Calcium entry through slow-inactivating L-type calcium channels preferentially triggers endocytosis rather than exocytosis in bovine chromaffin cells

Calcium (Ca2+)-dependent endocytosis has been linked to preferential Ca2+ entry through the L-type (α1D, CaV1.3) of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs). Considering that the Ca2+-dependent exocytotic release of neurotransmitters is mostly triggered by Ca2+ entry through N-(α1B, CaV2.2) or PQ-VDCCs (α1A, CaV2.1) and that exocytosis and endocytosis are coupled, the supposition that the different channel subtypes are specialized to control different cell functions is attractive. Here we have explored this hypothesis in primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells where PQ channels account for 50% of Ca2+ current (ICa), 30% for N channels, and 20% for L channels. We used patch-clamp and fluorescence techniques to measure the exo-endocytotic responses triggered by long depolarizing stimuli, in 1, 2, or 10 mM concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]e). Exo-endocytotic responses were little affected by ω-conotoxin GVIA (N channel blocker), whereas ω -agatoxin IVA (PQ channel blocker) caused 80% blockade of exocytosis as well as endocytosis. In contrast, nifedipine (L channel blocker) only caused 20% inhibition of exocytosis but as much as 90% inhibition of endocytosis. Conversely, FPL67146 (an activator of L VDCCs) notably augmented endocytosis. Photoreleased caged Ca2+ caused substantially smaller endocytotic responses compared with those produced by K+ depolarization. Using fluorescence antibodies, no colocalization between L, N, or PQ channels with clathrin was found; a 20-30% colocalization was found between dynamin and all three channel antibodies. This is incompatible with the view that L channels are coupled to the endocytotic machine. Data rather support a mechanism implying the different inactivation rates of L (slow-inactivating) and N/PQ channels (fast-inactivating). Thus a slow but more sustained Ca2+ entry through L channels could be a requirement to trigger endocytosis efficiently, at least in bovine chromaffin cells. © 2011 the American Physiological Society.This work was partially supported from the following grants from Spanish institutions (to A. G. Garcia): SAF2006-03589 and SAF2010-21795, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain; NDE 07/09, Agencia Laín Entralgo, Comunidad de Madrid; PI016/09, Fundación C.I.E.N., Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RD 06/0026 RETICS, Instituto de Salud Carlos III; S-SAL-0275-2006, Comunidad de Madrid. Also by Grant SAF2007-65181 and SAL-2010-18837, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain (to L. Gandia).Peer Reviewe