Dopamine D2-receptor isoforms expressed in AtT20 cells inhibit Q-type high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels via a membrane-delimited pathway

Shannyn E. Wolfe, Daniel E. Howard, John A. Schetz, Caroline J. Cheng, Robert Webber, Diane M. Beatty, Bibie M. Chronwall, Stephen J. Morris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dopamine D2 receptors both acutely and chronically inhibit high- voltage-activated Ca2+ channels (HVA-CCs). Two alternatively spliced isoforms, D(2L) (long) and D(2S) (short), are expressed at high levels in rat pituitary intermediate lobe melanotropes but are lacking in anterior lobe corticotropes. We stably transfected D(2L) and D(2S) into corticotrope- derived AtT20 cells. Both isoforms coupled to inhibition of Q-type calcium channels through pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. Thus, we have created a model system in which to study the kinetics of D2-receptor regulation of Ca2+ channels. Rapid inhibition of HVA-CCs was characterized using a novel fluorescence video imaging technique for the measurement of millisecond kinetic events. We measured the time elapsed (lag time) between the arrival of depolarizing isotonic 66 mM K+, sensed by fluorescence from included carboxy-X-rhodamine (CXR), and the beginning of increased intracellular Ca2+ levels (sensed by changes in indo 1 fluorescence ratio). The lag time averaged 350-550 ms, with no significant differences among cell types. Addition of the D2-agonist quinpirole (250 μM) to the K+/CXR solution significantly increased the lag times for D2-expressing cells but did not alter the lag time for AtT20 controls. The increased lag times for D(2L)- and D(2S)-transfected cells suggest that at least a fraction of the Ca2+ channels was inhibited within the initial 350-550 ms. As this inhibition time is too fast for a multistep second messenger pathway, we conclude that inhibition occurs via a membrane-delimited diffusion mechanism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)479-490
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume72
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Fluorescence measurements
  • KCL and KCS cell lines
  • Melanotropes
  • Video microscopy

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