A factor(s) from a trophoblast cell line increases tyrosine hydroxylase activity in fetal hypothalamic cell cultures

We previously reported that a factor(s) from rat choriocarcinoma (Rcho-1) cells suppresses circulating PRL levels and increases tyrosine hydroxylase activity in tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons in vivo. The purposes of this study were to determine whether this factor(s) increases tyrosine hydroxylase activity in fetal hypothalamic cells in vitro and to evaluate its chemical nature. The Rcho-1 cells are of placental origin and have the capacity to differentiate into giant cells and produce members of the placental PRL family. MMQ cells, a pituitary cell line that secretes PRL, and HRP-1, a placental cell line that does not produce any known members of the PRL family, were used as control cells. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was assessed by incubation of hypothalamic cells for 1 h with 100 microM brocresine, an inhibitor of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased in a density-dependent manner when Rcho-1, but not HRP-1 or MMQ, cells were cocultured with hypothalamic cells for 24 h. Control and Rcho-1-stimulated tyrosine hydroxylase activities were markedly reduced with 1 mM alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, a specific inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was not altered when hypothalamic cells were incubated for 24 h with rat PRL or recombinant rat placental lactogen-I, whereas a 24-h stimulation with 100,000 Rcho-1 cells and a 1-h stimulation with 5 mM (Bu)2cAMP increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity 3.7- and 3-fold, respectively. The magnitudes of the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity were similar when hypothalamic cells were cocultured with Rcho-1 cells for 1 and 24 h. Acetic acid extracts of Rcho-1, but not HRP-1 or MMQ, cells increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity within 1 h in a concentration-dependent manner. The 3-fold increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity observed with 500,000 Rcho-1 cell equivalents was markedly reduced with 1 mM alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. The mol wt range of the tyrosine hydroxylase-activating factor(s) (THAF) was estimated using ultrafiltration membranes. The majority of activity was found in the eluate from a 1,000 mol wt cut-off membrane. THAF activity in Rcho-1 cell extracts was decreased by preincubation with pronase, a nonspecific proteolytic enzyme, suggesting that the factor(s) is a peptide. THAF was resistant to inactivation by trypsin or chymotrypsin pretreatment. However, both enzymes destroyed the ability of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, either alone or with Rcho-1 cell extracts, to increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Oxidation of Rcho-1 cell extracts with performic acid abolished THAF activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)