title: Ethanol's effects on neurotransmitter release and intracellular free calcium in PC12 cells.
abstract: The effect of ethanol on muscarine-stimulated release of [3H]NE was studied using the rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC12. At concentrations of 25 mM and above, ethanol produced a dose dependent inhibition of muscarine-stimulated release of [3H]NE. The inhibition of muscarine-stimulated transmitter release occurred in the absence of any effect of ethanol on [3H]NE uptake, metabolism or on muscarinic binding to the cells. However, ethanol produced an inhibition of muscarine-stimulated elevation of intracellular free Ca2+ which corresponded with the inhibition of transmitter release. At concentrations greater than 100 mM, ethanol produced both a stimulation of the release of [3H]NE as well as an increase in intracellular free Ca2+. The increase in basal transmitter release and intracellular free Ca2+ occurred independent of the inhibition by ethanol of muscarine-stimulated elevation of intracellular free Ca2+ or transmitter section. These results demonstrate the relationship of the effects of ethanol on cellular free Ca2+ and neurotransmitter release.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiologic and Pharamcologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD 20852.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Weight
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009116:Muscarine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D014316:Tritium; D000431:Ethanol; D009116:Muscarine; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine