International journal of molecular medicine
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Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a basic 38-amino acid peptide, which acts through three main G protein-coupled VIP/PACAP receptor subtypes, called PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2. We have investigated the expression and function of PACAP and its receptors in the rat adrenal gland. Reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and radioimmune assay (RIA) allowed the detection of PACAP expression as mRNA and protein exclusively in adrenal medulla (AM). ⋯ Aldosterone response of ZG cells and catecholamine response of AM tissue to PACAP38 (10(-7) M) were reduced by the adenylate cyclase (AC) and phospholipase-C (PLC) inhibitors (I) SQ-22536 and U-73122, as well as by the protein kinase (PK)A-I H-89 and PKC-I calphostin-C. Conversely, the secretory responses of both ZG and AM preparations to VPAC2-ago were annulled by PLC-I, lowered by PKC-I, and unaffected by either AC-I or PKA-I. Collectively, our findings allow us to conclude that in the rat adrenals: i) PACAP biosynthesis exclusively occurs in the AM; ii) ZG cells are provided with functional VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors, whose activation by PACAP evokes a moderate aldosterone response; iii) AM cells possess all the subtypes of VIP/PACAP receptors, whose activation by PACAP elicits a marked catecholamine response; and iv) PAC1 receptors are coupled to the AC-dependent cascade, VPAC1 receptors to both the AC- and PLC-dependent cascades, and VPAC2 receptors exclusively to the PLC-dependent cascade.