Advertisement
Browse Subject Areas
?

Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here.

  • Loading metrics

Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Expression and Activity of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels in the Mouse Anterior Pituitary

  • Jianyang Du ,

    jianyang-du@uiowa.edu

    Affiliations Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America, Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America

    ⨯
  • Leah R. Reznikov,

    Affiliation Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America

    ⨯
  • Michael J. Welsh

    Affiliations Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America, Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America

    ⨯

Abstract

Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that are expressed in the nervous system and play an important role in fear learning and memory. The function of ASICs in the pituitary, an endocrine gland that contributes to emotions, is unknown. We sought to investigate which ASIC subunits were present in the pituitary and found mRNA expression for all ASIC isoforms, including ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, ASIC3 and ASIC4. We also observed acid-evoked ASIC-like currents in isolated anterior pituitary cells that were absent in mice lacking ASIC1a. The biophysical properties and the responses to PcTx1, amiloride, Ca2+ and Zn2+ suggested that ASIC currents were mediated predominantly by heteromultimeric channels that contained ASIC1a and ASIC2a or ASIC2b. ASIC currents were also sensitive to FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe amide), suggesting that FMRFamide-like compounds might endogenously regulate pituitary ASICs. To determine whether ASICs might regulate pituitary cell function, we applied low pH and found that it increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These data suggest that ASIC channels are present and functionally active in anterior pituitary cells and may therefore influence their function.

Citation: Du J, Reznikov LR, Welsh MJ (2014) Expression and Activity of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels in the Mouse Anterior Pituitary. PLoS ONE 9(12): e115310. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310

Editor: Candice Askwith, The Ohio State University, United States of America

Received: July 25, 2014; Accepted: November 21, 2014; Published: December 15, 2014

Copyright: © 2014 Du et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: The authors confirm that all data underlying the findings are fully available without restriction. All relevant data are within the paper.

Funding: This work was supported by Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are members of the epithelial sodium channel/degenerin superfamily that are activated by reduced extracellular pH. To date, six proteins of the ASIC family have been identified (ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, ASIC3 and ASIC4). ASICs assemble as homo- or hetero-trimers to form proton-gated, voltage-insensitive, Na+ and Ca2+ permeable channels [1]–[9].

We recently reported that protons are a neurotransmitter and ASICs are a receptor that regulates synaptic transmission in the amygdala [10]. Disruption of the ASIC1a gene eliminates amygdala ASIC currents for pH values >5 and attenuates the acquisition of fear learning and memory. In contrast, overexpressing ASIC1a enhances fear conditioning (an animal model of acquired anxiety) [11]–[13]. These results suggested that ASICs might contribute to psychiatric disorders in which anxiety is a key component [11]. In addition, loss of ASIC currents in mice produces antidepressant-like effects [14].

While these data suggest that ASIC channels in the central nervous system might be involved in psychiatric illnesses, it is also possible that ASICs in other regions outside the CNS might also contribute. One such region is the anterior pituitary, an endocrine gland that secretes hormones critical for coordinating physiological responses to stress, as well as reproductive, metabolic, and developmental processes [15]. Indeed, an ASIC subunit, ASIC4, is highly expressed in the pituitary gland [16]. Although ASIC4 is not activated by a reduced pH, its presence suggests that other ASICs might play a role in pituitary function. In addition, similar to neurons, pituitary cells are excitable, express voltage-gated ion channels [17], [18], and release hormones in a Ca2+-dependent manner [18]–[20]. Thus, intracellular Ca2+, [Ca2+]i, in pituitary cells is crucial for overall pituitary function. ASICs are responsible for a proton-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in many types of cells [21]–[23]. Therefore, ASICs were likely candidates to regulate pituitary gland function.

In this study, we asked whether ASICs are expressed in the pituitary gland and function as a proton receptor that detects changes in extracellular pH. Using a combination of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and [Ca2+]i imaging, we identified ASIC expression and function in freshly isolated or cultured mouse anterior pituitary cells.

Results

RT-PCR analysis identified transcripts for ASIC subunits in mouse anterior pituitary cells

To determine whether ASICs were present in the pituitary, we performed RT-PCR for ASIC subunits. We found mRNA for ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a and ASIC2b in freshly isolated pituitary cells (Fig. 1). We also detected ASIC3 mRNA, although expression was low relative to dorsal root ganglion (DRG). We also detected expression of ASIC4, which is enriched in the pituitary compared to other organs [16].

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 1. Detection of ASIC mRNA in freshly isolated mouse anterior pituitary tissue by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

ASIC1a (product size 415b p), ASIC1b (product size 437 bp), ASIC2a (product size 481 bp), ASIC2b (product size 240 bp), ASIC3 (product size 300 bp), and ASIC4 (product size 740 bp) were all detected in cDNA of freshly isolated pituitary tissue. Positive and negative controls were performed using DRG, adipose and liver tissue.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g001

Acidic pH activated ASIC-like currents in freshly isolated mouse anterior pituitary cells

Because our PCR studies suggested that ASICs are expressed in the pituitary, we probed for ASIC function using patch-clamp electrophysiology. With a holding potential of −70 mV, we discovered that reducing extracellular pH from 7.0 to 5.0 activated a transient ASIC-like current in 83% (60 of 72 cells) freshly isolated mouse anterior pituitary cells (Fig. 2A). The amplitude of the transient current increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the average current density of acid-activated ASIC-like currents shown in the inset of Fig. 2B. Although the ASIC-like current amplitude was small compared to that in many neurons, the size of pituitary cells is also small (∼8 pF). Thus, the current density (pA/pF) is not far from that in neurons [10], [24]. In most pituitary cells, the threshold of pH to elicit ASIC-like current was 7.0, with the maximum response occurring at ∼5.0, although the current amplitude may not have completely saturated at pH 5 (Fig. 2A, 2B). The EC50 of pH was 6.1±0.1 (n = 8, Fig. 2B), which was slightly lower than the anticipated EC50 for homomeric ASIC1a (EC50  =  ∼6.2–6.8) or ASIC3 (transient component, EC50  =  ∼6.2–6.7) channels, but higher than the anticipated EC50 of homomeric ASIC2 (EC50  =  ∼4.1–5.0) channel [25]. Therefore, these results suggested that the ASIC-like current in pituitary cells is probably mediated via heteromultimeric channels, although these data do not exclude ASIC1b homomultimers (EC50  =  ∼5.1–6.2).

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 2. Acid-activated currents in freshly isolated mouse anterior pituitary cells.

A. Representative ASIC currents elicited by solutions with the indicated pH in wild-type (WT) and ASIC1a-/- pituitary cells at −70 mV holding potential. The cells were held at pH 7.4 before and in between applications of acid. Note, no acid-activated currents were detected in ASIC1a-/- cells (n = 8 each). B. pH-dependent activation of ASIC currents. Best-fit yielded an EC50 pH of 6.1±0.1 (n = 8). Inset, the average current density of acid-activated currents. C. Example of pH-dependence of the decay time constant (τd) of ASIC currents in anterior pituitary cells. The decay times were fitted by a single exponential equation. D. The pH-dependence of the decay time constant (τd) (n = 5).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g002

To confirm that the ASIC-like currents were conducted by ASIC channels, we applied a low pH (7.0 to 5.0) to pituitary cells from ASIC1a-/- mice and found that acid-activated currents were eliminated (Fig. 2A). These data suggest that the acid-induced current in anterior pituitary cells is conducted primarily through ASIC1a-containing channels and not ASIC3-containing channels as no ASIC-like currents persisted in ASIC1a-/- cells.

Proton-gated currents had electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of ASICs

To further examine the biophysical properties of ASIC currents, we measured desensitization rates to solutions with varying pH values (Fig. 2C). The desensitization rate was measured by fitting the desensitization phase of the current with a single-exponential equation. Previous studies have shown that the decay times of ASICs decrease with lower pH [24], [26]–[28]. Similar to that earlier work, we found that the decay times of the ASIC currents were pH-dependent (Fig. 2D). The decay time constant (τd) for ASIC currents activated at pH 5.0 was 0.57±0.04 s, at pH 5.5 was 0.89±0.06 s, at pH 6.0 was 1.20±0.13 s, at pH 6.5 was 2.20±0.35 s, and at pH 7.0 was 3.22±0.60 s (n = 5, Fig. 2C, 2D).

Amiloride, a non-specific ASIC blocker, inhibits ASIC currents in many cell types [1], [24], [26], [27], [29]–[33]. We found that amiloride also inhibited ASIC currents in anterior pituitary cells (Fig. 3). Amiloride's effects were dose-dependent (Fig. 3A) with an IC50 of 6.3±1.0 µM (Fig. 3B). This sensitivity is slightly higher than that for recombinant homomeric ASIC channels (ASIC1a ∼10 µM; ASIC1b ∼21–23 µM; ASIC2a ∼28 µM; ASIC3 ∼16–63 µM) [25]. The amiloride-sensitivity we observed in anterior pituitary cells is consistent with previous studies showing variable blockage by amiloride of ASICs in HEK 293 cells (IC50 of 2.2 µM) [32], rat suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons (IC50 of 14 µM) [33], PC12 cells (IC50 of 0.68 µM) [26], and dorsal horn neurons (IC50 of 16.2 µM) [30].

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 3. The effects of ASIC channel blockers on ASIC currents in freshly isolated anterior pituitary cells.

A. Representative ASIC currents elicited by pH 5.5 with various concentrations of amiloride. Holding potential was −70 mV. The cells were held at pH 7.4 before and in between applications of pH 5.5. Amiloride was applied during acid application. B. Summary data showing the dose-dependent block of ASIC currents by amiloride in anterior pituitary cells (n = 7). Currents were normalized to the control condition (without amiloride). The IC50 of amiloride block was 6.3±1.0 µM (n = 7). C. Representative ASIC currents in WT and ASIC2-/- cells elicited by pH 5.5 with 100 nM PcTx1. Cells were pre-treated with PcTx1 in pH 7.4 for 1 min and then were perfused with pH 5.5 containing 100 nM PcTx1. Holding potential was −70 mV. D. Summary data showing the block of ASIC currents by 100 nM PcTx1 in anterior pituitary cells from WT (n = 7) and ASIC2-/- mice (n = 6). * P<0.05 compared to control, Student's t-test.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g003

To further identify the ASIC subunits, we applied PcTx1, which blocks homomeric ASIC1a and heteromeric ASIC1a/2b channels [34], [35]. PcTx1 (100 nM applied 1 min before a pH reduction) inhibited the response to pH 5.5 by 44±5% (Fig. 3C, 3D). We also tested the effect of PcTx1 on ASIC2-/- anterior pituitary cells and found that 100 nM PcTx1 inhibited 90±2% of pH 5.5-induced current (Fig. 3C, 3D). PcTx1 inhibition of about half the current suggests that either homomeric ASIC1a or ASIC1a/2b channels contribute to the H+-evoked current because PcTx1 inhibits those channels [34], [35]. Finding that about half the current was PcTx1-insensitive suggests that ASIC1a/2a channels contribute. Because PcTx1 blocked most of the current in ASIC2-/- cells, ASIC1a/1b and ASIC3 likely make little, if any, contribution to the current because those channels are PcTx1-insensitive.

