title: Characteristics of catecholamine release from adrenal chromaffin cells cultured in medium containing ethanol--I. Spontaneous and K(+)-induced release.
abstract: Bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were dissociated and grown in primary culture for 9 days. Three days after plating, half the cultures were grown in a medium containing 200 mM ethanol and the other half in a control medium, for a further 6 days. The catecholamine content of the ethanol-treated cells was increased after 6 days of ethanol treatment, compared to control cells and there was a slight reduction in protein and DNA content. An enhanced spontaneous release of catecholamines was seen, which was Ca(2+)-dependent and was inhibited by cadmium but not by the organic dihydropyridine Ca2+ antagonist nitrendipine. The fraction of catecholamines released by K+ was also enhanced in ethanol-treated preparations, particularly at high K+ or Ca2+ concentrations. Release induced by K+ was sensitive to inhibition by both cadmium and organic dihydropyridine Ca2+ antagonists. The results show many similarities with changes observed in catecholaminergic transmission in rat brain during the development of ethanol physical dependence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Science, Kings College, Strand, London, U.K.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Littleton
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002395:Catecholamines; D003470:Culture Media; D011506:Proteins; D000431:Ethanol; D004247:DNA; D009568:Nitrendipine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium