Involvement of calcium in the release of immunoreactive beta-endorphin-like peptide from dispersed cells of the neurointermediate lobe of the rat pituitary gland.

The presence of Ca2+ in the incubation medium was required for stimulation of the release of the immunoreactive beta-endorphin-like peptide (IR-beta-EP) from the dispersed cells of the neurointermediate lobe of rat pituitary gland by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) analogs, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, L-isoproterenol, cholera toxin and forskolin. The basal release observed in the absence of the stimulants was also dependent on the addition of Ca2+. A calcium antagonist (verapamil) inhibited the effects of the stimulants. A calcium ionophore (A23187) enhanced the release of IR-beta-EP, but did not stimulate the formation of cAMP. These findings suggest that Ca2+ has the essential role in the release of beta-endorphin from the neurointermediate lobe of rat pituitary gland.