Mechanisms of action of a second generation growth hormone-releasing peptide (Ala-His-D-beta Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) in rat anterior pituitary cells

The mechanism by which GH-releasing Peptides elicit GH secretion has remained largely unknown. In this study, the effects of a second generation GH-releasing peptide, Ala-His-D-beta Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2(GHRP-1), on cAMP, intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), and GH release were examined using rat pituitary gland static monolayer cell cultures. It was found that GHRP-1 increased GH release in a dose-dependent manner up to 3-fold, while having no effect on cAMP levels. In contrast, simultaneous elevations of cAMP and GH were observed after treatment with GHRH. To further define the underlying mechanism of GHRP-1-mediated GH release, its effect on [Ca2+]i was determined using a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, fura-2. GHRP-1 dose dependently increased [Ca2+]i up to 45.5 nM +/- 5.6 nM. A similar elevation of [Ca2+]i was observed after GHRH treatment. Similar to GHRH, GHRP-1-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and GH release were inhibited by somatostatin. Furthermore, the GHRP-1-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and GH were also suppressed by nifedipine. The interaction between the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and GHRP-1 was investigated in cells maximally stimulated by KCl. The addition of GHRP-1 had no effect on the KCl-stimulated GH release. To investigate the possible interaction between the adenylyl cyclase pathway and GHRP-1, cells were maximally stimulated with forskolin or (Bu)2cAMP. Addition of GHRP-1 stimulated GH release beyond that observed using cAMP elevating agents. Similar results were obtained in the presence of a protein kinase C, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The GHRP-1-stimulated GH release was additive to that observed with PMA stimulation. Based on these findings, it was concluded that 1) GHRP-1 treatment leads to an increase in [Ca2+]i; 2) unlike GHRH, GHRP-1 releases GH via a Ca(2+)-dependent, cAMP-independent mechanism; 3) GHRP-1-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and GH release are sensitive to somatostatin inhibition; and 4) cAMP-elevating agents and PMA have an additive effect on the GHRP-1-stimulated GH release, indicating these agents stimulate GH release via a mechanism separate from that of GHRP-1.