Effect of monensin on secretory pathway in GH3 prolactin cells. A cytochemical study

The effects of the carboxylic ionophore monensin have been studied on a rat prolactin cell line (GH3 cells) under basal conditions or after acute stimulation by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). It was found that 1) monensin induces a rapid dilatation of Golgi elements in these endocrine cells; 2) secretory product, prolactin, is localized by electron microscope immunocytochemistry attached to the inner face of the membrane of these dilated vacuoles; 3) monensin induces preferentially a dilatation of the cis face of the Golgi zone, since the "GERL" complex identified by acid phosphate cytochemistry is disorganized or fragmented rather than vacuolized; and 4) monensin decreases strongly the basal release of prolactin in the culture medium but does not prevent the stimulating effect of TRH on this release. This suggests that monensin blocks preferentially the pathway of release of secretory product under basal conditions in GH3 cells but that another pathway less sensitive to monensin is involved under acute stimulation by TRH.