This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Venihaki, M. Articles by Margioris, A. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Venihaki, M. Articles by Margioris, A. N.

Comparative Study between Normal Rat Chromaffin and PC12 Rat Pheochromocytoma Cells: Production and Effects of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone¹

Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Iraklion, GR-711 10, Crete, Greece

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Andrew N. Margioris, Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Iraklion, GR-711 10, Crete, Greece. E-mail: andym{at}med.uch.gr

The adrenal medulla of several species and some human pheochromocytomas contain CRH. The first aim of the present work was to find out whether normal rat adrenal chromaffin cells and the PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line produce CRH in vitro and what regulates its production. CRH was measured and characterized in the media of both types of chromaffin cells under basal conditions and after exposure to K⁺, nicotine, interleukin-1ß, and nerve growth factor (NGF). The second aim was to examine the biological effect of exogenous CRH (and of its antagonist) on the production of catecholamines from these two types of cells. Our results are as follows: 1) Both types of chromaffin cells contained and secreted comparable amounts of immunoreactive-CRH under basal conditions and after K⁺-induced depolarization, nicotine, and interleukin-1ß; 2) the physicochemical characteristics of the immunoreactive-CRH in the cells and the media were identical to the putative CRH peptide on both sieve chromatography and RP-HPLC; 3) synthetic CRH induced the production of catecholamines from both cell types in a dose- and time-dependent manner; this effect was abolished by the antagonist, helical CRH; 4) exposure of PC12 cells to NGF (for 1 week) resulted in their neuronal differentiation and the stimulation of their production of CRH by 30 times and of dopamine by 10 times, compared with parallel controls; this effect of NGF was abolished by helical CRH. In conclusion, our data suggest that the production of CRH by PC12 cells represents the preservation of a normal chromaffin cell characteristic rather than a tumor-induced ectopic phenomenon.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Dermitzaki, C. Tsatsanis, V. Minas, E. Chatzaki, I. Charalampopoulos, M. Venihaki, A. Androulidaki, M. Lambropoulou, J. Spiess, E. Michalodimitrakis, et al. Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) and the Urocortins Differentially Regulate Catecholamine Secretion in Human and Rat Adrenals, in a CRF Receptor Type-Specific Manner Endocrinology, April 1, 2007; 148(4): 1524 - 1538. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Charalampopoulos, C. Tsatsanis, E. Dermitzaki, V.-I. Alexaki, E. Castanas, A. N. Margioris, and A. Gravanis Dehydroepiandrosterone and allopregnanolone protect sympathoadrenal medulla cells against apoptosis via antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins PNAS, May 25, 2004; 101(21): 8209 - 8214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Agelaki, C. Tsatsanis, A. Gravanis, and A. N. Margioris Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Augments Proinflammatory Cytokine Production from Macrophages In Vitro and in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endotoxin Shock in Mice Infect. Immun., November 1, 2002; 70(11): 6068 - 6074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Dermitzaki, C. Tsatsanis, A. Gravanis, and A. N. Margioris Corticotropin-releasing Hormone Induces Fas Ligand Production and Apoptosis in PC12 Cells via Activation of p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase J. Biol. Chem., March 29, 2002; 277(14): 12280 - 12287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Preil, M. B. Muller, A. Gesing, J. M. H. M. Reul, I. Sillaber, M. M. van Gaalen, J. Landgrebe, F. Holsboer, M. Stenzel-Poore, and W. Wurst Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical System in Mice Deficient for CRH Receptors 1 and 2 Endocrinology, November 1, 2001; 142(11): 4946 - 4955. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-H. Jeong, L. Jacobson, K. Pacak, E. P. Widmaier, D. S. Goldstein, and J. A. Majzoub Impaired Basal and Restraint-Induced Epinephrine Secretion in Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone- Deficient Mice Endocrinology, March 1, 2000; 141(3): 1142 - 1150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Ehrhart-Bornstein, J. P. Hinson, S. R. Bornstein, W. A. Scherbaum, and G. P. Vinson Intraadrenal Interactions in the Regulation of Adrenocortical Steroidogenesis Endocr. Rev., April 1, 1998; 19(2): 101 - 143. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Venihaki, K. Ain, E. Dermitzaki, A. Gravanis, and A. N. Margioris KAT45, a Noradrenergic Human Pheochromocytoma Cell Line Producing Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Endocrinology, February 1, 1998; 139(2): 713 - 722. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Seth and J. A. Majzoub Repressor Element Silencing Transcription Factor/Neuron-restrictive Silencing Factor (REST/NRSF) Can Act as an Enhancer as Well as a Repressor of Corticotropin-releasing Hormone Gene Transcription J. Biol. Chem., April 20, 2001; 276(17): 13917 - 13923. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]