We have previously reported that the calciotropic hormone 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 stimulates influx of Ca2+ into cultured rat and embryonic chick myoblasts via voltage sensitive Ca2+-channels. In the present study, we show that this effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 requires the mediation of the adenylylcyclase signalling system since the hormone-dependent Ca2+ influx is abolished by specific inhibitors of adenylylcyclase and protein kinase A and mimicked by forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP. 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated elevations in cellular cAMP paralleled increases in Ca2+ uptake, further suggesting a coupling of adenylylcyclase activation and calcium influx. Fluoride and GTPγS mimicked 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulation of calcium influx while GDPβS suppressed the effect of the hormone. Cholera toxin and Bordetella pertussis toxin both increased 45Ca2+ uptake in rat and chick myoblasts. The hormone further increased cholera toxin actions, but was unable to modify pertussis toxin-induced Ca2+ uptake, suggesting a similar target of action for pertussis toxin and 1,25(OH)2D3. Incubation of microsomal membranes with the sterol (10 nM, 2 min) markedly displaces (−32%) [35S]GTPγS binding to the membranes. ADP-ribosylation of the pertussis toxin-sensitive 41 kDa substrate was significantly increased (+40%) in 1,25(OH)2D3-pretreated cells. These results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated influx of Ca2+ into rat and embryonic chick cultured myoblasts sequentially requires inhibition of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, accumulation of cAMP and activation of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+-channels through PKA-mediated phosphorylation events.
