Multiple forms of endocytosis in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

BACKGROUND: Halothane is a potent dilator of cerebral arteries. The predominant site of cerebrovascular resistance is thought to be intracerebral arterioles, and the effects of halothane on these vessels were not previously examined. This study compared the effects of halothane with those of the vasodilator and nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside, on intraparenchymal microvessel responsiveness in a brain slice preparation. METHODS: Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats underwent thoracotomy and intracardiac perfusion and then were decapitated. Hippocampal brain slices were prepared and placed in a perfusion/recording chamber and superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. An arteriole was located within the brain parenchyma and its diameter was monitored with videomicroscopy before, during, and after various concentrations of halothane or sodium nitroprusside were equilibrated in the perfusate. All vessels were preconstricted with prostaglandin F2 alpha before halothane or sodium nitroprusside treatment. An observer blinded to treatment analyzed vessel diameter changes with a computerized videomicrometer. RESULTS: Baseline microvessel diameter was 18 +/- 2 microns in the halothane group (n = 14) and 15 +/- 1 microns in the sodium nitroprusside group (n = 15). Prostaglandin F2 alpha (0.5 micron) preconstricted vessels by approximately 15% from resting diameter in both groups. Halothane significantly and dose dependently dilated intracerebral microvessels by 54% +/- 6%, 74% +/- 8%, 108% +/- 13%, and 132% +/- 7% (normalized to the preconstricted diameter) at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5% halothane, respectively. This dilatation corresponds to a decrease in a calculated index of cerebrovascular resistance index of up to 117% +/- 2% at 2.5% halothane. Sodium nitroprusside, in concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-3)M, also dose dependently dilated these intraparenchymal vessels by 129% +/- 7% at the highest concentration. These alterations in microvessel diameter corresponded to a decrease in the cerebrovascular resistance index of up to 116 +/- 4% for the largest dose. CONCLUSIONS: Halothane produces dose-dependent vasodilatation of intraparenchymal cerebral microvessels, thus predicting marked decreases in cerebrovascular resistance in this in vitro brain slice preparation. The effects of halothane on these cerebral microvessels are similar to those of the potent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside. These findings suggest that direct effects of halathane on cerebral microvessels diameter contribute substantially to alterations in cerebrovascular resistance and flow produced by this agent.     

Immune cells mediate epinephrine secretion from bovine chromaffin cells in vitro

Potential immunological influences on peripheral catecholamine secretion were investigated by measuring epinephrine secretion from chromaffin cells in vitro in response to cell-free conditioned media from mononuclear cells. Chromaffin cells were isolated from bovine adrenals whereas mononuclear cells were isolated from bovine spleen tissue or whole bovine blood. In secretion experiments epinephrine release and epinephrine remaining in cells was determined such that secretion was expressed as % of total cell content. After 90 minutes exposure to conditioned media, 22.8 +/- 1.1% of content was released compared to 1.7 +/- 0.2% with RPMI media. Secretion after filtration (< 3,000 MW cutoff) was 21.6 +/- 0.9% whereas after boiling and boiling in acid, secretion was 10.2 +/- 0.2 and 4.3 +/- 0.1% respectively. Dialysis (< 3,000 MW cutoff) reduced the 90 min conditioned media-stimulated epinephrine secretion from 22.5 +/- 3.8% to 2.3 +/- 0.3%. Neither atropine nor hexamethonium blockade altered the conditioned media-stimulated epinephrine secretion. These results suggest that mononuclear cells produce a low molecular weight substance--most likely a peptide--that contributes to the stimulation of epinephrine secretion.     

Inhibition of nicotinic responses by cotinine in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

We studied the effects of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, on nicotine-induced increase in [3H]phorbol dibutyrate binding, activation of protein kinase C and [3H]noradrenaline release in primary cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Cotinine (1 mM, 15 min.) and nicotine (10 microM, 5 min.) increased the [3H]phorbol binding by 100% and 150%, respectively. Both a short-term (10 min.) and a long-term (24 hr) pretreatment with cotinine inhibited the effect of nicotine. A 24 hr pretreatment with cotinine (1 mM) also reduced the nicotine-induced increase in membrane-bound protein kinase C activity. Cotinine pretreatment (10 min.) dose-dependently inhibited the release of [3H]noradrenaline induced by nicotine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium. Cotinine pretreatment did not reduce the [3H]noradrenaline release induced by high extracellular potassium (56 mM) or veratrine (10 mg l-1). The results indicate that cotinine inhibits activation of protein kinase C and noradrenaline release induced by nicotinic agonists in primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The results suggest that pre-existing cotinine could modify responses to acute exposure to nicotine in neural systems.     

Anaesthetic modulation of nicotinic ion channel kinetics in bovine chromaffin cells

1. We have investigated the action of the anaesthetics methoxyflurane, methohexitone and etomidate on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells using the whole cell patch clamp technique. 2. Spectral analysis of macroscopic currents evoked by 25 microM carbachol revealed that each of the agents tested reduced the lifetime of the channel open state in a dose-dependent manner. The whole cell current was inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion by each agent. 3. Channel gating parameters were calculated from single channel studies and the results used to test models explaining the modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels by anaesthetics. 4. Each of the agents studied reduced the mean channel open time in a concentration-dependent manner. Anaesthetic concentrations reducing mean open time by 50% were: 370 microM methoxyflurane, 30 microM methohexitone or 23 microM etomidate. 5. Methohexitone and etomidate produced an increase in the number of brief closures within bursts, while no such increase was observed with methoxyflurane. Despite these inter-burst gaps, mean burst length was reduced by each of the agents tested. 6. It is concluded that a simple sequential blocking model fails to account for the action of these anaesthetics. An extended model, in which blocked channels can close, may be applicable.     

Comparison of vesicular volume and quantal size in bovine chromaffin cells

Electrochemical measurements of vesicular content released were compared with the morphometric measurements of vesicular size in bovine chromaffin cells. Cross-sectional vesicular diameters were determined from electron micrographs. Two methods were used to determine the frequency histograms of "true" vesicular diameters (i.e. diameters of the vesicles in the equatorial plane): (i) "peeling off" method [Coupland R. E. (1968), Nature 217, 384-388], and (ii) summation of individual probabilities of "true" vesicular diameters. Quantal size was estimated from the area under the spontaneous current spike detected electrochemically. The frequency histograms of "true" vesicular diameters are found to be skewed (thus not well described by a Gaussian function) irrespective of the method used to calculate them, as are the frequency histograms of the cube roots of the quantal sizes. Furthermore, we also find that the frequency histograms of electrochemical measurements (the cube roots of quantal sizes) have lower skews and coefficients of variation than those of morphometric measurements ("true" vesicular diameters), with discrepancy being especially pronounced for noradrenaline-secreting cells. Such a difference in both coefficients of variation and skews suggests that the intravesicular catecholamine concentration is not uniform, but that it is lower for vesicles of larger size. In conclusion a variety of factors--vesicular volume, vesicular surface area to volume ratio, binding capacity of chromogranin and/or ATP, likely determines the amount of catecholamine stored in the vesicle.     

Inhibition of nicotinic receptor-mediated responses in bovine chromaffin cells by diltiazem

