Regulation of Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity in hepatocyte plasma membranes by vasopressin and phenylephrine.

A high affinity Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase (Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase) was identified in microsomes and plasma membrane vesicles isolated from rat hepatocytes. The distribution of this enzyme was similar to that of the plasma membrane marker enzymes alkaline phosphodiesterase and 5'-nucleotidase. The Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase had an apparent half-saturation constant of approximately 75 nM for Ca2+. After incubation of rat hepatocytes with 25 nM vasopressin for 3 min, the activity of Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase was decreased 15-30%. The effect of vasopressin on the activity of this enzyme was near maximal after incubating hepatocytes with vasopressin for only 15 sec. The concentration of vasopressin needed for half-maximal inhibition of this enzyme in hepatocytes was approximately 6 nM. Treatment of the hepatocytes with 10 microM phenylephrine caused about a 10% decrease in ATPase activity while 10 nM glucagon or 200 microU/ml insulin did not affect the enzyme. These findings suggest that inhibition of the Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity may be part of the mechanism by which vasopressin and alpha-adrenergic agonists elevate cytosolic Ca2+ in hepatocytes.