Coupling of I1-imidazoline receptors to diacylglyceride accumulation in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells.

The I1-subtype of imidazoline binding sites has been characterized concerning binding specificity and tissue localization, and several physiological functions have been ascribed to it. However, the signaling pathways coupled to this putative receptor are not known. Pheochromocytoma PC12 cells express I1-imidazoline binding sites in plasma membrane and lack alpha2-adrenergic receptors, which recognize many I1-imidazoline ligands. In this cellular model, diacylglycerol (DAG), a second messenger, is generated in response to the putative I1-imidazoline agonist moxonidine. Using radioflux with [3H]myristate and direct measurements of DAG mass, we showed a rapid and transient peak of DAG in undifferentiated PC12 cells within the first 1 min of agonist exposure. In PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor to initiate differentiation, DAG accumulation at 15 sec was facilitated, and the increase in DAG mass persisted throughout 10 min of agonist treatment. Efaroxan, a putative I1-antagonist, attenuated the effect of moxonidine on DAG accumulation in nerve growth factor-treated cells, as did D609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-selective phospholipase C. Phospholipase D did not seem to be involved in generation of DAG in response to I1-receptor activation, nor was there accumulation of phosphatidic acid. These findings suggest coupling of I1-imidazoline receptors to a phospholipase C to generate DAG as a second messenger, a process regulated by neuronal differentiation and possibly participating in the physiological responses to I1-imidazoline receptor activation.