The effect of purothionin on bovine adrenal medullary cells

The effect of purothionin, a peptide isolated from wheat flour, on adrenal medullary cells was examined in perfused bovine adrenal glands. Addition of purothionin (4 microgram/ml) to the perfusion fluid caused the release of cytoplasmic glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (c-GOT), DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) and magnesium ions, which are present in the cytoplasmic fraction of adrenal medulla, but not the release of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) or mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (m-GOT), which are located in the particulate fraction. These results suggest that purothionin makes small pores in the cytoplasmic membranes of bovine adrenal medullary cells, resulting in the leakage of the cytoplasmic proteins and ions from the cells.