Protein kinase C does not participate in carbachol's secretory action in T84 cells.
We investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in mediating carbachol's stimulation of transepithelial Cl- secretion in T84 cells. Direct PKC activation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulated transepithelial Cl- transport (measured as the short-circuit current), demonstrating that PKC could interact with the secretory apparatus. Carbachol stimulated PKC activity, suggesting that the enzyme might participate in the hormone's action. Diacylglycerol metabolism inhibitors (DMIs), known to augment hormone-stimulated increases in diacylglycerol levels, potentiated the short-circuit current response to carbachol. The effect of DMIs was not due to amplification of carbachol-induced increases in PKC activity, however; PKC activity during carbachol stimulation was no higher in the presence of DMIs than in their absence. Augmentation of carbachol's action by DMIs appeared to be due to the direct activation of PKC which, like PMA, stimulated the Cl- conductance of the apical membrane (GCl). The effects of DMIs and carbachol on GCl were additive. Carbachol itself stimulated GCl but not by activating PKC; staurosporine did not blunt the effect of carbachol on GCl. Nor did staurosporine reduce the effect of carbachol on transepithelial Cl- secretion. These observations demonstrate that PKC does not participate in the secretory action of carbachol in T84 cells and suggest that direct PKC activation with DMIs and PMA stimulates an apical pool of PKC that is not accessible to carbachol applied to the basolateral membrane.