Monensin depletes PC12 pheochromocytoma cells of catecholamines and of chromaffin-type granules.
PC12 pheochromocytoma cell store dopamine in chromaffin-type granules. The carboxylic ionophore momensin depletes the cells of dopamine and of granules PC12 cultures incubated for 30 min with 100 nM monensin lose more than 90% of their dopamine. A small fraction of the dopamine that disappears from the cells is converted to dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. The remainder is presumably converted to other, unidentified metabolites. Monensin-treated cells contain many cytoplasmic vesicles. Some of these vesicles contain amorphous, electron-dense material, which may represent the matrix of disrupted granules. There is no morphological evidence of exocytosis. Thus, monensin appears to promote the intracellular lysis of chromaffin-type granules in PC12 cells.
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002837:Chromaffin Granules / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008985:Monensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D005663:Furans; D008985:Monensin; D004298:Dopamine