Mechanisms of catecholamine secretion from adrenal chromaffin cells

Adrenaline and noradrenaline are released from adrenal medullary chromaffin cells by regulated exocytosis from stored secretory granules. Many aspects of the mechanisms by which exocytosis is activated in chromaffin cells are now understood in detail and these cells have provided an important model for the study of neuroendocrine secretion in general. Exocytosis is triggered by Ca2+ influx which activates a multistep process involving at least two Ca(2+)-binding proteins with distinct Ca2+ affinities. Several cytosolic and membrane proteins have been implicated by functional studies as components of the exocytotic machinery. The likely roles of these proteins in exocytosis are discussed in this review and the questions that remain for the understanding of the molecular basis of catecholamine release are highlighted.