Effect of pertussis toxin on hormonal responsiveness of rat hepatocytes

The ureogenic action of epinephrine in hepatocytes from normal adult rats is mediated through activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. beta-Adrenoceptors in addition to alpha 1-adrenoceptors, became involved in mediating this effect in cells from animals treated with pertussis toxin. The accumulation of cyclic-AMP in response to epinephrine or isoproterenol was markedly increased in hepatocytes from pertussis-treated rats as compared to that observed in control cells. The accumulation of cyclic-AMP due to glucagon was also increased. It is suggested that pertussis toxin may release a constraint on adenylate cyclase activity by blocking the inhibitory coupling mechanism (Ni) or some other entity involved in the regulation of the activity of this enzyme.