Simultaneous measurements of cytosolic calcium and secretion in single bovine adrenal chromaffin cells by fluorescent imaging of fura-2 in cocultured cells

The cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and exocytosis of chromaffin granules were measured simultaneously from single, intact bovine adrenal chromaffin cells using a novel technique involving fluorescent imaging of cocultured cells. Chromaffin cell [Ca2+]i was monitored with fura-2. To simultaneously follow catecholamine secretion, the cells were cocultured with fura-2-loaded NIH-3T3t cells, a cell line chosen because of their irresponsiveness to chromaffin cell secretagogues but their large Ca2+ response to ATP, which is coreleased with catecholamine from the chromaffin cells. In response to the depolarizing stimulus nicotine (a potent secretagogue), chromaffin cell [Ca2+]i increased rapidly. At the peak of the response, [Ca2+]i was evenly distributed throughout the cell. This elevation in [Ca2+]i was followed by a secretory response which originated from the entire surface of the cell. In response to the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-mobilizing agonist angiotensin II (a weak secretagogue), three different responses were observed. Approximately 30% of chromaffin cells showed no rise in [Ca2+]i and did not secrete. About 45% of the cells responded with a large (greater than 200 nM), transient elevation in [Ca2+]i and no detectable secretory response. The rise in [Ca2+]i was nonuniform, such that peak [Ca2+]i was often recorded only in one pole of the cell. And finally, approximately 25% of cells responded with a similar Ca2+-transient to that described above, but also gave a secretory response. In these cases secretion was polarized, being confined to the pole of the cell in which the rise in [Ca2+]i was greatest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spatial localization of the stimulus-induced rise in cytosolic Ca2+ in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Distinct nicotinic and muscarinic patterns

The spatial distribution of the intracellular free Ca2+ (Ca2+i) rise elicited by different stimuli in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined in single fura-2-loaded cells. In response to the potent secretagogues nicotine and high K+, Ca2+i was initially localized exclusively to the entire subplasmalemmal area of the cell. In response to the ineffective secretagogues, methacholine and muscarine, the rise in Ca2+i originated only in one pole of the cell and even at the peak of the response Ca2+ was still generally restricted to this same area of the cell. These results suggest that the triggering of exocytosis from these cells requires a specific spatial distribution of Ca2+i.

A comparison of bradykinin, angiotensin II and muscarinic stimulation of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Bradykinin, angiotensin II and a muscarinic agonist, acetyl-B-methacholine (methacholine) were all found to elicit catecholamine release from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Bradykinin was the most potent of these secretagogues and methacholine the weakest, with angiotensin II intermediate in efficacy. All three secretagogues were much less effective than nicotinic stimulation. The three secretagogues all produced a rise in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), measured with the fluorescent indicator fura2, which was partially independent of external calcium. In the case of bradykinin the full rise in ([Ca2+]i) may involve a component of calcium entry in addition to release of calcium from an internal store. Secretion was also found to be partially independent of external calcium. The different efficacies of the three secretagogues in eliciting secretion were correlated with the rise in ([Ca2+]i) produced. The differing efficacies of the three secretagogues may be due to the extent of release of calcium from an intracellular store which itself is less effective in eliciting secretion than a rise in [Ca2+]i following calcium entry due to nicotine. Bradykinin also stimulates calcium entry, and this may increase the efficacy of the initial rise in [Ca2+]i. Treatment with pertussis toxin resulted in an enhancement of secretion in response to all of the secretagogues.

Localization and heterogeneity of agonist-induced changes in cytosolic calcium concentration in single bovine adrenal chromaffin cells from video imaging of fura-2

Temporal and spatial changes in the concentration of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in response to a variety of secretagogues have been examined in adrenal chromaffin cells using digital video imaging of fura-2-loaded cells. Depolarization of the cells with high K+ or challenge with nicotine resulted in a rapid and transient elevation of [Ca2+]i beneath the plasma membrane consistent with Ca2+ entry through channels. This was followed by a late phase in which [Ca2+]i rose within the cell interior. Agonists that act through mobilization of inositol phosphates produced an elevation in [Ca2+]i that was most marked in an internal region of the cell presumed to be the site of IP3-sensitive stores. When the same cells were challenged with nicotine or high K+, to trigger Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent channels, the rise in [Ca2+]i was most prominent in the same localized region of the cells. These results suggest that Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent channels results in release of Ca2+ from internal stores and that the bulk of the measured rise in [Ca2+]i is not close to the exocytotic sites on the plasma membrane. Analysis of the time courses of changes in [Ca2+]i in response to bradykinin, angiotensin II and muscarinic agonists showed that these agonists produced highly heterogeneous responses in the cell population. This heterogeneity was most marked with muscarinic agonists which in some cells elicited oscillatory changes in [Ca2+]i. Such heterogeneous changes in [Ca2+]i were relatively ineffective in eliciting catecholamine secretion from chromaffin cells. A single large Ca2+ transient, with a component of the rise in [Ca2+]i occurring beneath the plasma membrane, may be the most potent signal for secretion.

The control of cytoskeletal actin and exocytosis in intact and permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells: role of calcium and protein kinase C

The control of cytoskeletal actin and exocytosis was examined in intact and digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells. Cytoskeletal actin was assayed by determining the actin content of Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons. The secretagogues nicotine, high K+ and Ba2+ resulted in a rapid reduction in the amount of actin associated with the cytoskeleton. The effect of nicotine but not high K+ on cytoskeletal actin was independent of external Ca2+ and the reduction in cytoskeletal actin was mimicked by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate suggesting a role for protein kinase C. In digitonin-permeabilized cells micromolar calcium produced both catecholamine secretion and a reduction in cytoskeletal actin. The reduction in cytoskeletal actin was transient. Secretion was enhanced by the GTP analogue guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate and the analogue also reduced cytoskeletal actin at low calcium levels. The effects of guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate were inhibited by the phospholipase C inhibitor neomycin and were mimicked by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. An additional GTP analogue, guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, had no effect on cytoskeletal actin. These results provide further evidence for a requirement for reorganisation of cortical actin in the secretory processes and suggest that the reduction in actin associated with the cytoskeleton may be mediated by protein kinase C and/or calcium in intact and permeabilized chromaffin cells.

A major role for protein kinase C in calcium-activated exocytosis in permeabilised adrenal chromaffin cells

The role of endogenously activated protein kinase C in calcium-activated exocytosis was examined in digitonin-permeabilised bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Protein kinase C activity was reduced by down-regulation following long-term treatment with PMA or by using the inhibitor sphingosine. Both treatments resulted in a substantial reduction in catecholamine secretion elicited by micromolar calcium, indicating that endogenous activation of protein kinase C is a major requirement for calcium-activated exocytosis in chromaffin cells.

The role of cytoplasmic pH in the inhibitory action of high osmolarity on secretion from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Elevated osmolarity is known to inhibit secretion from a wide range of cells including bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The mechanism of this inhibition is unclear but the elevated osmolarity has been proposed to oppose an osmotic driving force involved in exocytotic fusion. Using the fluorescent indicators quene 1 and fura2, we monitored the effect of elevated osmolarity on cytoplasmic pH (pHi) and cytoplasmic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i). Elevated osmolarity increased both pHi and [Ca2+]i, but had no effect on the [Ca2+]i rise elicited by either K+ or nicotine. Elevating pHi with NH4Cl was shown to inhibit secretion from chromaffin cells. The elevation of pHi by hyperosmolar solutions is proposed as one of the mechanisms by which elevated osmolarity inhibits secretion.