Effects of somatostatin on intracellular calcium concentration in PC12 cells

Somatostatin (SS) is a neuropeptide that is distributed in various regions of the CNS, where it may act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. SS produces multiple effects in the CNS through interactions with membrane receptors. In particular, SS inhibits various secretory responses in different cell types. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of exogenous application of SS on the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in PC12 cells, a rat pheochromocytoma cell line. SS did reduce the magnitude of the secondary, maintained Ca2+ influx brought about by K+ depolarization. Similar effects were obtained with the application of SS analogues, such as D-Trp8-SS, D-Trp8-D-Cys14-SS, CGP-23996, and SMS-201995. In addition, treatment with cyclo-SS, a SS antagonist, did not alter [Ca2+]i. Experiments with selective blockers of different voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, such as methoxyverapamil (D600) and omega-conotoxin GVIA, demonstrated that the effects of SS on [Ca2+]i were mediated by voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels of the L type. Control experiments with a membrane potential indicator, i.e., the fluorescent dye bisoxonol, excluded that SS influenced the level of the membrane potential. SS effects on PC12 cells suggest the possibility that this neuropeptide plays a role in the modulation of cell functional activity by altering Ca2+ influx.