ASICs have also been shown to exhibit sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ [36]. The increase in extracellular Ca2+ inhibits ASIC1a and ASIC3 currents by shifting the pH-dependence of activation to more acidic values. An elegant model also suggested that Ca2+ blocks the open pore of ASIC [36], [37]. We tested the effects of varying the extracellular Ca2+ concentration on ASIC currents in anterior pituitary cells. We perfused with a bath solution that contained 2 mM Ca2+ and evoked ASIC currents with a pH of 5.5. Increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration reduced ASIC currents, whereas decreasing Ca2+ enhanced ASIC currents (Fig. 4A). The best-fit analysis revealed an IC50 of 357±20 µM (Fig. 4B). This value is much lower than that reported in several previous studies (dorsal horn neurons, IC50 is 4.1 mM [30]; hippocampus CA1 neurons, IC50 is ∼2–5 mM [38]; recombinant ASIC1a, IC50 is 3.9±1.0 mM [37]. Thus, we suspect that pituitary ASICs might have unique heteromultimeric channel and/or associated protein combinations that contribute to its Ca2+ sensitivity.

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 4. The effects of extracellular Ca2+ on ASIC currents in freshly isolated anterior pituitary cells.

A. Representative ASIC currents elicited by pH 5.5 with various concentrations of extracellular Ca2+. Holding potential was −70 mV. Ca2+ concentrations from 0 µM to 10 mM at pH 7.4 were applied for 2 minutes and ASIC currents were activated by pH 5.5 for 5 sec with the same Ca2+ concentration. B. Summary data showing the dose-dependent block of ASIC currents by Ca2+. The IC50 of Ca2+ block was 357±20 µM (n = 7).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g004

Previous studies indicate that Zn2+ potentiates homomeric and heteromultimeric channels that contain ASIC2a (ASIC2a, ASIC1a/2a, and ASIC2a/3) in the micromolar range [27], [39], but inhibit homomeric ASIC1a channels in the nanomolar range and ASIC3 channels in the micromolar range [40], [41]. Thus, to gain further insight into pituitary ASIC channel properties, we tested the effects of Zn2+ on freshly isolated anterior pituitary cells. Similar to previous studies in heteromeric ASIC1a/2a channels [39], we found that 100 µM Zn2+ increased the pH-sensitivity of ASIC current with a shift in the pH EC50 from 6.1±0.1 (control) to 6.4±0.1 (with 100 µM Zn2+) (Fig. 5A, 5B). However, in contrast to studies of recombinant ASIC1a/2a subunits expressed in oocytes, micromolar Zn2+ reduced the peak amplitude of ASIC currents (Fig. 5C). Thus, while the increased pH-sensitivity is consistent with data from recombinant ASIC1a/2a heteromultimers, the decreased amplitude is not. The reason for the difference is unknown, but suggests that the endogenous system may be more complex than recombinant system. Interestingly, micromolar Zn2+ has been reported to reduce current amplitude in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus [33].

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 5. The effects of extracellular Zn2+ on ASIC currents in freshly isolated anterior pituitary cells.

A. Representative pH-dependent activation of ASIC currents in control without (control, upper) and with (lower) 100 µM Zn2+. Cells were perfused with 100 µM Zn2+ at pH 7.4 for 2 min, and then were tested with solutions at the indicated pHs (∼5 sec) that also contained 100 µM Zn2+. B. Best-fit of the pH-dependent activation of ASIC currents yielded an EC50 pH of 6.1±0.1 (control, n = 8) and 6.4±0.1 (with 100 µM Zn2+, n = 8). C. Top, representative data of the dose-dependent effect of Zn2+ on ASIC current amplitude. Zn2+ concentrations from 0 µM to 1 mM at pH 7.4 were applied for 2 minutes and ASIC currents were activated by 5 s of pH 6.0 with the same Zn2+ concentration. Bottom, average data of the inhibitory effects of Zn2+ (n = 9). * P<0.05, compared with 0 µM Zn2+ group, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett's multiple comparison test.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g005

FMRFamide modulated ASIC currents in anterior pituitary cells

FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe amide) is a neuropeptide that acts as neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in invertebrates. Askwith et al reported that pretreatment with 100 µM FMRFamide potentiated ASIC currents [42]. To determine whether ASICs in anterior pituitary cells also display this property, we pretreated cells with 100 µM FMRFamide for 30 sec and found significant potentiation of the transient component of ASIC current (66±31% more than control, n = 7) (Fig. 6A, 6B). In addition, the sustained component of the ASIC current is increased after FMRFamide (Fig. 6C, 6D). These results suggest that pituitary ASICs might be modulated by endogenous FMRFamide-like neurotransmitters.

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 6. Effects of FMRFamide on ASIC currents in freshly isolated anterior pituitary cells.

A, C. Representative traces of pH 5.0 activated ASIC currents, with and without 30 second pretreatment with 100 µM FMRFamide. FMRFamide potentiated the pH 5.0 induced peak (A) and sustained (C) currents. B, D. Average data showing potentiation of current by FMRFamide as shown in A and C (n = 7). * P<0.05, Student's t-test.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g006

Application of acid to anterior pituitary cells induced a [Ca2+]i increase

An increased [Ca2+]i controls hormone release in anterior pituitary cells [18], [43]. Because activation of ASIC1a-containing heteromultimeric channels can increase [Ca2+]i [21]–[23], we hypothesized that extracellular application of acid in anterior pituitary cells might increase [Ca2+]i. We used a ratiometric Ca2+ imaging method to detect changes in [Ca2+]i. Decreasing pH from 7.4 to 5.0 triggered a transient increase in [Ca2+]i in 82% (124/152 cells) of cultured mouse anterior pituitary cells (Fig. 7). Consistent with activation of ASICs, the increase in [Ca2+]i was inhibited by 100 µM amiloride. Previous studies indicate that activation of ASICs might increase [Ca2+]i either directly by allowing Ca2+ influx [21], [23], [44] or indirectly by depolarizing the cell membrane and activating voltage-gated Ca2+ channels [22]. Our data do not discriminate between these two mechanisms.

thumbnail
Download:
Figure 7. Acid-induced [Ca2+]i increase in cultured anterior pituitary cells.

A. Fluorescence (F340/F380 ratio) was measured under indicated conditions. Top, representative image under indicated conditions. Bottom, average traces of F/F0, (F340/F380)/(F340/F380 at pH 7.4). Applications of 2 µM ionomycin at the end of the recordings served as a positive control (n = 6). B. Average values of F/F0. pH 5.0 increased the F340/F380 ratio to 118±5% compared to the ratio at pH 7.4. Amiloride inhibited the pH 5.0 induced ratio changes (104±2% as baseline), n = 6. * P<0.05, one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc multiple comparison test.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115310.g007

Discussion

Our RT-PCR analysis of pituitary identified transcripts for six ASIC subunits: ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, ASIC3 and ASIC4. The electrophysiological experiments then established that anterior pituitary cells expressed ASIC currents. The following biophysical and pharmacological properties of the acid-induced currents suggested which ASIC subunits might contribute to the H+-gated currents.

First, because disrupting the ASIC1a gene eliminated the currents, we conclude that ASIC1 subunits are a key component of the H+-gated currents, and ASIC3 made little if any contribution. If ASIC3 were involved, then acid-evoked currents should have persisted in ASIC1a-/- anterior pituitary cells. In addition, ASIC3 transcripts were reduced in anterior pituitary compared to dorsal root ganglia.

Second, results from PcTx1 experiments have implications for the subunits involved. a) Homomeric ASIC1a and/or ASIC1a/2b channels might contribute to the current because PcTx1 inhibited about half the current, and PcTx1 inhibits those channels [34], [45]. b) ASIC1a/2a channels are likely to contribute, because PcTx1 inhibited only about half the current, and ASIC1a/2a subunits are PcTx1-insensitive. c) ASIC1b, ASIC1a/1b and ASIC3 likely make little, if any, contribution to the current in anterior pituitary cells because PcTx1 blocked most of the current in ASIC2-/- cells and those channels are PcTx1-insensitive.

Third, the properties of the H+-evoked currents suggested that neither ASIC1 nor ASIC2 homomultimers generated the acid-activated current. For example, the EC50 for pH activation of anterior pituitary H+-gated currents (pH 6.1±0.1) was much higher than that for ASIC2a homomultimers (pH 4.1–5.0) [3], [8], [28], [46] and ASIC2b homomultimers do not generate current [3], [6], [8]. Although the EC50 for pH activation of anterior pituitary cell currents was in the range observed with ASIC1a (pH 5.8–6.8) [1], [34], [46]–[52] and ASIC1b (pH 5.1–6.2) [46], [47], [53] homomultimers, the current decay time we observed (0.57 sec) is slower than that for ASIC1a (0.25 sec) or ASIC1b (0.44 sec) homomultimers [28].

Fourth, the IC50 for amiloride inhibition of ASIC currents in anterior pituitary cells (6.3 µM) was lower than for ASIC1a or ASIC1b homomultimers (10 µM and 21–23 µM, respectively) [25].

Fifth, the EC50 of pH activation of anterior pituitary cell currents (pH 6.1) is in the range of that for homomeric ASIC1a (EC50  =  pH 5.8) and ASIC1a/2a (EC50  =  pH 5.5) and ASIC1a/2b (EC50  =  pH 6.2) heteromultimers [28]. Currents generated by ASIC heteromultimers would be consistent with previous studies indicating that heteromultimers of subunits account for most neuronal H+-gated current in DRG neurons [46], [54], hippocampal neurons [31], [35], [55], cerebellar purkinje neurons [29], suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons [33], PC12 cells [26], cortical neurons [24], olfactory bulb mitral/tufted neurons [27] and dorsal horn neurons [30].

