Effects of protonophores on the synthesis of catecholamines and the intracellular pH in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells.

The protonophores carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) stimulated the synthesis of 14C-catecholamines from [14C]tyrosine in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. The stimulatory effect of CCCP but not of FCCP was partially dependent on extracellular Ca2+. CCCP but not FCCP increased the influx of 45Ca2+ to the cells. When cells were incubated with either CCCP or FCCP (0.01-0.2 microgram/ml), the intracellular pH fell from 7.2 to 6.3-6.5 and catecholamine synthesis increased. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in a soluble fraction prepared from cultured adrenal medullary cells was measured after incubation of the cells with FCCP or CCCP. Although FCCP did not affect the activity of the enzyme, CCCP caused a stable activation of it which was dependent on extracellular Ca2+. Since the optimal pH of soluble tyrosine hydroxylase is around 6.0 in adrenal medullary cells, FCCP may increase the synthesis of catecholamines by shifting the intracellular pH toward it. In addition to this mechanism, CCCP may enhance the synthesis of catecholamines by a Ca2+-dependent mechanism.