Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 84 (3), 355-359 (2000)

Effect of APGW-Amide on [Ca²⁺]_i in Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

Xiao Yan Han¹, Yuzuru Ito², Yoshinori Nozawa², Yifa Jiang³ and Kenichi Matsunami^1,*

¹Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Equilibrium Research, and ²Department of Biochemistry,
Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu 500-8705, Japan
³Virtual System Laboratory, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
*Corresponding author.ﾊﾊFAX:+81-58-267-2954
E-mail: kmm@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp

Abstract: In order to determine whether Ala-Pro-Gly-Try-NH₂ (APGW-amide) could affect mammalian excitable cells, we investigated the effect of APGW-amide in PC12 cells. APGW-amide caused a rapid [Ca²⁺]_i elevation, which was completely prevented by elimination of extracellular Ca²⁺ with EGTA and inhibited by two L-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers. [Ca²⁺]_i elevation was also blocked by a specific PKC inhibitor and prolonged pretreatment of cells with PMA. These results indicate that APGW-amide elevates [Ca²⁺]_i in PC12 cells, possibly by Ca²⁺ influx via L-type Ca²⁺ channel activated by PKC.

Keywords: APGW-amide, PC12 cell, L-type Ca²⁺ channel