The effect of camphor, a monoterpenoid, on catecholamine secretion was inve
stigated in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Camphor inhibited [H-3]norepin
ephrine ([H-3]NE) secretion induced by a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (
nAChR) agonist, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP), with a hal
f-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 70 +/- 12 muM. In addition, ca
mphor inhibited the rise in cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+](i)) and sodium ([Na+]
(i)) induced by DMPP with IC50 values of 88 +/- 32 and 19 +/- 2 muM, respec
tively, suggesting that the activity of nAChRs is also inhibited by camphor
. On the other hand, binding of [H-3]nicotine to nAChRs was not affected by
camphor. [Ca2+](i) increases induced by high K+, veratridine, and bradykin
in were not affected by camphor. The data suggest that camphor specifically
inhibits catecholamine secretion by blocking nAChRs without affecting agon
ist binding. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.