1. The effects of diltiazem on various functional parameters were studied in bovine cultured adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated with the nicotinic receptor agonist dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP) or with depolarizing Krebs-HEPES solutions containing high K+ concentrations. 2. The release of [3H]-noradrenaline induced by DMPP (100 microM for 5 min) was gradually and fully inhibited by increasing concentrations of diltiazem (IC50 = 1.3 microM). In contrast, the highest concentration of diltiazem used (10 microM) inhibited the response to high K+ (59 mM for 5 min) by only 25%. 3. 45Ca2+ uptake into cells stimulated with DMPP (100 microM for 1 min) was also blocked by diltiazem in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 0.4 microM). Again, diltiazem blocked the K(+)-evoked 45Ca2+ uptake (70 mM K+ for 1 min) only by 20%. In contrast, the N-P-Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker omega-conotoxin MVIIC depressed the K+ signal by 70%. In the presence of this toxin, diltiazem exhibited an additional small inhibitory effect, indicating that the compound was acting on L-type Ca2+ channels. 4. Whole-cell Ba2+ currents through Ca2+ channels in voltage-clamped chromaffin cells were inhibited by 3-10 microM diltiazem by 20-25%. The inhibition was readily reversed upon washout of the drug. 5. The whole-cell currents elicited by 100 microM DMPP (IDMPP) were inhibited in a concentration-dependent and reversible manner by diltiazem. Maximal effects were found at 10 microM, which reduced the peak IDMPP by 70%. The area of each curve represented by total current (QDMPP) was reduced more than the peak current. At 10 microM, the inhibition amounted to 80%; the IC50 for QDMPP inhibition was 0.73 microM, a figure close to the IC50 for 45Ca2+ uptake (0.4 microM) and [3H]-noradrenaline release (1.3 microM). The blocking effects of diltiazem developed very quickly and did not exhibit use-dependence; thus the drug blocked the channel in its closed state. The blocking effects of 1 microM diltiazem on IDMPP were similar at different holding potentials (inhibition by around 30% at -100, -80 or -50 mV). Diltiazem did not affect the current flow through voltage-dependent Na+ channels. 6. These data are compatible with the idea that diltiazem has little effect on Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in bovine chromaffin cells. Neither, does diltiazem affect INa. Rather, diltiazem acts directly on the neuronal nicotinic receptor ion channel and blocks ion fluxes, cell depolarization and the subsequent Ca2+ entry and catecholamine release. This novel effect of diltiazem might have clinical relevance since it might reduce the sympathoadrenal drive to the heart and blood vessels, thus contributing to the well established antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of the drug.     

Biochemical and immunocytochemical properties of peroxisomes and mitochondria in bovine chromaffin cells

The biochemical and immunocytochemical properties of peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation enzymes in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were investigated. Peroxisomes were detectable by immunofluorescence staining using antibodies against acyl-CoA oxidase, peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase and catalase. The mitochondria were abundantly stained with antibody against mitochondrial 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. The biosynthesis and intracellular processing of acyl-CoA oxidase and the peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase was slower than that in fibroblasts. The peroxisomal beta-oxidation activities shown by [1-14C] lignoceric acid oxidation were slightly lower than those in fibroblasts, whereas the mitochondrial beta-oxidation activities shown by [1-14C] palmitic acid oxidation were almost identical to those in fibroblasts. Adrenal chromaffin cells are useful materials for investigating the peroxisomal and mitochondrial metabolism of autonomic neurons and may contribute to the clarification of neuronal dysfunction in peroxisomal and mitochondrial disorders.     

Properties of ginseng saponin inhibition of catecholamine secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

A mouse anti-human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) monoclonal antibody (MoAb), designated as 3B10, has previously been produced and characterized by our laboratory. We report here the construction and the expression of mouse-human chimeric antibody derived from the MoAb. cDNAs encoding variable regions of heavy and light chains were prepared from 3B10 cells by polymerase chain reaction, and introduced to mammalian expression vectors containing cDNA for human gamma1 and kappa constant regions, respectively. Cotransfection of the vectors into CHO cells resulted in production of antibody reacting with human TNF-alpha. In SDS-PAGE analysis, the chimeric antibody, c3B10, migrated at 170 kDa under a nonreducing condition, whereas two bands with 58 and 28 kDa appeared following treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. Both c3B10 and mouse 3B10 neutralized the cytotoxic activity of human TNF-alpha to the same level, indicating that c3B10 holds the binding activity of its original MoAb. These findings suggest that the introduced genes for chimeric heavy and light chains are transcribed and translated to produce the chimeric heavy and light chain peptides, and that the peptides are assembled to form native IgG molecule. The chimeric anti-TNF-alpha antibody described in this study is expected to be less immunogenic and thus more suitable for possible clinical use.     

