title: Spontaneous and beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated taurine release from astroglial cells do not require extracellular calcium.
abstract: Astroglial cells release taurine when stimulated by beta-adrenergic agonists and other neuroactive agents. The Ca2+-dependency of taurine release by an LRM55 astroglial cell line was investigated by removing Ca2+ from the perfusion medium and by using three inorganic and three organic Ca2+-channel blockers (Mn2+, Co2+, Cd2+, verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem). Spontaneous release and release stimulated by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol were not inhibited when cells were perfused with medium containing no added Ca2+ and 10 microM EGTA. Isoproterenol-stimulated taurine release was not blocked when extracellular Ca2+ was completely replaced by Mn2+, Co2+, or Cd2+, nor was it blocked by verapamil, nifedipine, or diltiazem. In fact isoproterenol-stimulated taurine release was increased by 50 microM diltiazem and when Ca2+ was replaced by Co2+. The rate of spontaneous release increased slowly and continually when Co2+ was substituted for Ca2+ but was almost unaffected by substitution of Mn2+ or Cd2+. Application of diltiazem increased spontaneous release significantly, while verapamil and nifedipine appeared to cause small increases. These results indicate that entry of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium is not required for either receptor-mediated or spontaneous taurine release from astroglial cells. Some other changes in the medium did strongly affect release. Both spontaneous and isoproterenol-stimulated release were inhibited by elevated osmotic pressure, and spontaneous release was greatly increased when Ca2+ was completely removed without substituting another divalent cation. Spontaneous release increased when antagonistic metal ions were replaced with Ca2+ and when organic channel blockers were removed.
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany 12201-0509.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Madelian
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shain
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013654:Taurine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013654:Taurine; D007545:Isoproterenol; D002118:Calcium