Ion Channels of Pituitary Gonadotrophs and Their Roles in Signaling and Secretion

Gonadotrophs are basophilic cells of the anterior pituitary gland specialized to secrete gonadotropins in response to elevation in intracellular calcium concentration. These cells fire action potentials (APs) spontaneously, coupled with voltage-gated calcium influx of insufficient amplitude to trigger gonadotropin release. The spontaneous excitability of gonadotrophs reflects the expression of voltage-gated sodium, calcium, potassium, non-selective cation-conducting, and chloride channels at their plasma membrane (PM). These cells also express the hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels at the PM, as well as GABA_A, nicotinic, and purinergic P2X channels gated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine (ACh), and ATP, respectively. Activation of these channels leads to initiation or amplification of the pacemaking activity, facilitation of calcium influx, and activation of the exocytic pathway. Gonadotrophs also express calcium-conducting channels at the endoplasmic reticulum membranes gated by inositol trisphosphate and intracellular calcium. These channels are activated potently by hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and less potently by several paracrine calcium-mobilizing agonists, including pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptides, endothelins, ACh, vasopressin, and oxytocin. Activation of these channels causes oscillatory calcium release and a rapid gonadotropin release, accompanied with a shift from tonic firing of single APs to periodic bursting type of electrical activity, which accounts for a sustained calcium signaling and gonadotropin secretion. This review summarizes our current understanding of ion channels as signaling molecules in gonadotrophs, the role of GnRH and paracrine agonists in their gating, and the cross talk among channels.

Introduction

Gonadotrophs are the anterior pituitary cell lineage specialized for synthesis and release of two gonadotropins, such as follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH) (1). In addition to genes encoding beta subunits of gonadotropins, Fshb and Lhb (2, 3), gonadotrophs are defined by at least two other genes not expressed in other secretory pituitary cell types, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor (GnRHR) gene (Gnrhr) (4) and dentin matrix protein 1 gene (5). Together with thyrotrophs, gonadotrophs express the Cga gene encoding the α glycoprotein subunit (6). Ontogenetically, the lineage commitment is associated with the expression of the orphan nuclear receptor NR5A1, a transcriptional factor that also plays a role in the expression of gonadotroph-specific genes in the postnatal animals (7).

Gonadotrophs are neuron-like; they express numerous voltage-gated sodium (Na_v), calcium (Ca_v), potassium (K_v), and chloride channels at the plasma membrane (PM), and fire action potentials (APs) spontaneously (8). These cells also express ligand-gated ion channels at PM, which activation by hypothalamic and intrapituitary ligands leads to increase in firing frequency and facilitation of Ca²⁺ influx and hormone release (9). The function of gonadotrophs is regulated by several Ca²⁺-mobilizing receptors capable of modulating electrical activity and AP-dependent Ca²⁺ influx and hormone release (10). The main Ca²⁺-mobilizing receptor for these cells is GnRHR, signaling through heterotrimeric G_q/11 proteins (11), which α subunit activates phospholipase C-β1, leading to generation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) and diacylglycerol (12) and release of Ca²⁺ from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through IP₃ receptor (IP₃R) channels (9).

Here, we focus on the role of ion channels in electrical/Ca²⁺ signaling and Ca²⁺-controlled cellular functions in gonadotrophs. We will first review the expression and roles of voltage-gated channels in spontaneous excitability and accompanied Ca²⁺ influx in these cells, followed by description of additional channels contributing to facilitation or modulation of excitability of these cells. These include the hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, acetylcholine (ACh)-gated receptor (AChR) channels, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated A-type receptor (GABA_AR) channels, and ATP-gated receptor (P2XR) channels, all expressed at PM, and IP₃R channels expressed at ER membranes.

Signaling by Voltage-Gated Channels

The superfamily of voltage-gated ion channels of more than 140 members, including Na_v, Ca_v, K_v, and numerous less selective channels, is one of the largest groups of signal transduction proteins (13). These channels are also expresses in gonadotrophs and account for spontaneous and receptor-controlled electrical and Ca²⁺ signaling (9).