Differential regulation of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase expression in two distinct subpopulations of bovine chromaffin cells

Chromaffin cells were isolated from bovine adrenal glands and fractionated into two distinct subpopulations by density gradient centrifugation on Percoll. Cells in the more dense fraction stored epinephrine (E) as their predominant catecholamine (81% of total catecholamines), contained high levels of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) activity, and exhibited intense PNMT immunoreactivity. This population of chromaffin cells was termed the E-rich cell population. Cells in the less dense fraction, the norepinephrine (NE)-rich cell population, stored predominantly NE (75% of total catecholamines). Although the NE-rich cells had only 3% as much PNMT activity as did the E-rich cells, 20% of the NE-rich cells were PNMT immunoreactive. This suggested that the PNMT-positive cells in the NE-rich cell cultures contained less PNMT per cell than did E-rich cells and may not be typical adrenergic cells. The regulation of PNMT mRNA levels and PNMT activity in primary cultures of E-rich and NE-rich cells was compared. At the time the cells were isolated, PNMT mRNA levels in NE-rich cells were approximately 20% of those in E-rich cells; within 48 h in culture, PNMT mRNA in both populations declined to almost undetectable levels. Treatment with dexamethasone increased PNMT mRNA levels and PNMT activity in both populations. In E-rich cells, dexamethasone restored PNMT mRNA to the level seen in freshly isolated cells and increased PNMT activity twofold. In NE-rich cells, dexamethasone increased PNMT mRNA to levels twice those found in freshly isolated cells and increased PNMT activity sixfold. Cycloheximide blocked the effects of dexamethasone on PNMT mRNA expression in NE-rich cells but had little effect in E-rich cells. Angiotensin II, forskolin, and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate elicited large increases in PNMT mRNA levels in E-rich cells but had no effect in NE-rich cells. Our data suggest that PNMT expression is regulated differently in the two chromaffin cell subpopulations.     

Calcium signalling in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells: additive effects of histamine and nicotine

In a previous report, we described the ability of two secretogogues, histamine and nicotine, to stimulate additive effects on catecholamine (CA) release and synapsin II phosphorylation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells (BACC) [Firestone and Browning (1992), J. Neurochem., 58:441-447]. We hypothesized that these results were due to the combined effects on cytosolic Ca++ of the two distinct signalling pathways. We therefore examined the intracellular Ca++ signals stimulated by histamine and nicotine, alone and together. In Ca(++)-deficient medium, nicotine-stimulated signals were abolished, whereas histamine-stimulated signals were maintained, demonstrating that nicotine depended entirely on Ca++ influx for its effects. Indeed, the nicotine-stimulated signal could also be prevented using a Ca++ channel blocker, nicardipine. Further, the observation that exposure of BACC to thapsigargin reduced histamine-stimulated Ca++ signals verified that histamine mobilizes Ca++ from intracellular stores. Thus, the two secretogogues mobilize Ca++ from distinct pools. When BACC were stimulated with the two secretogogues together, the resulting Ca++ signal was greater than that from either alone. These data are consistent with a model in which two distinct sources of Ca++ can summate within the cell, producing a greater Ca++ signal and, hence, a greater effect on neurotransmitter release.     

Presence of a 300-kDa intermediate-filament-associated protein (IFAP-300kDa) in bovine chromaffin cells

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are cell-type-specific filaments that constitute a major part of the cellular cytoskeleton. Neurofilaments (NFs) are representative of a class of IFs which are excellent markers for neurons. NFs are also present in some cells of neural crest origin. A number of proteins have now been identified as being associated with IFs. Previously, a 300-kDa intermediate-filament-associated protein (IFAP-300kDa) was identified in baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21). This IFAP is developmentally regulated and is not found in the adult CNS. To learn more about the expression of IFAP-300kDa, this study investigated the expression of IFAP-300kDa in neural-crest-derived chromaffin cells, both in situ and in vitro. Immunofluorescence localization of IFAP-300kDa in cryosections of bovine adrenal gland demonstrated IFAP-300kDa immunoreactivity in the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-positive chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. When rounded chromaffin cells in culture were examined, double-label immunofluorescence microscopy revealed an IFAP-300kDa/NF-L-positive juxtanuclear aggregate. The plasma membrane was also IFAP-300kDa positive, but NF-L immunoreactivity was lacking. In cells which have spread under the influence of NGF, slender IFAP-300kDa-positive immunofluorescent strands were frequently seen radiating from a juxtanuclear area of immunoreactivity. Double-labeling revealed these filaments and juxtanuclear area to also be positive for NF-L immunoreactivity. The presence of IFAP-300kDa in situ and in vitro was further confirmed by immunoblot analysis. This study is the first demonstration of an IFAP in neuron-like cells located outside the central nervous system. In addition, these data indicate that the developmentally regulated IFAP-300kDa may persist in some cells of neural crest origin.     

