Intracellular signals involved in the stimulation of cardiomyocyte glucose transport by the -adrenergic agonist phenylephrine. Fischer, Y., J. Kamp, J. Thomas, S. P[diaeresis]opping, H. Rose, C. Carp[acute]en[acute]e, and H. Kammermeier. Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52057 Aachen, Germany, Solvay Deutschland GmbH., PH-FEBK1, Hans-B[diaeresis]ockler-Allee 20, D-30173 Hannover, Germany, I.N.S.E.R.M. U 317, Institut Louis Bugnard, Facult[acute]e de M[acute]edicine, C.H.U., Rangueil, F-31054, Toulouse, France
APStracts 2:0390C, 1995.
This study examines the potential intracellular signals mediating the stimulation of glucose transport by the -adrenergic agonist phenylephrine in cardiomyocytes. Phenylephrine caused a rapid rise (within 5?min) in the cytosolic calcium concentration by 30%. However, other interventions inducing a similar calcium response were ineffective in stimulating glucose transport (treatment with angiotensin II, or vasopressin), or even inhibited the basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport by 20% (elevation of extracellular calcium concentration). The stimulatory action of the diacylglycerol analogue phorbol myristate acetate on glucose transport was additive to both the fast (4?min), and the slow phase (60?min) of phenylephrine-induced transport stimulation. Phenylephrine had no influence on the cellular content of cAMP and cGMP, and agents rising cAMP (isoprenaline), or cGMP (nitroprusside, 8- bromo-cGMP, atrial natriuretic peptide) did not stimulate glucose transport. Wortmannin (an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol-3 -kinase) had no influence on the phenylephrine-dependent glucose transport, but suppressed the action of insulin. In contrast, the Na+/H+-exchange inhibitor amiloride (known to block the phenylephrine-induced cytosolic alkalinization, or even to lower the cellular pH) depressed the effect of phenylephrine by 50%, while the basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport rates were not or little affected. However, raising the extracellular pH from 7.4 up to 8.4 failed to increase glucose transport. On the other hand, lowering the pH from 7.4 to 6.8 decreased phenylephrine's stimulation of glucose transport by 40%, whereas the basal and insulin-dependent were not significantly altered. Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (which block the intracellular degradation of catecholamines), such as clorgyline or tranylcypromine, and exogenously added catalase decreased the overall effect of phenylephrine by 50%, and by 20%, resp. This inhibition only affected the slow phase of the catecholamine's action, while amiloride also depressed the fast phase. We conclude that (i) the stimulation of cardiomyocyte glucose transport by phenylephrine does not involve cAMP or cGMP, nor a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase; (ii) protein kinase C activation cannot explain the full extent of stimulation; (iii) a calcium release, or a cytosolic alkalinization might be required, but are not sufficient to trigger phenylephrine's action. The slow phase of transport stimulation is mediated by the monoamine-oxidase dependent degradation of phenylephrine, and by the resulting hydrogen peroxide formation.

Received 24 July 1995; accepted in final form 17 October 1995.
APS Manuscript Number C450-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 6 November 95