CATECHOLAMINE SECRETION BY HAMSTER ADRENAL CELLS1

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Abstract
Abstract— Suspensions of isolated adrenal cells were prepared by digesting hamster adrenal glands with collagenase, and the secretion of catecholamine from these cells was studied. Acetylcholine (ACh) produces a dose‐dependent increase in catecholamine secretion; half‐maximal secretion is produced by 3 μm‐ACh, and maximal secretion by 100 μm‐ACh. The cholinergic receptor in these cells appears to be nicotinic, since catecholamine secretion is stimulated by the nicotinic agonists nicotine and dimeth‐ylphenylpiperaziniurn, but not by the muscarinic agonists pilocarpine or oxotremorine. ACh‐induced catecholamine secretion is inhibited by hexamethonium, tubocurarine, and atropine, but is not inhibited by α‐bungarotoxin. ACh‐induced catecholamine secretion is dependent upon the presence of extracellular Ca2+, and appears to occur by exocytosis, since the release of catecholamine is accompanied by the release of dopamine β‐monooxygenase, but not of lactate dehydrogenase. These biochemical studies complement the morphological evidence for exocytosis in hamster adrenal glands, and indicate that catecholamine secretion from hamster chromaffin cells is similar to that from chromaffin cells of other species.