Parallel but separate release of catecholamines and acetylcholinesterase from stimulated adrenal chromaffin cells in culture.

A pharmacological study was made of the effects of veratridine and lasalocid on the release of catecholamines, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) from cultures of isolated bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Exposure of the cultures to veratridine resulted in concomitant release of catecholamines and AChE into the external medium in a dose-dependent and Ca2+-dependent manner. A Ca2+ ionophore, lasalocid, also produced a dose-dependent and parallel release of both catecholamines and AChE. The release of the two components was accompanied by release of DBH. The present results provide pharmacological evidence for a parallel release of catecholamines, AChE, and DBH from cultured adrenal chromaffin cells, and the stoichiometry of the release evoked by different secretagogues suggests that AChE and catecholamines are released from different cellular compartments.