Sixth, the effects of Ca2+ and Zn2+ would not be predicted for ASIC1 homomultimers. Extracellular Ca2+ inhibited H+-gated current with an IC50 of 357±20 µM, lower than that reported for ASIC1a (3.9±1.0 mM) or ASIC1b (>10 mM) homomultimers [37]. In addition, Zn2+ shifted the pH EC50 of anterior pituitary ASIC currents to more alkaline values; previous work showed that Zn2+ increased the pH-sensitivity of heteromultimeric ASIC1a/2a channels in the micromolar range [39]. Micromolar Zn2+ also reduced ASIC current amplitude; the explanation is uncertain, but Zn2+ can inhibit ASIC3 in the micromolar range [40], [41].

Taken together, the data are most consistent with H+-gated currents generated by ASIC1a/2a and ASIC1a/2b heteromultimers and ASIC1a homomultimers. However, not every property of the acid-evoked currents aligned precisely with the properties observed in studies of recombinant ASIC subunits expressed in heterologous cells. Thus, some uncertainty exists when comparing data from recombinant and endogenous ASIC currents.

ASIC currents in anterior pituitary cells were unexpectedly sensitive to extracellular Ca2+ compared to results obtained with cells from other brain regions. For example, previous studies in dorsal horn and CA1 hippocampal neurons suggest that extracellular Ca2+ inhibits proton-gated currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 4.1 mM [30] and 2–5 mM, respectively [38]. This contrasts with the IC50 of Ca2+ (357±2 µM) on pituitary cell ASICs. We suspect that the ASIC subunits or associated proteins in pituitary cells might have some differences from those in other neurons. One possibility is that this behavior is conferred by ASIC4, which is highly expressed in the pituitary gland. Arguing against that possibility is the lack of evidence to support a function of ASIC4 in regulating other ASIC subunits.

We recently reported that protons are a neurotransmitter and ASICs are a postsynaptic receptor in amygdala neurons [10]. Our current data suggest that this ligand-receptor pair may also serve an important role in the function of anterior pituitary cells. Finding a proton-induced increase in [Ca2+]i is suggestive, because Ca2+ is a crucial trigger for hormone secretion in pituitary cells [18], [20]. Pituitary cells store peptide hormones in vesicles and an increased Ca2+ initiates their exocytosis into the extracellular space. It is also interesting that FMRFamide, a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in invertebrates, regulates anterior pituitary cell ASIC currents. Although FMRFamide is not present in vertebrates, other RFamides have been reported in the vertebrate central nervous system and the endogenous RFamide-related peptides inhibit ASIC1a steady-state desensitization [45], [56], [57]. Thus, FMRFamide-like peptide modulation of ASICs might also influence anterior pituitary function.

Discovering ASIC channel currents in anterior pituitary cells suggests that they may influence pituitary cell hormone secretion. However, it remains uncertain whether or not the anterior pituitary has physiological variations in extracellular pH. We speculate that variations in local metabolic activity may transiently reduce pH in a manner similar to what can occur in the brain [21], [58], [59]. If so protons and ASICs may regulate anterior pituitary function. This might be especially important for depression and anxiety, in which an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) has been implicated [60], [61].

Methods

Mice and ethic statement

ASIC1a-/- mice were described previously [62]. ASIC1a-/- and wild-type mice were maintained on a congenic C57BL/6 background. Experimental groups were matched for age (8–10 weeks old). Mice were kept on a standard 12 hour light-dark cycle and received standard chow (LM-485; Teklab, Madison, WI, USA) and water ad libitum. The University of Iowa Animal Care and Use Committee approved all procedures. All efforts were made to minimize suffering.

Anterior pituitary cell isolation and culture

Mice were anesthetized with isoflurane, the pituitaries were removed, they were washed three times with DMEM/F12 medium (Invitrogen), and the posterior lobes were removed under a dissection microscope. The anterior lobes were then incubated with stirring in a hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) containing 0.5% collagenase type 1 (Sigma-Aldrich) and 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 37°C for 10 to 25 min. The tissues were then switched to a new HBSS containing 0.25% trypsin (Life Technologies) and digested at 37°C for 5 min. After digestion, cells were placed in fresh DMEM/F12 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and pipetted up and down with P-1000 until much of the tissue was broken up. Some of the isolated cells were then seeded onto coverslips for 1 hour for use in electrophysiological recordings. The remaining cells were seeded into 35 mm culture dishes and cultured for 1–2 weeks at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere incubator. The cultured anterior pituitary cells were used for Ca2+ imaging.

Patch-clamp recording

Freshly isolated anterior pituitary cells were used for patch-clamp recordings. The pipette solution for whole-cell patch clamp recordings contained (in mM) 135 Cs-methanesulfonate (CsSO3CH3), 8 NaCl, 1 EGTA, and 10 HEPES (mOsm∼290, adjusted to pH 7.25 with CsOH). The standard extracellular bath solution for whole-cell recording contained (mM): 145 NaCl, 5 KCl, 2 CaCl2, 10 HEPES and 10 glucose, pH was adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH. In some experiments, 5 mM EGTA was added to the bath solution to buffer Ca2+ concentration. MaxChelator software (http://www.stanford.edu/~cpatton/webmaxcS.htm) was used to calculate free Ca2+ concentrations. The acidic pH solutions were prepared as described previously [10]. In brief, the 10 mM HEPES that was used in the solutions at pH 7.4, 7.0 and 6.5 was replaced by 10 mM MES for the solutions at pH≤6. All chemicals were ordered from Sigma-Aldrich. Psalmotoxin-1 (PcTX1) was ordered from Peptides International. In most cases, we analyzed the current amplitude, not current density. For the analysis of current amplitude, we did not analyze cells with “run down” of greater than 20% of the original amplitude.

