RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Spontaneous and beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated taurine release from astroglial cells are independent of manipulations of intracellular calcium JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 2306 OP 2312 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.09-07-02306.1989 VO 9 IS 7 A1 Shain, W A1 Connor, JA A1 Madelian, V A1 Martin, DL YR 1989 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/9/7/2306.abstract AB 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)