Signal transduction systems in growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin release from perifused rat hypothalamic fragments.

The role of signal transduction systems was examined in the secretion of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SS) from perifused rat hypothalamic fragments. Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, stimulated the release of GHRH and SS in a concentration-dependent manner (10-100 microM) with greatest stimulation for GHRH at 100 microM (mean +/- SE, 249 +/- 14%) and for SS at 30 microM (172 +/- 18%). (Bu)2cAMP also augmented GHRH and SS release. The protein kinase-C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not significantly stimulate basal GHRH or SS release at concentrations of 10 nM to 1 microM. The calcium ionophore A23187 enhanced the release of GHRH and SS in a concentration-dependent manner (2-20 microM), with the greatest responses of 282 +/- 50% at 10 microM and 189 +/- 24% at 20 microM, respectively. Potentiation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate of forskolin-stimulated GHRH and SS release was observed. A23187 at 10 microM did not enhance forskolin-stimulated GHRH release, but did potentiate forskolin-stimulated SS release in a more than additive response. We conclude that there is 1) cAMP stimulation of hypothalamic GHRH and SS release, 2) a modulating role of protein kinase-C on cAMP-stimulated release of GHRH and SS, 3) a stimulatory role of the calcium messenger system for GHRH and SS release, 4) interaction of the signal pathways with differences in net GHRH and SS responses, and 5) a modulatory effect of protein kinase-C in perifused hypothalamic fragments which differs from the stimulation of basal GHRH and SS release reported in fetal-derived hypothalamic cell cultures. Our observations suggest an important regulatory role of interacting signal transduction systems in the hypothalamic secretion of GHRH and SS.