Glucagon-induced refractoriness of hepatocyte adenylate cyclase: comparison of homologous and heterologous components and evidence against a role of cAMP.

Exposure of cultured hepatocytes to glucagon leads to a partial refractoriness of the adenylate cyclase both to glucagon (homologous desensitization) and to isoproterenol (heterologous desensitization). In contrast, isoproterenol produces a very strong homologous desensitization but almost no heterologous desensitization. The present study compared the pattern of the homologous and heterologous components of glucagon-induced desensitization in these cells, particularly during the first 4 hours, and examined the role of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the mechanism of refractoriness development. The decrease in glucagon-sensitive and isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities were closely parallel with respect to the extent, the time course and the dose required. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Bromo-cAMP) also reduced the hormone-responsive adenylate cyclase activity, but this effect developed more slowly than the desensitization after glucagon treatment. No consistent relationship was found between cAMP levels and induction of hormone refractoriness when the cells were exposed to glucagon, isoproterenol, cholera toxin or forskolin. Furthermore, addition of 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) (IBMX) which strongly amplified the cAMP response, did not potentiate the glucagon-induced desensitization of either glucagon-sensitive or isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. Taken together, the results suggest that homologous and heterologous desensitization of the adenylate cyclase developing after glucagon exposure occur by similar (agonist-non-specific) mechanisms which do not involve cAMP.