Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 9, 2306-2312, Copyright © 1989 by Society for Neuroscience
Spontaneous and beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated taurine release from astroglial cells are independent of manipulations of intracellular calcium
W Shain, JA Connor, V Madelian and DL Martin
Laboratory of Neurotoxicology and Nervous System Disorders, Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, Albany, New York 12201.
Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors on LRM55 astroglial cells results
in cAMP-dependent release of taurine. We have previously demonstrated that
extracellular Ca2+ is not required for either spontaneous or
receptor-mediated taurine release (Martin et al., 1988b). In the present
series of experiments we investigated the relationship between changes in
intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and taurine release. [Ca2+]i was measured
using the fluorescent probe fura- 2 and was manipulated by changing the
concentration of Ca2+ in the incubation medium and by using the Ca2+
ionophore ionomycin. [Ca2+]i was reduced from 150 +/- 95 nM (n = 46) in
control medium (containing 1.1 mM CaCl2) to 46 +/- 10 nM (n = 43) in saline
containing no CaCl2 and 10 microM EGTA. [Ca2+]i was rapidly elevated to
greater than or equal to 1 microM in medium containing 100 microM CaCl2 and
10 microM ionomycin. Taurine release, either spontaneous or stimulated by
isoproterenol, was not significantly affected by these manipulations of
[Ca2+]i. [Ca2+]i did not change when cells were stimulated with 100 nM
isoproterenol in either control saline containing 1.1 mM CaCl2 or in
CaCl2-free saline containing 10 microM EGTA. Other secretogogs (serotonin
and ethanol) did not cause changes in [Ca2+]i. These data indicate that
neither spontaneous or receptor-mediated taurine release from astroglial
cells is Ca2+ dependent. However, when cells were preloaded with Ca2+,
allowed to recover briefly, and then stimulated with isoproterenol, it was
possible to demonstrate transient increases in Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
250 WORDS)