Somatostatin modulation of initial fusion pores in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis from mouse chromaffin cells

Somatostatin, a peptide hormone that activates G-protein-coupled receptors, inhibits the secretion of many hormones. This study investigated the mechanisms of this inhibition using amperometry recording of Ca2+-triggered catecholamine secretion from mouse chromaffin cells. Two distinct stimulation protocols, high-KCl depolarization and caffeine, were used to trigger exocytosis, and confocal fluorescence imaging was used to monitor the rise in intracellular free Ca2+. Analysis of single-vesicle fusion events (spikes) resolved the action of somatostatin on fusion pores at different stages. Somatostatin reduced spike frequency, and this reduction was accompanied by prolongation of pre-spike feet and slowing of spike rise times. This indicates that somatostatin stabilizes initial fusion pores and slows their expansion. This action on the initial fusion pore impacted the release mode to favour kiss-and-run over full-fusion. During a spike the permeability of a fusion pore peaks, declines and then settles into a plateau. Somatostatin had no effect on the plateau, suggesting no influence on late-stage fusion pores. These actions of somatostatin were indistinguishable between exocytosis triggered by high-KCl and caffeine, and fluorescence imaging showed that somatostatin had no effect on stimulus-induced rises in cytosolic Ca2+. Our findings thus demonstrate that the signalling cascades activated by somatostatin target the exocytotic machinery that controls the initial and expanding stages of fusion pores, while having no effect on late-stage fusion pores. As a result of its stronger inhibition of full-fusion compared to kiss-and-run, somatostatin will preferentially inhibit the secretion of large peptides over the secretion of small catecholamines. Key points center dot Somatostatin inhibits the secretion of various hormones by activating G-protein-coupled receptors. center dot In this study, we used amperometry to investigate the mechanism by which somatostatin inhibits catecholamine release from mouse chromaffin cells. center dot Somatostatin increased pre-spike foot lifetime and slowed fusion pore expansion. center dot Somatostatin inhibited full-fusion more strongly than kiss-and-run. center dot Our results suggest that the initial fusion pore is the target of somatostatin-mediated regulation of hormone release. center dot The stronger inhibition of full-fusion by somatostatin will result in preferential inhibition of peptide release.