Exocytosis in pheochromocytoma cells after exposure to a high concentration of potassium.
An electron-microscopic study revealed exocytosis of electron-dense granules in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells after 1-min exposure to a high concentration of potassium medium. Numerous omega profiles indicative of the exocytosis were seen in the surface membrane of the PC12 cells. Most omega profiles showed clear or did not contain the granule contents. Sometimes, the granular, flocculent or dense materials were seen within the omega profiles that were exposed directly to the extracellular medium. Moreover, noncoated or coated omega profiles were observed. Coated vesicles were also visible under the surface membrane. The present study suggests that PC12 cells retain the exocytotic release mechanism for catecholamines.
Oomori
Y
Y
Department of Anatomy, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.
Okuno
S
S
Fujisawa
H
H
Satoh
T
T
Ono
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002837:Chromaffin Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003034:Coated Pits, Cell-Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006531:HEPES; D010673:Pheochromocytoma; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D011189:Potassium Chloride; D006531:HEPES