Effects of α- and β-adrenoceptor stimulation on 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin secretion from perfused rat islets

Exposure to the β₂-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline resulted in a transient stimulation of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux from ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ preloaded rat islets perfused in 2 mm Ca²⁺ and 8.3 mm glucose. Concomitantly, an increase in insulin secretion occurred. Under the same experimental conditions, the α-adrenoceptor agonist noradrenaline promptly inhibited insulin release without any apparent influence on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux. In contrast, in a medium containing 2 mm Ca²⁺ and a low glucose concentration (2.8 mm), terbutaline stimulated insulin secretion without any apparent effects on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux. Noradrenaline had no effect on insulin secretion or ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux in this medium. When islets were perfused with 8.3 mm glucose in a Ca²⁺ deficient medium, with or without addition of the chelating agent EGTA, terbutaline induced a marginal stimulation of insulin secretion and a negligible stimulation of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux. On the contrary, noradrenaline stimulated to an immediate and notable ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux in these Ca²⁺ deficient media. Noradrenaline also clearly inhibited insulin secretion, though less markedly and with a slower onset than in islets perfused in 2 mm Ca²⁺. When the islets were perfused in a Ca²⁺ deficient medium with 2.8 mm glucose, terbutaline had a slight insulin releasing effect, but stimulated ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux potently. Noradrenaline had no influence on insulin secretion but a weak stimulatory effect on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux. The data suggest that the β₂-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline has the ability to stimulate insulin secretion in perfused rat islets, requiring extracellular Ca²⁺ for the full expression of its effects. These effects may be exerted through a Ca²⁺-Ca²⁺ exchange over the cell membrane and/or through cAMP and intracellular Ca²⁺ perturbations. Moreover, terbutaline directly stimulates ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux, an effect inhibited by glucose. Further, the α-adrenoceptor agonist noradrenaline can inhibit insulin secretion in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, but the full expression of its inhibitory action is dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺ and glucose. In addition, noradrenaline stimulates ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux in a Ca²⁺ deficient medium, an effect which appears independent of the glucose concentration.     

Selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation by clonidine: effects on 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin secretion from isolated rat islets

A possible role for Ca2+ in the alpha-adrenoceptor-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was studied in isolated rat islets by the use of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. We found that clonidine, in contrast to the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at dose levels below 10(-6) mol l-1. In islets preloaded with 45Ca2+ and perifused at 2 mmol l-1 Ca2+, clonidine (10(-6) mol l-1) reduced the glucose (13.3 mmol l-1)-stimulated 45Ca2+ efflux during both the first and second phases of insulin secretion. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of clonidine on glucose (13.3 mmol l-1)-stimulated insulin secretion was partially counteracted by raising the extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Moreover, the calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 counteracted the inhibition by clonidine on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Our results suggest that selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is mediated, at least partially, by restraint of Ca2+-influx. This action might in turn be exerted through interference with the voltage-dependent calcium channels.     

Selective α2-adrenoceptor activation by clonidine: effects on 45Ca2 efflux and insulin secretion from isolated rat islets

A possible role for Ca²⁺ in the α-adrenoceptor-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was studied in isolated rat islets by the use of the selective α₂-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. We found that clonidine, in contrast to the a,-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at dose levels below 10^-6 mol l^-1. In islets preloaded with ⁴⁶Ca²⁺ and perifused at 2 mmol l ^l Ca²⁺, clonidine (10^-6 moll^-1) reduced the glucose (13.3 mmol l^-1)-stimulated ⁴⁶Ca²⁺efflux during both the first and second phases of insulin secretion. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of clonidine on glucose (13.3 mmol l^-1)-stimulated insulin secretion was partially counteracted by raising the extracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations. Moreover, the calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 counteracted the inhibition by clonidine on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Our results suggest that selective α₂-adrenoceptor-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is mediated, at least partially, by restraint of Ca²⁺-influx. This action might in turn be exerted through interference with the voltage-dependent calcium channels.     

