Inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in hamster adipocytes with phosphatidic acid: differences and similarities with alpha adrenergic effects.

Clark et al (Journal of Cyclic Nucleotide Research 6:37 (1980)) demonstrated phosphatidic acid inhibition of cyclic AMP formation in WI-38 fibroblasts and suggested the hypothesis that cholinergic inhibition of adenylate cyclase is mediated through accumulation of this phospholipid. In view of these data, we tested the hypothesis that phosphatidic acid is involved in alpha-adrenergic inhibition of cyclic AMP formation in hamster adipocytes. The effects of phosphatidic acid on hormone and methyl xanthine stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis were studied. Phosphatidic acid inhibited 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine (IBMX) stimulated cyclic AMP formation. The maximum inhibition (85% to 100%) of IBMX stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was detected at 1.0 microM phosphatidic acid. When lipolysis was measured, however, inhibitory effects of phosphatidic acid were not evident until the concentration of phospholipid was increased to 300 microM. The cyclic AMP lowering and antilipolytic effects were detected using egg yolk phosphatidic acid, dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid, dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid, distearoyl phosphatidic acid and palmitoyl lysophosphatidic acid but not with phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine or 1,2- diglyceride. In contrast to phosphatidic acid, clonidine or N6-phenylisopropyl adenosine inhibited lipolysis in concert with inhibition of methyl xanthine stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Cyclic AMP accumulation increased by isoproterenol in combination with IBMX was partially blocked by clonidine but not by phosphatidic acid. These results show similarities as well as differences between clonidine and phosphatidic acid actions on hamster fat cells and do not, therefore, provide unequivocal support for the possibility that phosphatidic acid is intimately involved in alpha-adrenergic effects on hamster adipocytes. However, the high selectivity of phosphatidic acid suggests a physiological role of this agent in regulation of adenylate cyclase.