Modulation of adrenal cell functions by cadmium salts. 4. Ca(2+)-dependent sites affected by CdCl2 during basal and ACTH-stimulated steroid synthesis

In previous studies, nonlethal CdCl2 concentrations apparently inhibited basal Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cell endogenous mitochondrial cholesterol conversion to pregnenolone. In addition, CdCl2 inhibited all agents stimulating both plasma membrane-dependent cAMP synthesis and 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20DHP) secretion. Bypassing the plasma membrane using dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP) stimulated cytoplasmic cholesterol metabolism and 20DHP secretion in the presence of CdCl2. Since CdCl2 competed at metabolic steps requiring Ca2+ in other tissues, experiments were designed to examine Cd2+ competition with Ca2+ during steroidogenesis. Sets of cells incubated with either medium or adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) with or without CdCl2 were also treated with 0, 1.0, 5.0 or 10.0 mmol/L CaCl2 in the presence or absence of EGTA, a relatively specific Ca2+, but not Cd2+, chelating agent. Another experimental cell set incubated with either medium or ACTH, with or without CdCl2, was treated with or without 1 mmol/L A23187, an ionophore specifically facilitating extracellular Ca2+ transfer across plasma membranes. Besides determining Ca2+ involvement in steroidogenesis using steroid secretion as an endpoint, we directly measured Ca2+ concentrations using intracellular fura-2 fluorescence. Following loading with 2 mumol/L fura-2, cells remained untreated or medium was infused with CdCl2, ACTH, ACTH/CdCl2 or ACTH followed after 50 s by CdCl2. Using Ca(2+)-supplemented media, we observed that Cd2+ inhibition of ACTH-stimulated 20DHP secretion was completely reversed. Standard Ca(2+)-containing medium supplemented with Ca2+ also enhanced maximally stimulated 20DHP secretion by ACTH. 20DHP secretion by ACTH-treated and ACTH/Cd(2+)-treated cells was only reduced by EGTA, when Ca2+ was not supplemented. The ionophore A23187 increased basal and ACTH-stimulated 20DHP secretion by Cd(2+)-treated cells, suggesting that extracellular Ca2+ resources may compete against Cd2+ effects on plasma membrane cAMP synthesis and on basal cholesterol metabolism by mitochondria. No time-dependent change in Ca2+ concentrations occurred within untreated cell suspensions. ACTH stimulation caused a 25 s burst in Ca2+ concentrations before returning to basal, steady-state levels. Cd2+ also stimulated intracellular fura-2 fluorescence. Untreated cell suspensions infused with Cd2+ exhibited a continuous rise in intracellular fluorescence. ACTH/CdCl2-treated cells exhibited a hyperbolic rise in intracellular fluorescence over the 300 s study period. Cells treated with Cd2+ 50 s after ACTH treatment initially exhibited the 25 s fluorescence burst followed by a Cd(2+)-induced hyperbolic rise in intracellular Cd2+. These fluorescence measurements suggested that cytoplasmic Ca2+ changes do not appear to be necessary for basal 20DHP synthesis and secretion; only a 25 s burst in intracellular Ca2+ is necessary to a slightly higher plateau level for stimulated 20DHP synthesis and secretion. Cd2+ freely enters the cell under basal conditions and Cd2+ entry is accelerated by ACTH stimulation. Data were consistent with Ca2+ being required for optimal stimulated steroid production and Cd2+ probably competing with Ca2+ during basal mitochondrial cholesterol metabolism and plasma membrane ACTH-stimulated cAMP generation.