VIP receptor/effector system in liver membranes from cholestatic rats

A reduced efficacy of VIP (43% of the control) without modification in its potency (ED50 = 2.2 nM) was observed in regenerating rat liver after cholestasis (bile duct ligation). The same occurred with glucagon-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity because the efficacy of this VIP-related peptide was also reduced (53% of the control) without changes in its potency in this experimental model. The equilibrium binding data revealed no changes in either the affinity or the VIP binding capacity of liver membranes during cholestasis. Cross-linking experiments gave the same apparent molecular mass for the liver VIP-receptor complex (52 kDa) in control and cholestatic rats. The coupling between the VIP receptor and the Gs-protein was also unaffected because the sensitivity of VIP binding to GTP did not change after bile duct ligation. However, liver membranes from cholestatic rats showed a low extent of both ADP-ribosylation of the Gs-protein alpha subunit (as assessed with cholera toxin) and adenylyl cyclase stimulation by a direct effector such as forskolin. Thus, VIP-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity is decreased in regenerating liver after cholestasis due probably to an impairment in the interaction between Gs-protein and adenylyl cyclase as well as a defect in the enzyme itself.