Nicotinic receptor-mediated catecholamine secretion from individual chromaffin cells. Chemical evidence for exocytosis.

D.J Leszczyszyn,J.A Jankowski,O.H Viveros,E.J Diliberto,J.A Near,R.M Wightman

doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(18)77173-1

Abstract

Nicotinic receptor-mediated secretion of catecholamines from individual cultured bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells was measured and characterized with a voltametric microelectrode placed adjacent to the cells. Nicotine-induced secretion is associated with a large increase in chemical spikes that is temporally resolved into the apparent secretion of discrete packets of attomole quantities of easily oxidized molecules. These data are consistent with direct chemical measurement of single exocytotic events.

Highlights

Nicotinic receptor-mediated secretion of catecholamines from individual cultured bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells was measured and characterized with a voltametric microelectrode placed adjacent to the cells
Acetylcholine secretion has been measured from the growth cones of single neurons with outside-out patches on micropipettes [3, 4], direct chemical measurement of single exocytotic events has not been reported because intrasynaptic measurements would require a transmitter-sensitive probe of very small size (
Catecholamines were detected with beveled carbon fiber electrodes used in an amperometric mode or with fast-scan cyclic voltametry [12]

Summary

Introduction

Nicotinic receptor-mediated secretion of catecholamines from individual cultured bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells was measured and characterized with a voltametric microelectrode placed adjacent to the cells. Secretion of ATP from single bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in culture has been demonstrated [9].

Results

Conclusion