Nine members of Na_v channels are expressed in mammals, which contribute to the initiation and propagation of APs (14). The inward Na_v current has been identified in rat (15, 16), ovine (17), fish (18, 19) and mouse native (20, 21), and immortalized gonadotrophs (22, 23). Figure 1A shows traces of Na_v currents in cultured rat gonadotrophs. It appears that the level of Na_v channel expression is greater in these cells than in other secretory anterior pituitary types (16). Voltage-insensitive Na⁺ conductance is also present in all endocrine pituitary cells, including gonadotrophs (24, 25).

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. The expression of voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels in identified rat pituitary gonadotrophs. (A) Voltage-gated sodium current traces elicited by 100 ms voltage steps from holding potentials (HPs) of −117 mV. (B) Voltage-gated calcium current traces elicited by 400 ms voltage-steps. (C) Voltage-gated potassium current traces elicited by 1.5 s voltage steps. (D) Cells expressing HCN current display inward rectification in response to hyperpolarizing current pulses of −5 pA that are suppressed by 1 mM Cs⁺, a blocker of HCN channels. (E) Spontaneous electrical activity can be observed in about 50% of cultured gonadotrophs. (F) 8-Br-cAMP stimulates electrical activity. (G) γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced current recorded using gramicidin-perforated patch from cells held at different membrane potentials. (H) GABA-stimulated electrical activity. (I) Concentration-dependent effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on the amplitude of nicotinic current. (Top) Representative traces. (Bottom) Mean ± SEM values. (J) ACh-induced electrical activity. (K) Concentration-dependent effects of ATP on peak P2XR current response. (L) ATP-induced firing of action potentials. Derived from data shown in Ref. (16, 41, 50, 52, 63, 67); no permission is required from the copyright holder.

The Ca_v channels have a dual role in excitable cells: they generate inward currents that can initiate APs and are also critical for coupling of electrical signals on PM with physiological intracellular events by generating intracellular Ca²⁺ signals. There are 10 members of these channels that exhibit different electrophysiological and pharmacological properties (26). Pituitary gonadotrophs express at least inactivating T-type and non-inactivating L-type Ca_v currents, as documented in cultured cells from rat (16), mouse (21), ovine (27), fish (19), as well as in αT3-1 immortalized gonadotrophs (22). Figure 1B shows a representative trace of Ca_v current in rat gonadotrophs.

The K_v channels are composed of at least four functional classes: fast activating delayed rectifier, slow activating delayed rectifier (including M channels), A-type K_v channels, and ether-a-go-go-gene channels (28). Figure 1C illustrates total K_v currents in rat pituitary gonadotrophs, which are driven by several K_v channels. αT3-1 gonadotrophs (22) and native goldfish (19), rat (16) and ovine (29) gonadotrophs express delayed rectifiers, which expression is controlled by estrogens (29). The A-type K_v channels are also expressed in αT3-1 cells (22) as well as in native fish (18, 19, 30), frog (31), and rat (16, 32, 33) gonadotrophs. In rats, the expression level of these channels is much higher in gonadotrophs than somatotrophs (16). Functional M-type channels are expressed in mouse gonadotrophs and GnRH through a still uncharacterized signal cascade inhibits these channels (34). Moreover, our transcriptome study implies that a pulsatile GnRH application downregulates the expression of Kcna2 (K_v 1.2) and Kcnh6 (ether-a-go-go), while it upregulates Kcnk10 (outward rectifier) and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger Slc24a3, indicating that GnRHR may indirectly be involved in regulation of cell excitability (5).

Calcium-activated K⁺ channels (K_Ca) are composed of two families: three small-conductance K⁺ (SK) channels and one intermediate-conductance channel are members of the first family and the high-conductance K⁺ (BK) channels belong to the second family. These channels are activated by elevation in cytosolic Ca²⁺ and play a critical role in control of firing properties of excitable cells (35), including pituitary cells (36). The expression of SK channels is well documented in fish (37), rat (38, 39), mouse (40), and ovine gonadotrophs (17), and the level of their expression is dependent on estradiol (20). Whole-cell current recordings confirmed the presence of BK current in several pituitary cell types but not in gonadotrophs (16).

Gonadotrophs also express the hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels (41), which are permeable to both K⁺ and Na⁺ and play a critical role in cardiac rhythmicity (42). As their name indicates, HCN channels are activated by voltage (Figure 1D) and cyclic nucleotides. Rat gonadotrophs and other pituitary cell types also express the cation-conducting transient receptor potential (TRP) cation-like channels (43), initially characterized by their role in Drosophila phototransduction (44). Mouse gonadotrophs express TRPC5 subtype of these channels, which are activated by GnRH and promote Ca²⁺ influx (45). Finally, Ca²⁺-activated non-selective cationic currents are present in rat gonadotrophs, but the nature of these channels has not been identified (46).

The expression of voltage-gated channels in gonadotrophs makes them electrically excitable cells, i.e., capable of exhibiting regenerative and propagated APs spontaneously or in response to stimulation. In general, the membrane potential (V_m) of single gonadotrophs in culture is not stable but fluctuates from resting potentials of −60 to −50 mV due to spontaneous activity of hyperpolarizing and depolarizing channels. When the depolarization waves reach the threshold level, gonadotrophs fire tall and narrow APs (Figure 1E), with spiking frequency of ~0.7 Hz, amplitude of more than 60 mV, and half-width of about 50 ms (47). Ovine gonadotrophs also fire single APs spontaneously (17). In contrast to gonadotrophs, other pituitary cell types predominantly exhibit bursting pattern of spontaneous electrical activity, i.e., periodic depolarized potentials with superimposed small-amplitude spikes (47–50).

Depolarizing currents are pacemaking currents, accounting for a gradual reduction of PM resting potential toward the threshold for AP firing, and spike depolarization currents, accounting for the upstroke of an AP. The nature of channels contributing to pacemaking depolarization in gonadotrophs is not well characterized. The ongoing work is focused on the potential role of background Na⁺ (24) and TRP channels (43) in this process. The cell permeable cAMP analog 8-Br-cAMP initiates AP firing in quiescent gonadotrophs (Figure 1F) and increases the frequency of spikes in spontaneously firing cells (41), an action consistent with the expression of HCN channels (Figure 1D) and/or protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of some other channels in gonadotrophs (51).

The main function of Na_v channels is to depolarize cells and generate the upstroke of the AP, controlling the firing amplitude in excitable cell. In gonadotrophs, they act in conjunction with Ca_v channels to generate APs (17) or Ca_v channels are exclusively responsible for the spike depolarization (52). Simultaneous measurements of V_m and [Ca²⁺]_i showed that the bulk Ca²⁺ levels are low (50–100 nM) in spontaneously spiking gonadotrophs, in contrast to spontaneously bursting lactotrophs, somatotrophs and GH₃B₆ cells, which generate much higher (300–1,200 nM) and clearly oscillatory Ca²⁺ transients (48, 52, 53). In gonadotrophs, AP-driven Ca²⁺ influx is below the threshold needed to trigger exocytosis (52), whereas the bursting type of electrical activity in lactotrophs and somatotrophs accounts for high basal hormone secretion (48, 52). Because in intact tissue pituitary cell lineages are organized as complex networks (54–56), further studies are needed to characterize the excitatory and secretory patterns in pituitary cells with preserved tridimensional structure.

Signaling by Ligand-Gated Receptor Channels

Ligand-gated receptors channels are activated by chemical signals (ligands) rather than to changes in the V_m. These proteins are typically composed two different domains: a pore forming transmembrane domain and an extracellular domain containing the ligand binding site. There are three families of these channels: the Cys-loop family of channels activated by ACh, 5-HT, GABA, and glycine (57), glutamate-gated receptor-channels (58), and ATP-gated purinergic P2XR channels (59). Pituitary gonadotrophs express GABA_AR, nicotinic AChR, and P2X2R channels (9).

