Pertussis toxin inhibits somatostatin-induced K+ conductance in human pituitary tumor cells.

The effect of pertussis toxin on somatostatin-induced K+ current was examined in dissociated human pituitary tumor cells obtained from two acromegalic patients. Somatostatin-induced hyperpolarization or K+ current was observed in 20 of 23 cells in adenoma 1 and 10 of 11 cells in adenoma 2. After treatment with pertussis toxin for 24 h, these responses were completely suppressed (0/14 in adenoma 1, 0/10 in adenoma 2). Spontaneous action potentials, K+, Na+, and Ca2+ currents were well preserved after pertussis toxin treatment. When crude membrane fraction was incubated with [32P]NAD, a 41K protein was ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. Hormone release was inhibited by somatostatin and this inhibition was blocked by pertussis toxin treatment.