Calcium and the secretory cycle of prolactin cells: a cytochemical and ultrastructural study of dopamine inhibition and monobutyryl cyclic AMP-stimulation of prolactin secretion.

To identify intracellular calcium pools that may be involved in the secretory process in prolactin (PRL) cells, hemi pituitaries were incubated in medium containing 10(-6) M dopamine, 5 mM cyclic cAMP (experimentals), or in medium alone (controls) and then processed for electron microscopy using potassium pyroantimonate to localize intracellular calcium. PRL in the medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. The concentration of antimonate associated with mitochondria, Golgi saccules, and secretory granules was estimated. Dopamine inhibition of PRL secretion (> 80% at 1, 2, 3 h) resulted in accumulation of secretory granules in all stages of maturation and dilation of Golgi saccules at 2 and 3 h, accompanied by increased mitochondria antimonate and increased Golgi-associated antimonate. Cyclic AMP stimulation of secretion (635% at 5 min., declining to 34% at 1 h) resulted in marked exocytosis at 5 and 15 min., declining after 30 min. Mitochondrial antimonate decreased after 30 min. Stimulated cells exhibited numerous coated membrane structures at or near exocytotic pits and an amassing of microvesicles at the margin of the Golgi apparatus. Although some secretory granules consistently exhibited reactivity to antimonate (unchanged by inhibition or stimulation), plasma membrane, and granule membrane translocated to the plasma membrane during exocytosis, were not reactive.