PACAP stimulates the release of the secretogranin II-derived peptide EM66 from chromaffin cells.

The aim of the present article was to examine the effect of PACAP on the release of the SgII-derived peptide EM66 from primary cultures of bovine chromaffin cells. PACAP dose dependently stimulated EM66 release from cultured chromaffin cells. A significant response was observed after 6 h of treatment with PACAP and increased to reach a 3.6-fold stimulation at 72 h. The stimulatory effect of PACAP was mediated through multiple signaling pathways, including calcium influx through L-type channels, PKA, PKC, and MAP-kinase cascades, to regulate EM66 release from chromaffin cells. These data suggest that EM66 may act downstream of the trans-synaptic stimulation of the adrenal medulla by neurocrine factors.