Direct autocrine inhibition and cAMP-dependent potentiation of single L-type Ca2+ channels in bovine chromaffin cells.

Using the cell-attached recording configuration, we found that in adult bovine chromaffin cells there exists a direct membrane-delimited inhibition of single Bay K-modified L-channels mediated by opioids and ATP locally released in the recording pipette. This autocrine modulation is mediated by pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G-proteins and causes a 50 % decrease of the open channel probability (Po) and an equivalent percentage increase of null sweeps at +10 mV with no changes to the activation kinetics, single channel conductance and mean open time. The decrease in Po is mainly due to an increase in the occurrence and duration of slow closed times (> 40 ms). Addition of purinergic and opioidergic antagonists (suramin and naloxone) or cell pre-treatment with PTX removes the inhibition while addition of ATP and opioids inside the pipette, but not outside, mimics the effect. Strong pre-pulses (+150 mV, 280 ms) followed by short repolarizations are unable to remove the inhibition at test potential (+10 mV). Increasing the level of cAMP by either direct application of 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (8-CPT-cAMP) or mixtures of forskolin and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (IBMX) potentiates the activity of L-channels by increasing the mean open time and decreasing the mean closed time and percentage of null sweeps. The cAMP-induced potentiation occurs regardless of whether the G-protein-mediated inhibition is activated by ATP and opioids or inactivated by PTX. Protein kinase inhibitors (H7 and H89) prevent the effects of cAMP without altering the basal autocrine modulation associated with PTX-sensitive G-proteins. Our results provide new evidence for the coexistence of two distinct modulations that may converge on the same neuroendocrine L-channel: a direct G-protein-dependent inhibition and a cAMP-mediated potentiation, which may work in combination to regulate Ca2+ entry during neurosecretion.