RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Effects of cellular interactions on calcium dynamics in prolactin-secreting cells A1 Abraham, Elizabeth J. A1 Villalobos Jorge, Carlos A1 Frawley, L. Stephen K1 Cellular Interaction K1 Interacción celular K1 Calcium K1 Calcio K1 Prolactin K1 Prolactina AB Signals derived from other pituitary cells can have a dramatic effect on PRL gene expression and secretion by mammotropes. However, the intracellular mechanisms by which these effects are manifested on the target cell remain unexplored. Inasmuch as calcium is a key modulator of both gene expression and hormone export in mammotropes, we evaluated the effects of cell to cell contact vs. specific cellular interactions on calcium dynamics within these cells. This was accomplished by digital-imaging fluorescence microscopy of fura-2 in pituitary cells that were isolated in culture (singles) or adjoining one other cell (doublets). After calcium imaging, we then subjected cells to immunocytochemistry for PRL. Doublets were further categorized into mammotropes attached to another mammotrope (M-M) or to a nonmammotrope (M-nonM). We then calculated and compared Mean[ Ca2+]i values as well as Oscillation Indices (which reflect the oscillatory behavior of cells) in singles and doublets and found that they were not different (P> 0.05). However, the phenotype of the adjoining cell had a profound influence on both of these calcium parameters, such that the presence of one mammotrope could consistently decrease (P < 0.05) the Mean [Ca2+]i value (39.17 ± 3.83 vs. 56.24 ± 5.56 in M-nonM) and Oscillation Index (10.19 ± 1.76 vs. 21.21 ± 3.73 in M-nonM) of its neighboring counterpart. A more detailed analysis of oscillatory patterns in these cells revealed that nonoscillators were more abundant in M-M (23%) than in M-nonM (12%) doublets. Taken together, our results indicate that PRL-secreting cells convey a signal that dampens the oscillatory behavior of neighboring mammotropes. Thus, it appears that it is the phenotype rather than the physical presence of a neighbor that controls intercellular regulation of calcium dynamics among mammotropes. PB Oxford University Press SN 1945-7170 YR 1998 FD 1998 LK http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/45080 UL http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/45080 LA eng NO Endocrinology, 1998, vol. 139, n. 6. p. 2988-2993 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 26-dic-2024