PACAP regulates immediate catecholamine release from adrenal chromaffin cells in an activity-dependent manner through a protein kinase C-dependent pathway.

ABSTRACT: Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells are a major peripheral output of the sympathetic nervous system. Catecholamine release from these cells is driven by synaptic excitation from the innervating splanchnic nerve. Acetylcholine has long been shown to be the primary transmitter at the splanchnic-chromaffin synapse, acting through ionotropic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to elicit action potential-dependent secretion from the chromaffin cells. This cholinergic stimulation has been shown to desensitize under sustained stimulation, yet catecholamine release persists under this same condition. Recent evidence supports synaptic chromaffin cell stimulation through alternate transmitters. One candidate is pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP), a peptide transmitter present in the

SUBMITTER: Kuri BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2743320 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature