The effect of colchicine and cytochalasin B on the release of taurine from the chick retina.

The effect of colchicine (0.5 mM) and of cytochalasin B (10(-4) M) on the release of [35S]taurine from the isolated chick retina, upon stimulation by 68.5 mM-KCl, 10(-5) M-veratridine, and 10 mM-glutamate, was studied. Cytochalasin and colchicine effects on taurine release were compared with those on K+-stimulated release of [3H]dopamine and [3H]GABA. Colchicine caused a marked decrease of the [35S]taurine release evoked by the three stimulatory agents; it also decreased [3H]dopamine release without affecting that of [3H]GABA. Cytochalasin B significantly decreased the efflux of [35S]taurine stimulated by glutamate or veratridine without altering that evoked by 68.5 mM-KCl. Cytochalasin practically suppressed the [3H]dopamine-stimulated release and slightly decreased that of [3H]GABA. This drug produced a high increase in the spontaneous release of labeled GABA and taurine. These results suggest that the release of taurine and GABA from the chick retina probably occurs though different mechanisms. It is suggested that taurine release may be related to a process involving contractile proteins.