Tetraethylammonium selectively stimulates secretion from noradrenergic bovine chromaffin cells.

1. The effects of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) on catecholamine secretion from primary cultures of noradrenaline-rich (noradrenergic) and adrenaline-rich (adrenergic) bovine chromaffin cells were studied. TEA stimulated catecholamine secretion from both cell types but was a much more effective secretory stimulus for noradrenergic cells. 2. TEA-induced catecholamine secretion was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, was partially inhibited by nifedipine and by tetrodotoxin, and was potentiated by ouabain. Other K+ channel blocking agents including 4-aminopyridine, glibenclamide, and tolbutamide did not stimulate catecholamine secretion. 3. TEA had no effect on Ca(2+)-induced secretion from digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells. 4. TEA presumably evokes secretion by inhibiting K+ channels, depolarizing chromaffin cells, and activating voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the cells. Noradrenergic cells appear to be more sensitive to K+ channel inhibition than are adrenergic cells. 5. The secretory response of the chromaffin cells to TEA increased with time in culture. 6. In addition to being a more effective secretagogue in noradrenergic cells, TEA was also more effective in stimulating catecholamine synthesis in these cells.