GAL mRNA up-regulation via the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway (25 microM forskolin) required new protein synthesis. Stimulation via protein kinase C (0.1 microM phorbol myristate acetate) did not. The involvement of activator protein-1(AP-1) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in serine/threonine protein kinase activation of GAL gene transcription was assessed. Cotransfection of a GAL reporter gene along with expression plasmids encoding c-Jun plus c-Fos, or the catalytic subunit of PKA (PKAbeta), resulted in a 4- to 8-fold enhancement of GAL reporter gene transcription. Transcriptional activation required the galanin 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate) response element (GTRE) octamer sequence (TGACGCGG) in the proximal enhancer of the GAL gene, previously shown to confer phorbol ester responsiveness in chromaffin cells. CREB coexpression did not stimulate GAL gene transcription or increase transcriptional activation by PKAbeta. The GTRE preferentially bound in vitro synthesized Jun and Fos-Jun, compared with CREB, in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The GTRE preference for binding AP-1-immunoreactive protein compared with CREB was even more pronounced in chromaffin cell nuclear extracts, in which the majority of GTRE-bound protein in electrophoretic mobility shift assays was supershifted with anti-Fos and anti-Jun antibodies. Thus, GAL gene regulation mediated by protein kinase activation appears to involve both constitutively expressed and inducible AP-1-related proteins. Elevated potassium stimulation of GAL mRNA was completely blocked, but pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide and histamine stimulations were only partially blocked, by cycloheximide. Both inducible and constitutive pathways are therefore used by physiologically relevant first messengers that stimulate GAL biosynthesis in vivo.

Novel transcriptional mechanisms are involved in regulating preproenkephalin gene expression in vivo

For the dissection of the temporal and spatial patterns of cell- and tissue-specific gene expression an understanding of the contributing regulating mechanisms is required. We now confirm that there are novel mechanisms regulating preproenkephalin gene expression in basal as well as cholinergic agonist treated rats. Moreover, we demonstrate that these novel transcriptional mechanisms are consistent with RNA intragenic elongation pausing, alternate promoter usage, and small sense and antisense RNA transcription from the preproenkephalin gene locus. We report that while basal striatal and olfactory bulb proenkephalin RNA transcripts are initiated from the "normal" proximal promoter, in cerebellum de novo RNA transcription appears to be initiated from the distal so-called "germ-cell" promoter. Furthermore, "normally" initiated olfactory bulb proenkephalin RNA transcripts appear to be down-regulated by the time the RNA polymerase II complex reaches the first preproenkephalin intron, in a way that is consistent with RNA elongation pausing. As the pattern of small sense and antisense transcripts found associated with this gene's expression is tissue-specific, we suggest that they may also play a role in regulating gene expression. The understanding of this gene's regulation should have widespread importance, not only to those interested in opioid gene expression, but also to those interested in gene regulation, in general.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide stimulates proenkephalin gene transcription through AP1- and CREB-dependent mechanisms

The effects of the pituitary adenylase cyclate-activating peptides (PACAP) 27 and 38 on proenkephalin (PENK) gene transcription were examined in PC12 (rat pheochromocytoma) cells using transient transfection assays. Both ligands stimulated PENK gene transcription in a dose-dependent manner, with an apparent ED50 close to 5 x 10(-11) M. Inactivation of cAMP dependent-protein kinase (PKA) with a dominant inhibitory mutant strongly reduced PACAP-stimulated PENK transcription. Using reporter genes driven by either the minimal TPA-responsive element (TRE: TGACTCA) or cAMP-responsive element (CRE: TGACGTCA), we showed that the two PACAPs activate transcription through both regulatory sequences. These effects could result from direct post-translational activation of Jun and CREB, as shown using GAL4-Jun or GAL4-CREB fusion proteins. Expression of a dominant inhibitory mutant of CREB decreased by 60% the response to PACAP, suggesting that CREB is implicated in PENK transactivation. Similarly, expression of c-fos antisense RNA reduced by 80% the stimulatory effects of PACAP. Taken together, these results indicate that PACAP stimulates PENK transcription by members of both the AP1 and the CREB families. However, AP1 by itself is not sufficient to increase PENK transcription, as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), which stimulates AP1 activity but not cAMP production, is unable to stimulate PENK transcription. These results indicate a cooperative effect of AP1 and CREB on PENK transcription.

Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of proenkephalin gene expression in cultured spinal cord cells

The regulation of proenkephalin (proENK) mRNA levels by cAMP and protein kinase C (PKC) pathways was studied in cultured rat spinal cord cells in the present study. Spinal cord cells were cultured from 14 day (E 14) embryos of Sprague-Dawley rats. After 7 days in vitro, the spinal cord cells were incubated with either forskolin (5 microM) or phorbol-13-myristate acetate (PMA; 2.5 microM) for 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 or 24 h and total RNA and proteins were isolated for Northern and Western blot analyses. The proENK mRNA level began to increase within an hour, then reached and remained at a peak 3-12 h after stimulation by both forskolin and PMA. The increased proENK mRNA level in forskolin-treated cells was slightly decreased 24 h after the stimulation, whereas the level of proENK mRNA returned to basal levels in PMA-treated cells. A Western blot assay revealed that the intracellular level of proENK protein was not changed by treatment with either forskolin or PMA. Pretreatment of cells with cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor; 10 microM) did not affect the forskolin- or PMA-induced increase of proENK mRNA. However, pretreatment with nimodipine (an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker; 2 microM), omega-conotoxin (an N-type Ca2+ channel blocker; 1 microM), calmidazolium (a calmodulin antagonist; 1 microM) or KN-62 (a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor; 5 microM) attenuated the forskolin- or PMA-induced increase of proENK mRNA levels. Dexamethasone (1 microM) did not affect the forskolin-induced increase of proENK mRNA levels. Our results suggest that the elevation of proENK mRNA levels in the spinal cord is regulated by both cAMP and PKC pathways. Calcium influx through both L- and N-type calcium channels, calmodulin and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II appear to be involved in the increase of proENK mRNA levels induced by either forskolin or PMA. Furthermore, ongoing protein synthesis is not required for forskolin- or PMA-induced alterations in proENK mRNA.

Dexamethasone and forskolin synergistically increase [Met5]enkephalin accumulation in mixed brain cell cultures

Possible synergistic effects of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX, 10(-7) M) and the adenylate cyclase agonist forskolin (FSK, 10(-5) M) on [Met5]enkephalin (ME) accumulation were examined in enriched rat glial cultures and in mixed neuronal/glial cultures. In enriched glial cultures, DEX and FSK each stimulated the accumulation of ME 2-3-fold over basal media levels, but there was little additional stimulation when these agonists were combined. In contrast, mixed neuronal/glial cultures showed only weak responses to DEX or FSK alone, but the combination of these agonists produced a pronounced synergistic effect on media ME accumulation (6-10-fold over basal levels). The DEX effect was mediated via a classical glucocorticoid receptor, since DEX was potent (acting over a concentration range of 10(-11)-10(-7) M), mimicked by corticosterone (10(-6) M), and blocked by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. There was a pronounced time lag (2 days) for the synergistic effects of DEX + FSK to develop. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemical studies suggested that astrocytes were the major source for the increased ME production in all mixed neuronal/glial cultures examined. Creating a mixed culture by plating fetal neurons onto confluent, enriched P7 glial cultures inhibited accumulation of ME in the media. DEX + FSK, but neither agonist alone, overcame this neuronal inhibition and increased accumulation of media ME to levels identical to levels in stimulated enriched glial cultures. The net effect was a 6-fold increase in ME accumulation in the mixed neuronal/glial cultures relative to a 2.5-fold increase in the enriched glial cultures. Neuronal inhibition of basal glial ME production could explain the similar synergistic effects of DEX + FSK observed in all mixed neuronal/glial cultures examined, and may be important in suppressing ME production by astrocytes in the brain.

