The effect of nifedipine on CRF-41 and AVP-induced ACTH release in vitro

The effect of nifedipine on CRF-41- and AVP-induced ACTH release was examined using monolayer cultured rat anterior pituitary cells and pituitary halves. Nifedipine inhibited ACTH release induced by synthetic rat CRF-41 in two systems. In pituitary halves, CRF-41 significantly stimulated both ACTH release and cyclic AMP accumulation. Nifedipine inhibited CRF-41-induced ACTH release and the inhibitory effect of nifedipine on CRF-41-induced ACTH release was accompanied by parallel decrease of cyclic AMP levels in pituitary halves. Nifedipine did not inhibit AVP-induced ACTH release in pituitary halves, and AVP did not significantly affect cyclic AMP accumulation in pituitary halves. These results suggest that CRF-41 stimulates ACTH release through the intracellular cyclic AMP system and calcium-calmodulin system which are accelerated by the influx of extracellular calcium ions. Moreover, it is suggested that the calcium required for AVP-induced ACTH release is derived primarily from intracellular rather than extracellular sources.