Multiple actions of extracellular ATP on calcium currents in cultured bovine chromaffin cells

Hormone secretion from chromaffin cells is evoked by calcium influx through voltage-dependent channels in the plasma membrane. Previous studies have shown that ATP, cosecreted with catecholamines from chromaffin granules, can modulate the secretion resulting from depolarization by nicotinic agonists. The immediate effect of ATP is to enhance secretion; more prolonged exposure to the nucleotide results in inhibition. These receptor-mediated actions of ATP involve the activation of at least two separate classes of GTP-binding protein. Results from electrophysiological experiments reported here demonstrate that the modulatory actions of ATP can, in large part, be explained by the effects of the nucleotide on inward calcium current. ATP shows a rapid enhancement and a slower, persistent inhibition of the depolarization-induced inward current.