γ-Aminobutyric acid is acting through GABA_AR and GABA_CR channels permeable to Cl⁻; in the central nervous system, GABA usually silences electrical activity and Ca²⁺ signaling (60). However, in gonadotrophs GABA and muscimol, a GABA_AR agonist, increase intracellular Ca²⁺, suggesting that chloride-mediated depolarization activates Ca_v channels. Furthermore, the GABA_AR channel reversal potential for chloride ions is positive to the baseline V_m (Figure 1G), and the activation of these channels results in depolarization of cells and initiation of AP firing (Figure 1H) and stimulation of Fshb and Lhb expression (61) and LH release (62). The lower expression of cation/chloride transporter KCC2 in rat pituitary cells probably accounts for the depolarizing nature of GABA_AR channels in cultured gonadotrophs (63).

The binding of nicotine, ACh, or other ligands to AChR channels stimulates cation (Na⁺ and K⁺ and for some neuronal subtypes Ca²⁺ as well) influx through a channel and generally results in membrane depolarization. Seventeen subunits of nicotinic AChR have been identified and were shown to assemble into a variety of receptor subtypes (64, 65). We have shown recently the expression of β2, β1, α9, and α4 mRNAs in cultured rat pituitary cells and β2, α4, and α1 in immortalized LβT2 mouse gonadotrophs. We also showed the expression of β2 subunit protein in gonadotrophs (50). These cells express nicotinic AChR channels capable of generating an inward current (Figure 1I) and facilitating electrical activity (Figure 1J) and Ca²⁺ influx (not shown). We also found that GnRHR stimulation downregulates gene expression of both α4 and α9 subunits (5, 50), suggesting that the expression of nicotinic AChR in gonadotrophs in vitro compensates for the loss of GnRH stimulation.

ATP is not only an intracellular molecule but is also released by cells and acts as an extracellular ligand for P2XR family of channels, composed of three subunits, each composed of a large ectodomain, two transmembrane domains and the N- and C-terminus facing the cytoplasm (59). In intact gonadotrophs, ATP-induced extracellular Ca²⁺-dependent rise in cytosolic Ca²⁺ (66). In voltage-clamped cells, extracellular ATP-induced non-oscillatory current composed of rapidly depolarizing, slowly desensitizing, and rapidly deactivating phases, with the peak amplitudes and the rates of current desensitization determined by ATP concentration (Figure 1K). In current-clamped gonadotrophs, ATP induces a rapid depolarization that initiated firing of APs in quiescent cells, an increase in the frequency of firing in spontaneously active cells (Figure 1L), and a transient stimulation of LH release (67). The biophysical and pharmacological investigations suggested that gonadotrophs express the P2X2R subtype of these channels (67). Consistent with this conclusion, the full size and several splice forms of P2X2 subunit were identified in pituitary gland (68).

ATP is released by GnRH-secreting GT1 cells and cultured pituitary cells and metabolized by ectonucleotidase (69). Furthermore, GnRH increases ATP release in cultured pituitary cells (66). In accordance with these observations, it has been shown that ATP is co-secreted with GnRH from the median eminence into the hypophyseal-portal vasculature in ovariectomized sheep and that gonadotrophs have intrinsic ability to metabolize ATP in the extracellular space (70). This is consistent with the autocrine actions of extracellular ATP, where this molecule amplifies GnRH-induced Ca²⁺ signaling and LH secretion by activating P2X2Rs (67, 70). Pituitary cells other than gonadotrophs also express pannexin-1 and -2 channels (71), which contribute to ATP release in the extracellular medium in cultured pituitary cells (72). Thus, ATP and its degradation products ADP and adenosine may serve as paracrine factors to provide a cross talk between cell lineages within the pituitary gland via P2X2R (67), P2X4R (73), G-protein-coupled P2YRs (74), and adenosine receptors (75). By physical association with P2XRs, pannexin-1 may also provide a mechanism for autocrine control of functions of pituitary cell types expressing both proteins (76).

Signaling by Channels Expressed in ER Membranes

Two families of structurally and functionally similar Ca²⁺ release channels, ryanodine receptors and IP₃Rs, are expressed in the ER membrane. Ryanodine receptors account for intracellular transduction and translation of PM electrical signals by Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release from ER, whereas IP₃Rs are activated by Ca²⁺-mobilizing receptors. In non-excitable cells, the IP₃R-induced depletion of ER-Ca²⁺ stores facilitates Ca²⁺ influx through store-operated Ca²⁺-conducting PM channels. Two proteins, named stromal-interacting molecule and Orai, are critical for this Ca²⁺ entry pathway (77). IP3Rs are expressed in all secretory pituitary cells as indicated by ability of numerous Ca²⁺-mobilizing agents to trigger Ca²⁺ release from ER (9). In contrast, no conclusive evidence was presented about the expression and role of ryanodine receptors and Orai channels in gonadotrophs and other secretory pituitary cell types (36).

The Ca²⁺-mobilizing pathway is operative in gonadotrophs and is activated by GnRH as well as by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptides, endothelins, ACh, vasopressin and oxytocin (50, 78–80). Among pituitary cells, a unique characteristic of mammalian gonadotrophs is the oscillatory pattern of Ca²⁺ release through IP₃Rs. Figure 2A illustrated GnRH-induced Ca²⁺ oscillations. In contrast, αT3-1 (Figure 2B) and LβT2 gonadotrophs (not shown) release Ca²⁺ in a non-oscillatory manner when stimulated with GnRH (81, 82). GnRH-induced calcium signaling is also non-oscillatory in fish pituitary cells (83) as well as in rat Leydig cells (Figure 2B) (84). In rat gonadotrophs, the frequency of Ca²⁺ oscillations is determined by GnRH concentration and varies between 3 and 20 pulses per minute (85, 86). In neonatal rat gonadotrophs, GnRH-induced, but not IP3-stimulated, Ca²⁺ oscillations are inhibited by melatonin (87–90).

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Influence of Ca²⁺ mobilization on excitability of pituitary gonadotrophs. (A,B) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced calcium oscillations in rat pituitary gonadotrophs (A) and non-oscillatory calcium signals in immortalized αT3-1 pituitary gonadotrophs and testicular Leydig cells (B). (C,D) GnRH-induced membrane potential (C) and small-conductance K⁺ (SK) current (D) oscillations in rat gonadotrophs. (E,F) Increase in the amplitude of GnRH-induced SK current oscillations by depolarization (E) and activation of P2X2R channels by extracellular ATP (F) in rat gonadotrophs. Current oscillations were initiated by 0.1 nM GnRH (E) and 1 nM GnRH (F). Calcium recordings were done in intact Indo-1-loaded cells (A,B), whereas electrophysiological recordings were done in nystatin-perforated cells voltage-clamped (D–F) or in current-clamped cells (C). V_m, membrane potential; I, SK current; HP, holding potential. Derived from data shown in Ref. (36, 50, 63, 91); no permission is required from the copyright holder.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced Ca²⁺ oscillations have profound effects on electrical activity of these cells. In current-clamped gonadotrophs, GnRH-induced a transient hyperpolarization, followed by a bursting pattern episode of tall electrical spikes (Figure 2C). When the membrane was voltage-clamped, GnRH-induced current oscillations were observed (Figure 2D) (91, 92). Patterns of Ca²⁺ and current oscillations are highly comparable in the same cell and current oscillations coincide with transient hyperpolazation of PM. It is well established that Ca²⁺-activated SK channels account for coupling from the ER to PM in rat gonadotrophs (16, 38, 46, 93), whereas BK channels may also contribute to such coupling in mice gonadotrophs (40). In non-oscillatory αT3-1 gonadotrophs, GnRH stimulates L-type Ca²⁺ channels, leading to protein kinase C-dependent ERK activation (94), a process that requires dynamin GTP-ase activity (95).