N-methyl-D-aspartate acutely increases proenkephalin mRNA in the rat striatum

Studies in which glutamate (GLU) neurotransmission has been reduced at striatal synapses have shown that GLU influences the biosynthesis of certain peptide cotransmitters by striatal neurons. The present experiment was designed to test the effects of direct activation of the NMDA or AMPA types of GLU receptor on the levels of two mRNAs that encode the peptide cotransmitters met5-enkephalin (ME) and substance P (SP). In situ hybridization histochemistry of forebrain tissue sections from rats 8 h after a single intracerebroventricular infusion of NMDA or AMPA revealed a significant and dose-dependent elevation (to a maximum of almost 50%) of striatal ME mRNA when compared to vehicle-injected controls. SP mRNA was not significantly affected. NMDA was more effective than AMPA over the dose range used. Pretreatment with a potent and highly specific AMPA antagonist (NBQX) predictably blocked the AMPA-mediated elevation, and was only slightly effective against the NMDA-induced response. In striking contrast, pretreatment with a potent and highly selective NMDA antagonist (CGP37849) fully opposed both the NMDA- and the AMPA-mediated elevation of ME mRNA. These data further implicate the NMDA receptor in the regulation of peptide cotransmitter gene transcription. They suggest also that the AMPA receptor may play an indirect, synergistic role in the genetic responses of striatal neurons to GLU transmission.

The transcriptional regulation of the preproenkephalin gene

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Emergence of a synaptic neuronal network within primary striatal cultures seeded in serum-free medium

In order to investigate the basic cellular mechanisms involved in neuronal interactions within the striatum, we prepared a primary striatal cell culture from rat fetal brain in chemically defined medium. Using morphological and whole-cell recording methods, we observed that an intensive neuritic elongation with a progressive build up of a sodium-dependent electrogenesis occurred during the first week of culture. Morphologically mature synapses began to develop after 10 days in vitro. By this time, most of the neurons (82 +/- 9%) received spontaneously synaptic potentials, which led them to fire (71 +/- 11%). The spontaneous firing was prevented by cadmium (200 microM) and tetrodotoxin (5 microM), which suggested that a Ca(2+)-dependent release of neurotransmitters was involved in the synaptic activation. We further obtained evidence that GABA, and to a lesser extent acetylcholine, contributed to these spontaneous synaptic potentials. At 15 days in vitro, it was possible to observe up to four synaptic contacts on a given dendrite. By this time, whole-cell recordings performed on pairs of neurons showed that the mature neurons were interconnected by excitatory synapses. As the number of synapses increased, the striatal neurons gradually formed a large network in which spontaneous activity developed, which tended to be organized into synchronized bursting patterns.

Hairpin formation within the human enkephalin enhancer region. 1. Kinetic analysis

The 3'-5' cyclic AMP inducible enhancer region of the human enkephalin gene is located within an imperfect palindrome of 23 base pairs, located from -106 to -84 base pairs upstream of the transcriptional start site. Recent evidence has indicated that hairpin formation within this region may be involved in transcriptional regulation of the human proenkephalin gene. A 23-bp synthetic oligonucleotide of this region has been shown to undergo a reversible conformational change from a duplex to a cruciform structure of two hairpins [McMurray, C.T., Wilson, W.D., & Douglass, J.O. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 666]. Our current studies explore the kinetics and activation energies of the hairpin to duplex transitions of synthetic oligonucleotides under a variety of conditions. Ultraviolet spectroscopic data collected over a range of pH values, ionic strengths, and temperatures are used to determine the reaction rates and activation energies of the hairpin to duplex reaction. The rate of formation of a duplex from two hairpins is a slow second-order process, dependent on both pH and ionic strength. The return from the hairpin state to the duplex state occurs with a high activation energy of 22-41 kcal/mol strand, depending on the conditions. Pseudo-first-order reaction conditions indicate that one of the hairpins, the AC hairpin, is the rate-limiting reactant. These results suggest a model by which the formation of a cruciform might regulate transcription.

Adaptive changes in rat striatal preproenkephalin expression and dopamine-opioid interactions upon chronic haloperidol treatment during different developmental stages

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a chronic treatment with the classical neuroleptic drug haloperidol on the preproenkephalin (ppEnk) mRNA synthesis and its consequences for opioid and dopamine (DA) receptor-regulated adenylate cyclase in the developing and adult rat striatum. Prenatal exposure to haloperidol (2 mg/kg, 14 days) caused a 40% reduction of striatal ppEnk mRNA levels, but had no consequences for DA-stimulated or Met-enkephalin-inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in striatal slices from embryonic day 21 (E21) foetal brain. Postnatal treatment of rat pups from day 10 (P10) until P23 and adult rats resulted in significant increases of mRNA levels of 8 and 41%, respectively, a clear reduction of D1 DA receptor-stimulated cAMP production and a profound desensitization of delta-opioid receptors inhibitory coupled to adenylate cyclase. Since striatal D2 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, in contrast to its activation through D1 receptors, is not present in the prenatal period, this study indicates that the tonic inhibitory effect of DA on striatal ppEnk mRNA synthesis is dependent on the presence of adenylate cyclase-coupled D2 receptors which gradually develops postnatally and further supports the idea that striatal D1 and D2 DA receptors have bidirectional effects on enkephalin synthesis in this brain area. The adaptive changes in D1 DA and delta receptor-regulated adenylate cyclase activity are discussed in relation to the well-known increase in the locomotor and reinforcing effects of mu-opioid receptor agonists upon chronic neuroleptic treatment.

Long-term action of lithium: a role for transcriptional and posttranscriptional factors regulated by protein kinase C

Lithium, a simple monovalent cation, represents one of psychiatry's most important treatments and is the most effective treatment for reducing both the frequency and severity of recurrent affective episodes. Despite extensive research, the underlying biologic basis for the therapeutic efficacy this drug remains unknown, and in recent years, research has focused on signal transduction pathways to explain lithium's efficacy in treating both poles of manic-depressive illness. Critical to attributions of therapeutic relevance to any observed biochemical effect, however, is the observation that the characteristic prophylactic action of lithium in stabilizing the profound mood cycling of bipolar disorder requires a lag period for onset and is not immediately reversed upon discontinuation of treatment. Biochemical changes requiring such prolonged administration of a drug suggest alterations at the genomic level but, until recently, little has been known about the transcriptional and posttranscriptional factors regulated by chronic drug treatment, although long-term changes in neuronal synaptic function are known to be dependent upon the selective regulation of gene expression. In this paper, we will present evidence to show that chronic lithium exerts significant transcriptional and posttranscriptional effects, and that these actions of lithium may be mediated via protein kinase C (PKC)-induced alterations in nuclear transcription regulatory factors responsible for modulating the expression of proteins involved in long-term neural plasticity and cellular response. Such target sites for chronic lithium may help unravel the processes by which a simple monovalent cation can produce a long-term stabilization of mood in individuals vulnerable to bipolar illness.

N-methyl-D-aspartic acid/glycine interactions on the control of 5-hydroxytryptamine release in raphe primary cultures

Glutamic acid and glycine were quantified in cells and medium of cultured rostral rhombencephalic neurons derived from fetal rats. In the presence of 1 mM Mg2+, NMDA (50 microM) significantly stimulated (by 69%) release of newly synthesized 5-[3H]hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT). D-2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (AP-5; 50 microM) blocked the stimulatory effect of NMDA. AP-5 by itself inhibited [3H]5-HT release (by 25%), suggesting a tonic control of 5-HT by glutamate. In the absence of Mg2+, basal [3H]5-HT release was 60% higher as compared with release with Mg2+. AP-5 blocked the increased [3H]5-HT release observed without Mg2+, suggesting that this effect was due to the stimulation of NMDA receptors by endogenous glutamate. Glycine (100 microM) inhibited [3H]5-HT release in the absence of Mg2+. Strychnine (50 microM) blocked the inhibitory effect of glycine, indicating an action through strychnine-sensitive inhibitory glycine receptors. The [3H]5-HT release stimulated by NMDA was unaffected by glycine. In contrast, when tested in the presence of strychnine, glycine increased NMDA-evoked [3H]5-HT release (by 22%), and this effect was prevented by a selective antagonist of the NMDA-associated glycine receptor, 7-chlorokynurenate (100 microM). 7-Chlorokynurenate by itself induced a drastic decrease in [3H]5-HT release, indicating that under basal conditions these sites were stimulated by endogenous glycine. These results indicate that NMDA stimulated [3H]5-HT release in both the presence or absence of Mg2+. Use of selective antagonists allowed differentiation of a strychnine-sensitive glycine response (inhibition of [3H]5-HT release) from a 7-chlorokynurenate-sensitive response (potentiation of NMDA-evoked [3H]5-HT release).

Glutamate, GABA, glycine and taurine modulate serotonin synthesis and release in rostral and caudal rhombencephalic raphe cells in primary cultures

Control of serotonin release and synthesis by amino acid neurotransmitters was investigated in rat rostral and caudal rhombencephalic raphe cells in primary cultures respectively. Endogenous amounts of taurine, glycine, GABA and glutamate were measured in both types of cultures. These amino acids were spontaneously released to the incubating medium. Exogenous taurine (10(-4) M) inhibited release and synthesis of newly formed [3H]serotonin [3H]5-HT from [3H]-tryptophan only in rostral raphe cells. Glycine (10(-3) M) decreased [3H]5-HT release in both types of cells, synthesis being diminished only in rostral raphe cells. Glycine inhibitory effect was totally blocked by strychnine (5 x 10(-5) M). GABA (10(-4) M) reduced [3H]5-HT metabolism in rostral as well as caudal raphe cells. This effect was totally antagonized in caudal and partially in rostral raphe cells by bicuculline (5 x 10(-5) M) a GABAA receptor antagonist. Baclofen (5 x 10(-5) M), a GABAB receptor agonist, induced a decrease of 5-HT release in rostral raphe cells. These observations suggest that monoamine release was entirely mediated by GABAA receptors in caudal raphe cells although GABAA and GABAB receptors were involved in control of 5-HT metabolism in rostral raphe cells. L-glutamate (10(-4) M) stimulated 5-HT metabolism in both types of cells, effect totally blocked by PK26124 (10(-6) M). N-methyl-D-aspartate (10(-4) M) enhanced 5-HT metabolism and the induced-effect was antagonized by the selective N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist D,L-2 amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. Quisqualate (10(-5) M) stimulated [3H]5-HT release only in caudal raphe cells. This effect was mimicked by (RS)-a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, a quisqualate "ionotropic" receptor agonist, this increase being blocked by 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline 2,3-dione. These observations suggest that the glutamate stimulating-induced effect on serotonin metabolism is entirely mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-type in rostral raphe cells and that quisqualate "ionotropic" receptors are also involved in caudal raphe cells. Taken together these results show that [3H]5-HT metabolism is controlled by taurine, glycine, GABA and glutamate in rhombencephalic raphe cells in primary cultures. However, some difference in amino acid receptor-types involved in the control of serotonin metabolism are observed according to the rostral or caudal origin of raphe cells.

Dopamine decreases striatal enkephalin turnover and proenkephalin messenger RNA abundance via D2 receptor activation in primary striatal cell cultures

Dopaminergic regulation of striatal enkephalin biosynthesis and secretion was studied in primary neuronal cultures from fetal rat striatum. To allow pharmacological treatment, striatal primary cell cultures were seeded in chemically defined medium onto extracellular matrix. In these conditions, pharmacological treatment of the striatal neurons on the 10th day in vitro for 48 h with 10(-6) M dopamine induced a 50% decrease in preproenkephalin mRNA level concomitant with a 50% decrease in methionine enkephalin neuronal content. These effects of dopamine were mimicked by the D2 agonist bromocriptine (10(-6) M). The decrease in methionine enkephalin neuronal content induced by dopamine or bromocriptine was reversed by the simultaneous application of sulpiride (10(-6) M), a selective D2 antagonist. Interestingly, the D1 agonist SKF 38393 (10(-6) M) application for 24 or 48 h was found to have no significant effect on methionine enkephalin neuronal content. To ensure dopamine regulation of enkephalin secretion, shorter dopaminergic treatments were performed. Dopamine application (10(-6) M) for 2 h had no significant effect on basal methionine enkephalin secretion but significantly decreased (50%) methionine enkephalin secretion induced by KCl 56 mM. This effect of dopamine on the KCl-induced methionine enkephalin secretion was mimicked by bromocriptine (10(-6) M), reversed by sulpiride (10(-6) M) and unaffected by the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 (10(-6) M) application onto striatal neurons. Our data provide direct evidence for a dopaminergic inhibitory control on enkephalin biosynthesis and secretion from striatal cell cultures, mediated through the dopaminergic D2 receptor activation.

The ‘serotonin/norepinephrine link’ beyond the β adrenoceptor

C6 rat glioma cells were utilized as a model system to probe the 'serotonin/norepinephrine link' at the level of preproenkephalin (PPE) gene expression. The beta adrenoceptor mediated increase in PPE mRNA was attenuated by the selective beta 1 adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol which blocked the isoproterenol induced cyclic AMP generation by 97%. The subtype nonspecific antagonist propranolol blocked both the isoproterenol induced increase in cyclic AMP and the increase in the PPE mRNA steady-state levels. Serotonin (5-HT) had no effect on the density of beta adrenoceptors or their down-regulation by isoproterenol and did not alter the PPE gene expression in the absence of the beta signal. However, 5-HT significantly deamplified the beta signal mediated enhancement of the PPE mRNA thus indicating that the aminergic link occurs beyond the beta adrenoceptor.

Preferential activation of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate binding by AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) in neonatal striatal cell cultures

Activation of excitatory amino acid receptors increased [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PdBu) binding in four week cultures of striatal cells from postnatal day 7 rat pups (PN7), and in PN7 cells co-cultured the fourth week with striatal cells from postnatal day 1 rat pups. Kainate (KA), trans-1-amino-cyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) increased [3H]PdBu binding equally in both types of cultures, but alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) increased binding by 3-fold in the co-cultures. Thus, [3H]PdBu binding in these two types of striatal cultures offers a simple model system for studying the regulation of AMPA/KA receptor responses.

Genetic analyses in neurons and neural crest-derived post mitotic cells

Cationic lipids are shown to be efficient DNA carriers for gene transfer into neurons and chromaffin cells. Chimeric genes containing the coding sequence for the bacterial gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), under various promoter sequences were used to estimate transfection efficiency and to analyse transcriptional mechanisms. Using a ubiquitously expressed construct (RSV-CAT), and an anti-CAT antibody to identify CAT positive cells transfection efficiency was found to be approximately 70% in cultures of hypothalamic neurons. Proenkephalin gene expression was studied in chromaffin cells by employing a chimeric gene containing the rat pro-enkephalin promoter fused to the CAT reporter gene. Using this model we show that the transfected gene is inducible by neurotransmitters and second messengers. The contribution of a specific kinase (protein kinase A, PKA) to proenkephalin gene regulation is analysed using this model system, and expression vectors coding for the catalytic subunit of PKA.