Rapid desensitization of the TRH receptor and persistent desensitization of its constitutively active mutant

We studied rapid desensitization of the thyrotropin‐releasing hormone receptor (TRH‐R) or the m1‐muscarinic receptor (m1‐R) to a short challenge of threshold TRH concentration and persistent desensitization due to constitutive activity of a mutant TRH‐R. Xenopus oocytes expressing TRH‐Rs and/or m1‐Rs were challenged for 15 s with threshold concentrations of TRH ([TRH]) and then immediately with supraoptimal [TRH] or acetylcholine ([ACh]). The threshold challenge caused desensitization of 50–57% of responses to subsequent supraoptimal stimulation with TRH or ACh. The homologous desensitization was reversible within 60 s after removal of the agonist. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, chelerythrine, inhibited the control responses by 30–40%, without affecting the desensitized responses. Chelerythrine or the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, had little effect on the kinetics of resensitization, indicating limited involvement of PKC. In oocytes coexpressing wild type TRH‐Rs or m1‐Rs with a constitutively active TRH‐R mutant (C335Stop TRH‐R), a persistent desensitization (33–57%) of the responses to TRH or ACh was observed. Additionally, there was a complete loss of the rapid desensitization induced by threshold [TRH]. Chlorodiazepoxide (CDE), a competitive binding antagonist of TRH‐Rs and an inverse agonist of C335Stop TRH‐Rs, abolished the persistent desensitization induced by C335Stop TRH‐Rs and enabled the rapid desensitization, conferring the wild type phenotype on C335Stop TRH‐Rs. Chelerythrine had qualitatively the same effect as CDE. In conclusion, unlike the rapid desensitization, the persistent desensitization caused by the constitutively active C335Stop TRH‐Rs is largely mediated by PKC. It abrogates, however, the rapid desensitization, suggesting a common mechanistic step(s).British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 130 , 315–320; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703291