Calcium-current facilitation in chromaffin cells

A case of severe, acute accidental theophylline intoxication in a 6-week old preterm infant treated with peritoneal dialysis is reported. Theophylline concentrations in plasma, urine and in the peritoneal lavage fluid were measured during all the procedure. With dialysis theophylline half-life was reduced to 14.8 hours, despite a plasmatic peak level of 133 micrograms/ml, and a significative amount of the drug was removed from the body, leading to a rapid and complete recovery of the child. In our experience peritoneal dialysis can be regarded as a first line emergency procedure in very sick infants with severe theophylline intoxication when more sophisticated methods are not available.     

Stimulation of cyclic ADP-ribose synthesis by acetylcholine and its role in catecholamine release in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is suggested to be a novel messenger of ryanodine receptors in various cellular systems. However, the regulation of its synthesis in response to cell stimulation and its functional roles are still unclear. We examined the physiological relevance of cADPR to the messenger role in stimulation-secretion coupling in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Sensitization of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) and stimulation of catecholamine release by cADPR in permeabilized cells were demonstrated along with the contribution of CICR to intracellular Ca2+ dynamics and secretory response during stimulation of intact chromaffin cells. ADP-ribosyl cyclase was activated in the membrane preparation from chromaffin cells stimulated with acetylcholine (ACh), excess KCl depolarization, and 8-bromo-cyclic-AMP. ACh-induced activation of ADP-ribosyl cyclase was dependent on the influx of Ca2+ into cells and on the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. These and previous findings that ACh activates adenylate cyclase by Ca2+ influx in chromaffin cells suggested that ACh induces activation of ADP-ribosyl cyclase through Ca2+ influx and cyclic AMP-mediated pathways. These results provide evidence that the synthesis of cADPR is regulated by cell stimulation, and the cADPR/CICR pathway forms a significant signal transduction for secretion.     

Roles for protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase in nicotine-induced secretion from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Both the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinases (protein kinases C, PKCs) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been implicated as participants in the secretory response of bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. To investigate a possible role for these kinases in exocytosis and the relationship of these kinases to one another, intact chromaffin cells were treated with agents that inhibited each of the kinases and analyzed for catecholamine release and MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)/MAPK activation after stimulation with secretagogues of differential efficacy. Of the three secretagogues tested, inactivation of PKCs by long-term phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment or incubation with GF109203X had the greatest inhibitory effect on nicotine-induced catecholamine release and MEK/MAPK activation, a moderate effect on KCl-induced events, and little, if any, effect on Ca2+ ionophore-elicited exocytosis and MEK/MAPK activation. These results indicate that PKC plays a significant role in events induced by the optimal secretagogue nicotine and a lesser role in exocytosis elicited by the suboptimal secretagogues KCl and Ca2+ ionophore. Treatment of cells with the MEK-activation inhibitor PD098059 completely inhibited MEK/MAPK activation (IC50 1-5 microM) and partially inhibited catecholamine release induced by all secretagogues. However, PD098059 was more effective at inhibiting exocytosis induced by suboptimal secretagogues (IC50 approximately 10 microM) than that induced by nicotine (IC50 approximately 30 microM). These results suggest a more prominent role for MEK/MAPK in basic secretory events activated by suboptimal secretagogues than in those activated by the optimal secretagogue nicotine. However, PD098059 also partially blocked secretion potentiated by short-term PMA treatment, suggesting that PKC can function in part by signaling through MEK/MAPK to enhance secretion. Taken together, these results provide evidence for the preferential involvement of MEK/MAPK in basic secretory events activated by the suboptimal secretagogues KCl and Ca2+ ionophore and the participation of both PKC and MEK/MAPK in optimal, secretion induced by nicotine.     

