The prevalence of GH-secreting pituitary tumors in domestic cats (Felis catus) is 10-fold greater than in humans. The predominant inhibitory receptors of GH-secreting pituitary tumors are somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2). The expression of these receptors is associated with the response to somatostatin analog and dopamine agonist treatment in human patients with acromegaly. The aim of this study was to describe pathological features of pituitaries from domestic cats with acromegaly, pituitary receptor expression, and investigate correlates with clinical data, including pituitary volume, time since diagnosis of diabetes, insulin requirement, and serum IGF1 concentration. Loss of reticulin structure was identified in 15 of 21 pituitaries, of which 10 of 15 exhibited acinar hyperplasia. SSTR1, SSTR2, SSTR5, and DRD2 mRNA were identified in the feline pituitary whereas SSTR3 and SSTR4 were not. Expression of SSTR1, SSTR2, and SSTR5 was greater in acromegalic cats compared with controls. A negative correlation was identified between DRD2 mRNA expression and pituitary volume. The loss of DRD2 expression should be investigated as a mechanism allowing the development of larger pituitary tumors.

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is the major natriuretic peptide of the central nervous system and acts via its selective guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B) receptor to regulate cGMP production in neurons, astrocytes and endothelial cells. CNP is implicated in the regulation of neurogenesis, axonal bifurcation, as well as learning and memory. Several neurological disorders result in toxic concentrations of ammonia (hyperammonaemia), which can adversely affect astrocyte function. However, the relationship between CNP and hyperammonaemia is poorly understood. Here, we examine the molecular and pharmacological control of CNP in rat C6 glioma cells and rat GPNT brain endothelial cells, under conditions of hyperammonaemia. Concentration-dependent inhibition of C6 glioma cell proliferation by hyperammonaemia was unaffected by CNP co-treatment. Furthermore, hyperammonaemia pre-treatment (for 1 h and 24 h) caused a significant inhibition in subsequent CNP-stimulated cGMP accumulation in both C6 and GPNT cells, whereas nitric-oxide-dependent cGMP accumulation was not affected. CNP-stimulated cGMP efflux from C6 glioma cells was significantly reduced under conditions of hyperammonaemia, potentially via a mechanism involving changed in phosphodiesterase expression. Hyperammonaemia-stimulated ROS production was unaffected by CNP but enhanced by a nitric oxide donor in C6 cells. Extracellular vesicle production from C6 cells was enhanced by hyperammonaemia, and these vesicles caused impaired CNP-stimulated cGMP signalling in GPNT cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate functional interaction between CNP signalling and hyperammonaemia in C6 glioma and GPNT cells, but the exact mechanisms remain to be established.

Patients harbouring mutations in genes encoding C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP; NPPC) or its receptor guanylyl cyclase B (GC-B, NPR2) suffer from severe growth phenotypes; loss-of-function mutations cause achondroplasia, whereas gain-of-function mutations cause skeletal overgrowth. Although most of the effects of CNP/GC-B on growth are mediated directly on bone, evidence suggests the natriuretic peptides may also affect anterior pituitary control of growth. Our previous studies described the expression of NPPC and NPR2 in a range of human pituitary tumours, normal human pituitary, and normal fetal human pituitary. However, the natriuretic peptide system in somatotropes has not been extensively explored. Here, we examine the expression and function of the CNP/GC-B system in rat GH3 somatolactotrope cell line and pituitary tumours from a cohort of feline hypersomatotropism (HST; acromegaly) patients. Using multiplex RT-qPCR, all three natriuretic peptides and their receptors were detected in GH3 cells. The expression of Nppc was significantly enhanced following treatment with either 100 nM TRH or 10 µM forskolin, yet only Npr1 expression was sensitive to forskolin stimulation; the effects of forskolin and TRH on Nppc expression were PKA- and MAPK-dependent, respectively. CNP stimulation of GH3 somatolactotropes significantly inhibited Esr1, Insr and Lepr expression, but dramatically enhanced cFos expression at the same time point. Oestrogen treatment significantly enhanced expression of Nppa, Nppc, Npr1, and Npr2 in GH3 somatolactotropes, but inhibited CNP-stimulated cGMP accumulation. Finally, transcripts for all three natriuretic peptides and receptors were expressed in feline pituitary tumours from patients with HST. NPPC expression was negatively correlated with pituitary tumour volume and SSTR5 expression, but positively correlated with D2R and GHR expression. Collectively, these data provide mechanisms that control expression and function of CNP in somatolactotrope cells, and identify putative transcriptional targets for CNP action in somatotropes.