Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin induces release of noradrenaline from the neurosecretory PC12 cell line.

Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin(500 ng/ml) induced extensive release of noradrenaline (1/3-2/3 of the total cell content) from PC12 cells in 2-4 min in the presence, but not the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Cells treated with toxin in the absence of Ca2+ released noradrenaline promptly on subsequent addition of Ca2+ to the medium. The amount of noradrenaline released depended on the concentrations of both Ca2+ and toxin in the medium (ED50, 0.3 mM and 420 ng/ml respectively). Ca2+ could be replaced by Ba2+ or Sr2+, and Mn2+ or Co2+, which are Ca2+ channel blockers, did not inhibit the release of the transmitter. These findings are discussed in relation to the systemic effects of enterotoxin.