Correlation between catecholamine secretion from bovine isolated chromaffin cells and [3H]-ouabain binding to plasma membranes.

1 Secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by ouabain, chlormadinone acetate (CMA), phenoxybenzamine (Pbz) and vanadate, four agents known to inhibit Na(+), K(+)-dependent Mg(2+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity has been studied in suspensions of bovine isolated adrenal medullary cells.2 Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a 5 fold increase of the basal CA secretion from isolated cells suspended in oxygenated Krebs-bicarbonate solution kept at 27 degrees C. Secretion was antagonized by Ca(2+)-deprivation or hexamethonium, indicating good functional viability of the cells.3 Ouabain (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) evoked a progressive, dose-dependent release of CA from cell suspensions. Study of the time course of the secretory response for 2 h allowed the separation of two components in the secretory response at all doses studied: a slow initial component (0.011 pg/min CA) and a second faster component (0.032 pg/min CA).4 CMA evoked a clear-cut CA secretory response. The ED(50) for CMA was 10(-4) M, as compared to 3 x 10(-6) M for ouabain. Pbz and vanadate did not induce CA release.5 [(3)H]-ouabain was taken up and bound to intact isolated cells by a non-saturable binding process. However, in semi-purified plasma membranes from bovine adrenal medulla a saturable specific [(3)H]-ouabain binding process was observed with a K(D) of 8.1 nM. Binding to the membranes was ATP-dependent and antagonized by K(+).6 [(3)H]-ouabain specific binding to membranes was antagonized by ouabain and CMA, but not by Pbz or vanadate; the ID(50) for ouabain and CMA were 10(-6) and 10(-5) M respectively.7 Ouabain partially inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, Na(+), K(+)-Mg(2+) ATPase activity of the semi-purified plasma membranes.8 The results demonstrate a good correlation between the ability of different drugs, known to inhibit ATPase activity, to displace [(3)H]-ouabain binding to adreno-medullary plasma membranes and their capacity to evoke a CA secretory response from isolated chromaffin cells. The data also suggest that the CA secretory effects of ouabain may not be due simply to inhibition of the Na(+) pump and the subsequent ionic redistribution across the plasma membrane; a second mechanism may also be involved.