CALCIUM AND STIMULUS SECRETION COUPLING IN THE NEUROHYPOPHYSIS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Slices from ox neurohypophyses were incubated in a calcium-free medium with the ionophores A23187 or X537A. X537A (5 × 10−5 mol/l) caused a marked release of vasopressin, neurophysin and protein to the medium. A23187 (2 × 10−5 mol/l) did not cause any release by itself, but when Ca2+ was added to the medium in the presence of the ionophore, an increase in the release of vasopressin, neurophysin and protein occurred. Release of lactate dehydrogenase and peptidase were not affected by the ionophores. The secretion caused by A23187 was abolished by D600 (a verapamil analogue) (2 × 10−5 mol/l) whereas the effect of X537A was unchanged. The effects of X537A were strongly inhibited by removal of sodium from the medium. Re-addition of sodium to the medium caused a marked release. Gramicidin (10−6 or 5 × 10−5 mol/l) had no effect on secretion. Efflux of 45Ca2+ from pre-loaded slices was drastically reduced in a sodium-free medium. X537A caused an increase in the efflux rate of 45Ca2+ both in medium with a normal concentration of sodium and when slices had been incubated in a sodium-free medium. A23187 and X537A both released 45Ca2+ from a neurohypophyseal mitochondrial fraction. When sodium in a concentration of 20 mmol/l was added to this fraction, the Ca2+ accumulation was inhibited. This effect was reduced by inorganic phosphate up to a concentration of 2 mmol/l.