Choline stimulates nicotinic receptors on adrenal medullary chromaffin cells to induce catecholamine secretion.

Choline stimulated secretion of catecholamines from primary dissociated cultures of bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells by interacting with nicotinic receptors. Secretion was readily detected at a choline concentration of 1 millimole per liter and was maximal at 3 to 10 millimoles per liter; it was completely calcium-dependent. Further analysis suggested that choline acts as a partial nicotinic agonist.