Biomaterial Database

Action potential-induced quantal secretion of catecholamines from rat adrenal chromaffin cells. 1995

Z Zhou, and S Misler

Department of Medicine Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.

Using single rat adrenal chromaffin cells, we examined the coupling of action potential activity to quantal release of catecholamines by combining perforated patch current-clamp recording with electrochemical microcarbon fiber amperometry. Chromaffin cells display steeper dependence of quantal release on action potential frequency than many nerve terminals, as well as more desynchronized release following an action potential. Also in contrast to neurons, in chromaffin cells, a major chemical secretagogue (acetylcholine) triggers potent quantal release even in the absence of electrical activity. These findings are consistent with an hypothesis that a major component of exocytosis from chromaffin cells involves diffusion of Ca2+ to secretion sites which are less well co-localized with Ca2+ channels than those in nerve terminals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002395	Catecholamines	A general class of ortho-dihydroxyphenylalkylamines derived from TYROSINE.	Catecholamine,Sympathin,Sympathins
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002837	Chromaffin Granules	Organelles in CHROMAFFIN CELLS located in the adrenal glands and various other organs. These granules are the site of the synthesis, storage, metabolism, and secretion of EPINEPHRINE and NOREPINEPHRINE.	Chromaffin Granule,Granule, Chromaffin
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000313	Adrenal Medulla	The inner portion of the adrenal gland. Derived from ECTODERM, adrenal medulla consists mainly of CHROMAFFIN CELLS that produces and stores a number of NEUROTRANSMITTERS, mainly adrenaline (EPINEPHRINE) and NOREPINEPHRINE. The activity of the adrenal medulla is regulated by the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Adrenal Medullas,Medulla, Adrenal,Medullas, Adrenal
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus
D018678	Cholinergic Agents	Any drug used for its actions on cholinergic systems. Included here are agonists and antagonists, drugs that affect the life cycle of ACETYLCHOLINE, and drugs that affect the survival of cholinergic neurons. The term cholinergic agents is sometimes still used in the narrower sense of MUSCARINIC AGONISTS, although most modern texts discourage that usage.	Acetylcholine Agent,Acetylcholine Agents,Cholinergic,Cholinergic Agent,Cholinergic Drug,Cholinomimetic,Cholinomimetics,Muscarinic,Muscarinic Agent,Muscarinic Agents,Nicotinic Agent,Nicotinic Agents,Cholinergic Drugs,Cholinergic Effect,Cholinergic Effects,Cholinergics,Muscarinic Effect,Muscarinic Effects,Muscarinics,Nicotinic Effect,Nicotinic Effects,Agent, Acetylcholine,Agent, Cholinergic,Agent, Muscarinic,Agent, Nicotinic,Agents, Acetylcholine,Agents, Cholinergic,Agents, Muscarinic,Agents, Nicotinic,Drug, Cholinergic,Drugs, Cholinergic,Effect, Cholinergic,Effect, Muscarinic,Effect, Nicotinic,Effects, Cholinergic,Effects, Muscarinic,Effects, Nicotinic