Cellular interactions uncouple β-adrenergic receptors from adenylate cyclase

C6 glioma cells and B104 neuroblastoma cells both possess adenylate cyclase activity, but only C6 cells have β-adrenergic receptors. However, when cocultured with B104 cells, C6 cells show a marked decrease in their ability to accumulate adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate upon stimulation with β receptor agonists. Since both β receptors and cholera toxin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities are present in C6/B104 cocultures, we conclude that the β receptor/adenylate cyclase transduction mechanism in cocultured C6 cells is uncoupled.