BAPTA-AM blocks both voltage-gated and Ca2+-activated K+ currents in cultured bovine chromaffin cells

The effects of the membrane permeant Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM on voltage-gated Na+, Ca2+, K+ (I(Na), I(Ca) I(K), respectively) and Ca2+-activated K+ (I(KCa)) currents in cultured bovine chromaffin cells were investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Superfusion with BAPTA-AM (50 microM) induced a rapid (< 60 s) and reversible block of both I(KCa) and I(K) (approximately 50%), without affecting either I(Ca) or I(Na). Preincubation with BAPTA-AM (50 microM, 30 min) or cell loading with the nonpermeable active form of BAPTA (10 mM in the pipette solution) permanently blocked I(KCa). BAPTA-AM superfusion (50 microM) also blocked I(K) (approximately 53%) after BAPTA-loading or BAPTA-AM preincubation. In conclusion, we show a fast and reversible block of I(KCa) and I(K) by BAPTA-AM, acting directly on K+ channels before it operates as a Ca2+ chelator, in cultured bovine chromaffin cells.     

Localized secretion of ATP and opioids revealed through single Ca2+ channel modulation in bovine chromaffin cells

In bovine chromaffin cells, the Ca2+ channels involved in exocytosis are effectively inhibited by ATP and opioids that are coreleased with catecholamines during cell activity. This autocrine loop causes a delay in Ca2+ channel activation that is quickly removed by preceding depolarizations. Changes in Ca2+ channel gating by secreted products thus make it possible to correlate Ca2+ channel activity to secretory events. Here, using cell-attached patch recordings, we found a remarkable correlation between delayed Ca2+ channel openings and neurotransmitter secretion induced by either local or whole-cell Ba2+ stimulation. The action is specific for N- and P/Q-type channels and largely prevented by PTX and mixtures of purinergic and opioid receptor antagonists. Overall, our data provide evidence that exocytosis, viewed through the autocrine inhibition of non-L-type channels, is detectable in membrane patches of approximately 1 microm2 distributed over 30%-40% of the total cell surface, while Ca2+ channels and autoreceptors are uniformly distributed over most of the cell membrane.     

Segregation of nitric oxide synthase expression and calcium response to nitric oxide in adrenergic and noradrenergic bovine chromaffin cells

Previous work has demonstrated that nitric oxide can be an important intracellular messenger in the regulation of neurosecretion in chromaffin cells. Since standard chromaffin cell cultures are mixed populations of noradrenaline and adrenaline producing cells, it would seem important to understand the functional differences between these individual components. The use of fluorescence imaging techniques for the recording of cytosolic calcium from single chromaffin cells together with the immunoidentification of individual cells with specific antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase, N-phenyl ethanolamine methyl transferase and nitric oxide synthase, has allowed us to measure single-cell calcium responses in identified adrenergic, noradrenergic and nitrergic chromaffin cells, thus helping us to clarify the differential role of nitric oxide in the function of these chromaffin cell types. 53 +/- 2% of chromaffin cells were able to synthesize nitric oxide (nitric oxidesynthase-positive cells), these cells being mainly noradrenergic (82 +/-2%). Results indicate that nitric oxide donors such as sodium nitroprusside, molsidomine and isosorbide dinitrate evoke [Ca2+]i increases in a 62 +/- 4% of chromaffin cells, the response to nitric oxide donors being between 30 and 50% of that of 20 microM nicotine. Cells responding to nitric oxide donors were mainly adrenergic (68 +/- 5%) although 45 +/- 9% of noradrenergic cells also gave [Ca2+]i increasing responses. The distribution of nitric oxide responding cells between nitric oxide synthase-positive and negative was very similar in the whole population (63 +/- 5 and 60 +/- 7%, respectively), but these differences were more prominent when considering the distribution of nitric oxide response between noradrenergic and adrenergic nitric oxide synthase-positive cells; while 73 6% of adrenergic nitric oxide synthase-positive cells evoke [Ca2+]i increases by nitric oxide stimulation, only 35 +/- 11% of noradrenergic nitric oxide synthase-positive cells respond. Taken together these results seem to indicate that (i) nitric oxide could act within adrenal medulla as both an intracellular and intercellular messenger; and (ii) noradrenergic cells seem to be specialized in nitric oxide synthesis while adrenergic cells with an endocrine function could mainly act as a target of neurosecretory action of this second messenger.     

Histamine causes Ca2+ entry via both a store-operated and a store-independent pathway in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The characteristics and properties of the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] that occurs in bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells on exposure to histamine have been investigated. Specifically, these experiments were conducted to determine how much external Ca2+ enters the cell through a (capacitative) Ca2+ entry pathway activated as a consequence of intracellular Ca2+ store mobilization, relative to that which enters independently of store depletion via other channels activated by histamine. In Fura-2 loaded cells continued exposure to histamine (10 microM) caused a rapid but transient increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] followed by a lower plateau that was sustained as long as external Ca2+ was present. In the absence of external Ca2+, only the initial brief transient was observed. In cells previously treated with thapsigargin (100 nM) in Ca(2+)-free medium to deplete the internal Ca2+ stores, histamine caused no increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] when external Ca2+ was absent. Re-introduction of external Ca2+ to thapsigargin-treated store-depleted cells caused a sustained increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] that was further increased (P < 0.0002) upon exposure to histamine. The histamine-evoked increase was prevented by the H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine (2 microM). A comparison was made between store-dependent Ca2+ entry consequent upon store mobilization with histamine in Ca(2+)-free medium and plateau phase Ca2+ entry resulting from stimulation with histamine in Ca(2+)-containing medium. The latter was found to be approximately 3 times greater in magnitude than the former (P < 0.0001) at the same concentration of histamine (10 microM). It is concluded that histamine causes Ca2+ entry not only via a capacitative entry pathway secondary to internal store mobilization, but also causes substantial Ca2+ entry through other pathways.     

Replication of bovine herpesvirus type 4 in human cells in vitro

A reference strain (Movár 33/63) of bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BHV-4) was inoculated into 14 different human cell lines and five primary cell cultures representing various human tissues. BHV-4 replicated in two embryonic lung cell lines, MRC-5 and Wistar-38, and in a giant-cell glioblastoma cell culture. Cytopathic effect and intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in these cells. PCR detected a 10,000-times-higher level of BHV-4 DNA. Titration of the supernatant indicated a 100-fold increase of infectious particles. Since this is the first bovine (human herpesvirus 8 and Epstein-Barr virus related) herpesvirus which replicates on human cells in vitro, the danger of possible human BHV-4 infection should not be ignored.     

Potentiation of histamine-induced catecholamine secretion by ouabain in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells is dependent on calcium and sodium influx

The effects of histamine on catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were studied in the presence of ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+-K+ ATPase. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Na+, as well as Ca2+, was involved in histamine receptor-mediated catecholamine secretion. Histamine (10(-8)-10(-5) M)-induced catecholamine secretion was markedly potentiated by addition of ouabain (10(-5) M) and was inhibited by a histamine-H1 receptor antagonist or incubation in a Ca2+-free medium. Histamine-induced 45Ca2+ influx was also potentiated by addition of ouabain. Ouabain alone or in the presence of histamine increased 22Na+ influx into the cells. In an additional set of experiments, cells were preincubated in the presence or absence of Na+ for 30 min (+/- histamine and ouabain), washed and then catecholamine secretion was measured following exposure to 2.2 mM Ca2+ for 15 min. Preincubation with histamine alone with or without Na+ had no effect of Ca2+-induced secretion of catecholamine. Preincubation with ouabain alone or with ouabain plus histamine produced a slight stimulation of catecholamine secretion in Na+-free medium and a large stimulation in Na+-containing medium. These results suggested that stimulation of the histamine-H1 receptor and inhibition of the Na+ pump both increase intracellular Na+ levels, resulting in increases in Ca2+ influx and catecholamine secretion.