Angiotensin II induces coordinated calcium bursts in aldosterone-producing adrenal rosettes
Nick A. Guagliardo, Peter Klein, Christina A. Gancayco, Adam C Lu, Sining Leng, Rany R. Makarem, Chelsea Cho, Craig G. Rusin, David T. Breault, Paula Q. Barrett, Mark P. Beenhakker
Abstract
Abstract Aldosterone-producing zona glomerulosa (zG) cells of the adrenal gland arrange in distinct multi-cellular rosettes that provide a structural framework for adrenal cortex morphogenesis and plasticity. Whether this cyto-architecture also plays functional roles in signaling remains unexplored. To determine if structure informs function, we generated mice with zG-specific expression of GCaMP3 and imaged zG cells within their native rosette structure. Here we demonstrate that within the rosette, angiotensin II evokes periodic Ca v 3-dependent calcium events that form bursts that are stereotypic in form. Our data reveal a critical role for angiotensin II in regulating burst occurrence, and a multifunctional role for the rosette structure in activity-prolongation and coordination. Combined our data define the calcium burst as the fundamental unit of zG layer activity evoked by angiotensin II and highlight a novel role for the rosette as a facilitator of cell communication.