Simultaneous capacitance and amperometric measurements of exocytosis: A comparison

Andres F. Oberhauser, Iain M. Robinson, Julio M. Fernandez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

We measured the exocytotic response induced by flash photolysis of caged compounds in isolated mast cells and chromaffin cells. Vesicle fusion was measured by monitoring the cell membrane capacitance. The release of vesicular contents was followed by amperometry. In response to a GTPγS stimulus we found that the time integral of the amperometric current could be superimposed on the capacitance trace. This shows that the integrated amperometric signal provides an alternative method of measuring the extent and kinetics of the secretory response. Very different results were obtained when photolysis of caged Ca2+ (DM-nitrophen) was used to stimulate secretion. In mast cells, there was an immediate, graded increase in membrane capacitance that was followed by step increases (indicative of granule fusion). During the initial phase of the capacitance increases, no release of oxidizable secretory products was detected. In chromaffin cells we also observed a considerable delay between increases in capacitance, triggered by uncaging Ca2+, and the release of oxidizable secretory products. Here we demonstrate that there can be large increases in the membrane capacitance of a secretory cell, triggered by flash photolysis of DM-nitrophen, which indicate events that are not due to the fusion of granules containing oxidizable substances. These results show that increases in capacitance that are not resolved as steps cannot be readily interpreted as secretory events unless they are confirmed independently.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1131-1139
Number of pages9
JournalBiophysical journal
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Simultaneous capacitance and amperometric measurements of exocytosis: A comparison'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this