Chloride dependence of the K(+)-stimulated release of taurine from synaptosomes

Exposure of a crude synaptosomal fraction to K+ concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 mM evokes the release of [3H]taurine and [3H]GABA. These high concentrations of K+ induce, besides depolarization, a marked synaptosomal swelling, which is prevented by replacing chloride in the solutions with the largely impermeant anion gluconate. The depolarizing effect of K+ is unaffected by omission of chloride. The K(+)-evoked release of taurine seems related to K(+)-induced changes in synaptosomal volume rather than to a depolarizing effect, since it is totally calcium-independent but is abolished by reducing chloride and by making solutions hypertonic with mannitol. The release of [3H]GABA, in contrast is unaffected in chloride-free or hypertonic solutions.