Gap Junctions Mediate Electrical Signaling and Ensuing Cytosolic Ca2+Increases between Chromaffin Cells in Adrenal Slices: A Role in Catecholamine Release

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.21-15-05397.2001
• Publication Date: 2018-04-09T19:50:15Z
• Authors: Agnès O. Martin; Marie-Noëlle Mathieu; Claude Chevillard; Nathalie C. Guéri...
• Keywords: Chromaffin cell; Lucifer yellow; Carbenoxolone

In adrenal chromaffin cells, a rise in cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) is key event the triggering of catecholamine exocytosis after splanchnic nerve activation. Action potential- or nicotine-induced [Ca(2+)]i transients are well described individual but whether they remain spatially confined to stimulated cell propagate adjacent cells not yet known. To address this issue, spatiotemporal organization electrical and associated Ca(2+) events between was investigated using patch-clamp technique real-time confocal imaging rat acute slices. Spontaneous electrically evoked action potential-driven were simultaneously detected neighboring cells. This likely attributable gap junction-mediated electrotonic communication, as shown by (1) bidirectional reflection voltage changes monitored pairs, (2) Lucifer yellow (LY) diffusion exhibiting spontaneous synchronized transients, (3) reduction LY uncoupling agent carbenoxolone. Furthermore, transcripts encoding two connexins (Cx36 Cx43) found single junctional coupling activated synaptic-like application nicotine that mediated synchronous multicellular increases. addition, nicotinic stimulation triggered release coupled amperometric detection secretory events. Functional situ may represent an efficient complement synaptic transmission amplify excited cell.