The effect of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and calcium ionophore A23187 on Ca2+ release from bovine adrenal medullary secretory vesicles and microsomes was examined. Ins(1,4,5)P3 released 3.5 nmol of Ca2+/mg protein from secretory vesicles and 1.5 nmol of Ca2+/mg protein from microsomes as measured by a Ca2(+)-selective electrode. However, A23187 promoted Ca2+ uptake into vesicles while releasing Ca2+ from microsomes. Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release from secretory vesicles was rapid, but the released Ca2+ was absorbed within 3 min during which the Ins(1,4,5)P3-releasable pools were refilled. The in situ calcium content of secretory vesicle measured by atomic absorption spectrometry was 112 +/- 6.3 nmol/mg protein indicating the potential importance of secretory vesicles as an intracellular Ca2+ store. The high Ca2(+)-buffering capacity of secretory vesicles is presumed to be due to the high Ca2(+)-binding capacity of chromogranin A, the major intravesicular protein, which has calsequestrin-like properties.