EFFECT OF VERTEBRATE HORMONES ON CYCLIC-AMP LEVEL IN TETRAHYMENA

Abstract

Epinephrine, insulin, glucagon and theophylline produced a significant increase in the c[cyclic]AMP level of Tetrahymena, while the enhancing effect of TSH [thyroid stimulating hormone] was not significant. Tetrahymena seems to possess receptors for hormones of higher animals, but has no receptor for the nonsense hormone TSH. The cAMP enhancing effect shown by many hormones of higher animals irrespective of their different functions indicates that apart from the general mediator action of cAMP, some special mediation also takes place.