Evidence that ethanol induces prolactin secretion in GH4C1 cells by producing cell swelling with resultant calcium influx

Endocrinology
N SatoS McAdams

Abstract

Although acute exposure to ethanol has been reported to affect hormone secretion, the data are sometimes conflicting, and the mechanism of action of ethanol is unclear. We have examined in GH4C1 cells the effect of isotonic ethanol on cell volume measured with a Coulter counter, the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) monitored with fura-2, and PRL secretion analyzed in a perifusion system. Isotonic ethanol caused prompt cell swelling and an explosive rise in both [Ca2+]i and PRL secretion proportional to the concentration of ethanol between 5-120 mM. The increases in both [Ca2+]i and PRL secretion induced by 80 mM isotonic ethanol were essentially abolished by removal of medium Ca2+ or by nifedipine; the nifedipine IC50 was approximately 20 nM. Cell swelling induced by hyposmolarity or isotonic urea similarly increased both [Ca2+]i and PRL secretion. Hypertonic ethanol did not cause cell swelling and was ineffective in inducing an increase in either [Ca2+]i or PRL secretion. These data suggest that in GH4C1 cells a major mechanism by which ethanol stimulates PRL secretion is to induce cell swelling, thus producing enhanced Ca2+ influx through dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

Citations

Nov 1, 1991·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·N SatoM A Greer
Aug 1, 1992·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·N SatoM A Greer
Feb 1, 1994·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·H J MauceriS Conway
Oct 6, 1997·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·H EyssericL Barret
May 1, 1993·Journal of Neurochemistry·H K KimelbergP A Rossman
Feb 11, 1998·Physiological Reviews·F LangD Häussinger
Jan 24, 2003·American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology·A P SealeE G Grau

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