Abstract
The hypothesis that the buffering of Ca(2+) by mitochondria could affect the Ca(2+)-dependent inhibition of voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels, (I(Ca)), was tested in voltage-clamped bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone (CCCP), the blocker of the Ca(2+) uniporter ruthenium red (RR), and a combination of oligomycin plus rotenone were used to interfere with mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering. In cells dialyzed with an EGTA-free solution, peak I(Ca) generated by 20 msec pulses to 0 or +10 mV, applied at 15 sec intervals, from a holding potential of -80 mV, decayed rapidly after superfusion of cells with 2 microm CCCP (tau = 16.7 +/- 3 sec; n = 8). In cells dialyzed with 14 mm EGTA, CCCP did not provoke I(Ca) loss. Cell dialysis with 4 microm ruthenium red or cell superfusion with oligomycin (3 microm) plus rotenone (4 microm) also accelerated the decay of I(Ca). After treatment with CCCP, decay of N- and P/Q-type Ca(2+) channel currents occurred faster than that of L-type Ca(2+) channel currents. These data are compatible with the idea that the elevation of the bulk cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration, [Ca(2+)](c), causes the inhibition of L- and N- as well as P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels expressed by bovine chromaffin cells. This [Ca(2+)](c) signal appears to be tightly regulated by rapid Ca(2+) uptake into mitochondria. Thus, it is plausible that mitochondria might efficiently regulate the activity of L, N, and P/Q Ca(2+) channels under physiological stimulation conditions of the cell.