Separating vesicle fusion and exocytosis in hypertonic conditions.
The existence of an osmotic gradient between the vesicular contents of chromaffin and mast cells and the extracellular fluid plays a key role in the exocytotic process. Altering this gradient by elevating the external buffer osmolarity allows for the inhibition of exocytosis from cells and isolation and identification of prespike current events upon stimulation using cyclic voltammetry. Subsequent replacement of the osmotic gradient leads to release of the contents from fused vesicles.
Troyer
Kevin P
KP
Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, USA.
Mundorf
Michelle L
ML
Fries
Harvey E
HE
Wightman
R Mark
RM
D000818:Animals; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005089:Exocytosis; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D009995:Osmosis; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology
D006982:Hypertonic Solutions