Ratiometric Ca2+ imaging

We used cultured cells for [Ca2+]i imaging because they adhere to the coverslip much better than acutely isolated cells. The cultured anterior pituitary cells on glass coverslips were loaded with 5 µM of the ratiometric Ca2+ dye Fura-2 +0.02% Pluronic-F127 at room temperature for 1–1.5 hour. Fura-2 has an emission peak at 505 nm and dual excitation peaks at 340 nm and 380 nm. The 340/380 nm excitation ratio of fura-2 reports changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Cells were then washed with the bath solution containing (in mM) 140 NaCl, 4.7 KCl, 1.2 MgCl2, 1.2 KH2PO4, 1.3 CaCl2, 10 HEPES, 10 glucose, and pH was adjusted to 7.35 with NaOH. [Ca2+]i was measured by perfusing the cells with the patch-clamp bath solution (pH 7.4 and pH 5.0) described above. At the end of each measurement, 2 µM ionomycin was applied as an internal control. The fluorescence of 340∶380 nm ratio was measured and data were analyzed using NIS-Elements (Nikon).

RT-PCR analysis

Total RNA was isolated from freshly dissected anterior pituitary tissue using Qiagen RNAeasy kits and reverse transcribed using VILO mastermix. Primer sequences for amplifying ASIC1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3 and ASIC4 subunits were previously described [63] [64]. Primers were used for growth hormone were: FWD: 5′CAGCCTGATGTTTGGTACCTCGGA3′; RVS: 5′GCGGCGACACTTCATGACCCGCA3′. 25ng of cDNA was used and PCR amplification was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Products were run on an agarose gel and visualized with UV light.

Data Analysis

Data are presented as means ± SEM. Dose-response curves were fitted by Prism software with an equation of E = Emax {1/[1+(EC50/C)n]}, where E is the effect at concentration C, Emax is maximal effect, EC50 is the concentration for half-maximal effect, and n is the Hill coefficient. The Hill coefficient value was not constrained in the analyses. Statistical comparison of groups used one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc multiple comparison test. A Student's t-test was used to compare two groups. P<0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Acknowledgments

We thank Drs. John Wemmie, Margaret Price and Yuan Lu and Tyron Jensen for discussions. MJW is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: JD LRR MJW. Performed the experiments: JD LRR. Analyzed the data: JD LRR MJW. Wrote the paper: JD LRR MJW.

References

  1. 1. Waldmann R, Champigny G, Bassilana F, Heurteaux C, Lazdunski M (1997) A proton-gated cation channel involved in acid-sensing. Nature 386:173–177.
  2. 2. Chen CC, England S, Akopian AN, Wood JN (1998) A sensory neuron-specific, proton-gated ion channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:10240–10245.
  3. 3. Garcia-Anoveros J, Derfler B, Neville-Golden J, Hyman BT, Corey DP (1997) BNaC1 and BNaC2 constitute a new family of human neuronal sodium channels related to degenerins and epithelial sodium channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94:1459–1464.
  4. 4. Lingueglia E, de Weille JR, Bassilana F, Heurteaux C, Sakai H, et al. (1997) A modulatory subunit of acid sensing ion channels in brain and dorsal root ganglion cells. J Biol Chem 272:29778–29783.
  5. 5. Price MP, Lewin GR, McIlwrath SL, Cheng C, Xie J, et al. (2000) The mammalian sodium channel BNC1 is required for normal touch sensation. Nature 407:1007–1011.
  6. 6. Price MP, Snyder PM, Welsh MJ (1996) Cloning and expression of a novel human brain Na+ channel. J Biol Chem 271:7879–7882.
  7. 7. Waldmann R, Bassilana F, de Weille J, Champigny G, Heurteaux C, et al. (1997) Molecular cloning of a non-inactivating proton-gated Na+ channel specific for sensory neurons. J Biol Chem 272:20975–20978.
  8. 8. Waldmann R, Champigny G, Voilley N, Lauritzen I, Lazdunski M (1996) The mammalian degenerin MDEG, an amiloride-sensitive cation channel activated by mutations causing neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Biol Chem 271:10433–10436.
  9. 9. Waldmann R, Lazdunski M (1998) H(+)-gated cation channels: neuronal acid sensors in the NaC/DEG family of ion channels. Curr Opin Neurobiol 8:418–424.
  10. 10. Du J, Reznikov LR, Price MP, Zha XM, Lu Y, et al. (2014) Protons are a neurotransmitter that regulates synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:8961–8966.
  11. 11. Coryell MW, Ziemann AE, Westmoreland PJ, Haenfler JM, Kurjakovic Z, et al. (2007) Targeting ASIC1a reduces innate fear and alters neuronal activity in the fear circuit. Biol Psychiatry 62:1140–1148.
  12. 12. Ziemann AE, Allen JE, Dahdaleh NS, Drebot II, Coryell MW, et al. (2009) The amygdala is a chemosensor that detects carbon dioxide and acidosis to elicit fear behavior. Cell 139:1012–1021.
  13. 13. Wemmie JA, Coryell MW, Askwith CC, Lamani E, Leonard AS, et al. (2004) Overexpression of acid-sensing ion channel 1a in transgenic mice increases acquired fear-related behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:3621–3626.
  14. 14. Coryell MW, Wunsch AM, Haenfler JM, Allen JE, Schnizler M, et al. (2009) Acid-sensing ion channel-1a in the amygdala, a novel therapeutic target in depression-related behavior. J Neurosci 29:5381–5388.
  15. 15. Maniam J, Antoniadis C, Morris MJ (2014) Early-Life Stress, HPA Axis Adaptation, and Mechanisms Contributing to Later Health Outcomes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 5:73.
  16. 16. Grunder S, Geissler HS, Bassler EL, Ruppersberg JP (2000) A new member of acid-sensing ion channels from pituitary gland. Neuroreport 11:1607–1611.
  17. 17. Van Goor F, Zivadinovic D, Stojilkovic SS (2001) Differential expression of ionic channels in rat anterior pituitary cells. Mol Endocrinol 15:1222–1236.
  18. 18. Stojilkovic SS, Tabak J, Bertram R (2010) Ion channels and signaling in the pituitary gland. Endocr Rev 31:845–915.
  19. 19. Stojilkovic SS (2005) Ca2+-regulated exocytosis and SNARE function. Trends Endocrinol Metab 16:81–83.
  20. 20. Zorec R (1996) Calcium signaling and secretion in pituitary cells. Trends Endocrinol Metab 7:384–388.
  21. 21. Xiong ZG, Zhu XM, Chu XP, Minami M, Hey J, et al. (2004) Neuroprotection in ischemia: blocking calcium-permeable acid-sensing ion channels. Cell 118:687–698.
  22. 22. Zha XM, Wemmie JA, Green SH, Welsh MJ (2006) Acid-sensing ion channel 1a is a postsynaptic proton receptor that affects the density of dendritic spines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:16556–16561.
  23. 23. Yermolaieva O, Leonard AS, Schnizler MK, Abboud FM, Welsh MJ (2004) Extracellular acidosis increases neuronal cell calcium by activating acid-sensing ion channel 1a. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:6752–6757.
  24. 24. Li M, Inoue K, Branigan D, Kratzer E, Hansen JC, et al. (2010) Acid-sensing ion channels in acidosis-induced injury of human brain neurons. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 30:1247–1260.
  25. 25. Alexander SP, Mathie A, Peters JA (2011) Guide to Receptors and Channels (GRAC), 5th edition. Br J Pharmacol 164 Suppl 1: S1–324.
  26. 26. Chu XP, Miesch J, Johnson M, Root L, Zhu XM, et al. (2002) Proton-gated channels in PC12 cells. J Neurophysiol 87:2555–2561.
  27. 27. Li MH, Liu SQ, Inoue K, Lan J, Simon RP, et al. (2014) Acid-sensing ion channels in mouse olfactory bulb M/T neurons. J Gen Physiol 143:719–731.
  28. 28. Hesselager M, Timmermann DB, Ahring PK (2004) pH Dependency and desensitization kinetics of heterologously expressed combinations of acid-sensing ion channel subunits. J Biol Chem 279:11006–11015.
  29. 29. Allen NJ, Attwell D (2002) Modulation of ASIC channels in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons by ischaemia-related signals. J Physiol 543:521–529.
  30. 30. Wu LJ, Duan B, Mei YD, Gao J, Chen JG, et al. (2004) Characterization of acid-sensing ion channels in dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord. J Biol Chem 279:43716–43724.
  31. 31. Weng XC, Zheng JQ, Gai XD, Li J, Xiao WB (2004) Two types of acid-sensing ion channel currents in rat hippocampal neurons. Neurosci Res 50:493–499.
  32. 32. Gunthorpe MJ, Smith GD, Davis JB, Randall AD (2001) Characterisation of a human acid-sensing ion channel (hASIC1a) endogenously expressed in HEK293 cells. Pflugers Arch 442:668–674.
  33. 33. Chen CH, Hsu YT, Chen CC, Huang RC (2009) Acid-sensing ion channels in neurones of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. J Physiol 587:1727–1737.
  34. 34. Escoubas P, De Weille JR, Lecoq A, Diochot S, Waldmann R, et al. (2000) Isolation of a tarantula toxin specific for a class of proton-gated Na+ channels. J Biol Chem 275:25116–25121.
  35. 35. Sherwood TW, Lee KG, Gormley MG, Askwith CC (2011) Heteromeric acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) composed of ASIC2b and ASIC1a display novel channel properties and contribute to acidosis-induced neuronal death. J Neurosci 31:9723–9734.
  36. 36. Immke DC, McCleskey EW (2003) Protons open acid-sensing ion channels by catalyzing relief of Ca2+ blockade. Neuron 37:75–84.
  37. 37. Paukert M, Babini E, Pusch M, Grunder S (2004) Identification of the Ca2+ blocking site of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1: implications for channel gating. J Gen Physiol 124:383–394.
  38. 38. Gao J, Wu LJ, Xu L, Xu TL (2004) Properties of the proton-evoked currents and their modulation by Ca2+ and Zn2+ in the acutely dissociated hippocampus CA1 neurons. Brain Res 1017:197–207.
  39. 39. Baron A, Schaefer L, Lingueglia E, Champigny G, Lazdunski M (2001) Zn2+ and H+ are coactivators of acid-sensing ion channels. J Biol Chem 276:35361–35367.
  40. 40. Chu XP, Wemmie JA, Wang WZ, Zhu XM, Saugstad JA, et al. (2004) Subunit-dependent high-affinity zinc inhibition of acid-sensing ion channels. J Neurosci 24:8678–8689.
  41. 41. Jiang Q, Papasian CJ, Wang JQ, Xiong ZG, Chu XP (2010) Inhibitory regulation of acid-sensing ion channel 3 by zinc. Neuroscience 169:574–583.
  42. 42. Askwith CC, Cheng C, Ikuma M, Benson C, Price MP, et al. (2000) Neuropeptide FF and FMRFamide potentiate acid-evoked currents from sensory neurons and proton-gated DEG/ENaC channels. Neuron 26:133–141.
  43. 43. Yamazaki M, Aizawa S, Tanaka T, Sakai T, Sakata I (2012) Ghrelin increases intracellular Ca(2)(+) concentration in the various hormone-producing cell types of the rat pituitary gland. Neurosci Lett 526:29–32.
  44. 44. Jiang Q, Li MH, Papasian CJ, Branigan D, Xiong ZG, et al. (2009) Characterization of acid-sensing ion channels in medium spiny neurons of mouse striatum. Neuroscience 162:55–66.
  45. 45. Sherwood TW, Askwith CC (2008) Endogenous arginine-phenylalanine-amide-related peptides alter steady-state desensitization of ASIC1a. J Biol Chem 283:1818–1830.
  46. 46. Benson CJ, Xie J, Wemmie JA, Price MP, Henss JM, et al. (2002) Heteromultimers of DEG/ENaC subunits form H+-gated channels in mouse sensory neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:2338–2343.
  47. 47. Sutherland SP, Benson CJ, Adelman JP, McCleskey EW (2001) Acid-sensing ion channel 3 matches the acid-gated current in cardiac ischemia-sensing neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98:711–716.
  48. 48. Baron A, Waldmann R, Lazdunski M (2002) ASIC-like, proton-activated currents in rat hippocampal neurons. J Physiol 539:485–494.
  49. 49. Dube GR, Lehto SG, Breese NM, Baker SJ, Wang X, et al. (2005) Electrophysiological and in vivo characterization of A-317567, a novel blocker of acid sensing ion channels. Pain 117:88–96.
  50. 50. Bohlen CJ, Chesler AT, Sharif-Naeini R, Medzihradszky KF, Zhou S, et al. (2011) A heteromeric Texas coral snake toxin targets acid-sensing ion channels to produce pain. Nature 479:410–414.
  51. 51. Diochot S, Baron A, Salinas M, Douguet D, Scarzello S, et al. (2012) Black mamba venom peptides target acid-sensing ion channels to abolish pain. Nature 490:552–555.
  52. 52. Chen X, Kalbacher H, Grunder S (2005) The tarantula toxin psalmotoxin 1 inhibits acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a by increasing its apparent H+ affinity. J Gen Physiol 126:71–79.
  53. 53. Bassler EL, Ngo-Anh TJ, Geisler HS, Ruppersberg JP, Grunder S (2001) Molecular and functional characterization of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1b. J Biol Chem 276:33782–33787.
  54. 54. Hattori T, Chen J, Harding AM, Price MP, Lu Y, et al. (2009) ASIC2a and ASIC3 heteromultimerize to form pH-sensitive channels in mouse cardiac dorsal root ganglia neurons. Circ Res 105:279–286.
  55. 55. Askwith CC, Wemmie JA, Price MP, Rokhlina T, Welsh MJ (2004) Acid-sensing ion channel 2 (ASIC2) modulates ASIC1 H+-activated currents in hippocampal neurons. J Biol Chem 279:18296–18305.
  56. 56. Hinuma S, Shintani Y, Fukusumi S, Iijima N, Matsumoto Y, et al. (2000) New neuropeptides containing carboxy-terminal RFamide and their receptor in mammals. Nat Cell Biol 2:703–708.
  57. 57. Ukena K, Tsutsui K (2001) Distribution of novel RFamide-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in the mouse central nervous system. Neurosci Lett 300:153–156.
  58. 58. Immke DC, McCleskey EW (2001) Lactate enhances the acid-sensing Na+ channel on ischemia-sensing neurons. Nat Neurosci 4:869–870.
  59. 59. Chesler M (2003) Regulation and modulation of pH in the brain. Physiol Rev 83:1183–1221.
  60. 60. Vreeburg SA, Hoogendijk WJ, van Pelt J, Derijk RH, Verhagen JC, et al. (2009) Major depressive disorder and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity: results from a large cohort study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 66:617–626.
  61. 61. Graeff FG, Zangrossi HJ (2010) The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in anxiety and panic. Psychology & Neuroscience 3:3–8.
  62. 62. Wemmie JA, Chen J, Askwith CC, Hruska-Hageman AM, Price MP, et al. (2002) The acid-activated ion channel ASIC contributes to synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Neuron 34:463–477.
  63. 63. Lu Y, Ma X, Sabharwal R, Snitsarev V, Morgan D, et al. (2009) The ion channel ASIC2 is required for baroreceptor and autonomic control of the circulation. Neuron 64:885–897.
  64. 64. Dhingra A, Sulaiman P, Xu Y, Fina ME, Veh RW, et al. (2008) Probing neurochemical structure and function of retinal ON bipolar cells with a transgenic mouse. J Comp Neurol 510:484–496.