The physiological relevance of bursting electrical activity in GnRH-stimulated gonadotrophs has been shown in voltage-clamped cells. By controlling the holding potential (HP) of the cell, this procedure provides a way to control the Ca²⁺ influx rate. In hyperpolarized cells with silent Ca_v channels, GnRH-induced current oscillations persist for about 5 min, reflecting a gradual depletion of the ER Ca²⁺ content. However, when the HP was more depolarized, many Ca_v channels are open and GnRH-induced current oscillations last much longer (Figure 2E), indicating that voltage-gated Ca²⁺ influx sustains signaling (91). Facilitation of Ca²⁺ influx through P2X2R channels also increases amplitudes of sustained GnRH-stimulated current oscillations (Figure 2F), a finding consistent with effect of ATP on GnRH-induced V_m oscillations and LH release (67).

The gating properties of IP₃R channels in gonadotrophs were not studied directly, and our understanding of kinetics of opening and closing is based on analysis of GnRH/IP₃-induced Ca²⁺/current oscillations. IP₃ is needed to initiate the ER-dependent Ca²⁺ signaling, oscillations in intracellular IP₃ are not required to generate oscillatory Ca²⁺ release as documented by injection of non-metabolizable IP₃ analogs, and the concentration of IP₃ underlines the frequency of spiking (96). Furthermore, cytosolic Ca²⁺ influences IP₃-dependent Ca²⁺ release in these cells bidirectionally, stimulatory at lower concentrations and inhibitory at higher concentrations. The rapid stimulatory effect of Ca²⁺ on IP₃-depenent Ca²⁺ release is shown by phase resetting of GnRH-induced oscillations by a brief pulse of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ entry (97). The inhibitory effect of high Ca²⁺ concentrations on GnRH-induced Ca²⁺ oscillations was also shown (98).

Intercellular Signaling by Gap Junction Channels

Secretory cells are not randomly spread throughout the pituitary gland but represent very organized three-dimensional network structures critical for the proper cell-type function (54, 99). Tridimensional imaging also suggested that pituitary gonadotrophs form a homotypic network (55). These and other pituitary cells express connexin-43 (100). In general, coupling of cells through connexin gap junctions provides a pathway for the passage of ions, metabolites, small molecules, and second messengers from cell to cell, without exposure to the extracellular environment (101, 102). However, the roles of connexins in synchronization of gonadotroph activity in intact tissue have not been systematically investigated.

Conclusion

This short review clearly indicates the complexity in expression and role of PM and ER channels in gonadotrophs. Various voltage-gated and related channels provide a background pathway for spontaneous firing of APs and Ca²⁺ signaling. In contrast to other secretory pituitary cells, spontaneous electrical activity is not coupled to exocytosis, i.e., Ca²⁺ signals generated by APs are subthreshold. However, the excitability of gonadotrophs is facilitated by activation of nicotinic AChRs, GABA_AR, and P2X2Rs, and the accompanied Ca²⁺ signals can trigger gonadotropin secretion. Activation of GnRHR and other Ca²⁺-mobilizing receptors in gonadotrophs leads to Ca²⁺ release from ER through IP₃R channels coupled with a rapid LH secretion, and switch in the pattern of firing of APs from tonic single spiking to periodic plateau bursting, the latter being essential for sustained Ca²⁺ signaling and LH secretion. Further studies are needed to detail the role of ion channels in intracellular signaling cascade, gene expression, Ca²⁺ secretion coupling, and mechanism of synchronous activation of gonadotrophs in intact tissue.

Author Contributions

All the authors participated in writing; SS prepared figures.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Intramural Program—Project ZIA HD 000195-22 (SS), Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Grant III 41014 (IB), and by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (16-12695S), LQ1604 NPU II provided by MEYS, and Z.1.05/1.1.00/02.0109 BIOCEV provided by ERDF and MEYS (HZ).

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