Epinephrine modifications of insulin release and of 86Rb+ or 45Ca2+ fluxes in rat islets

The effects of epinephrine on insulin release, 86Rb+ fluxes, and 45Ca2+ fluxes were measured in rat islets. In the presence of 10 mM glucose, epinephrine did not affect 86Rb+ influx and slightly increased net uptake. It caused a monophasic inhibition of release and a biphasic decrease in 86Rb+ efflux. A maximum effect was observed with 1 microM epinephrine, but release was more markedly inhibited by lower concentrations of the catecholamine than was the efflux. Epinephrine inhibition of release and efflux was reversed by phentolamine and yohimbine but not by prazosin or propranolol. It was mimicked by norepinephrine and clonidine. The inhibition of 86Rb+ efflux persisted when insulin release was prevented by omission of extracellular calcium. Ouabain or high K+ markedly increased 86Rb+ efflux in the presence of glucose and epinephrine; theophylline and quinine had a similar but smaller effect. None of these agents restored insulin release. Epinephrine abolished the insulinotropic effect of arginine without altering the rise in 86Rb+ efflux triggered by the amino acid. Epinephrine abolished insulin release but inhibited 45Ca2+ efflux only partially during stimulation by glucose or by barium plus theophylline. The results show that epinephrine does not inhibit insulin release by activating the Na pump or by increasing K permeability of the B cell membrane. On the contrary, the inhibition of release is accompanied by a decrease in 86Rb+ efflux. Both result from activation of alpha 2-receptors but are not causally related; they could be due to remodeling of Ca2+ fluxes and/or changes in cAMP levels.     

Glucose inhibition of 45Ca efflux from pancreatic islets.

Pancreatic islets were microdissected from ob/ob mice, loaded for 2 h with 45Ca and perfused with calcium-deficient medium. Irrespective of the glucose and calcium concentrations in the loading medium, increased glucose in the perfusion medium resulted in reduced amounts of radioactivity in the perfusate. A glucose inhibition of 45Ca washout was also evident when the specific radioactivity of the islets approached that of the labeling medium, indicating that the effect was not simply due to isotopic dilution. The depression of 45Ca washout diminished after culture of the islets in a serum-free medium and it was absent in islets taken from mice homozygous for the gene diabetes. The glucose effect became less pronounced when 50 micron D-600, an inhibitor of the calcium inward transport, was added to the calcium-deficient perfusion medium and abolished in the presence of 20 mM Ca-EGTA. The inhibition of the 45Ca washout observed is not necessarily due to a direct glucose interaction with the outward calcium transport but may also result from stimulation of the uptake and intracellular trapping of the cation.     

Effects of Na+, K+ and Mg2+ on45Ca2+ uptake by pancreatic islets

Microdissected pancreatic islets of noninbredob/ob-mice were used to study ionic effects on the lanthanum-nondisplaceable⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake by islet cells. Omission of Mg²⁺ from the incubation medium had no effect, but the⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake was increased by omission of Na⁺ and decreased by omission of K⁺. Excess Mg²⁺ (1.2–15 mM) inhibited and excess K⁺ (4.7–25 mM) stimulated the⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. Stimulation of⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake in Na⁺-deficient islets was associated with an enhancement of the basal insulin release. Total abolishment of glucose-stimulated⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake in K⁺-deficient islets did not preclude a significant secretory response to glucose. It is concluded that the lanthanum-nondisplaceable⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake shows a partial correlation to insulin release.     

Effects of Ca2+ channel agonist-antagonist enantiomers of dihydropyridine 202791 on insulin release, 45Ca uptake and electrical activity in isolated pancreatic islets

This is the first study using the selective agonist/antagonist stereoisomers of dihydropyridine 202791 to investigate stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic islet cells. We studied effects of the (+)(Ca2+ channel agonist) and (-)(Ca2+ channel antagonist) forms of the dihydropyridine, on 45calcium net uptake, insulin secretion, and membrane potential measured in rodent islets. The antagonist partially inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion and Ca2+ uptake; however, the potassium-induced Ca2+ uptake was completely inhibited. The antagonist did not completely block glucose-evoked spike activity. Addition of the agonist enhanced insulin release and Ca2+ uptake in the presence of 5.6 mM-glucose, but did not increase insulin release or Ca2+ uptake in 16.7 mM-glucose. In the presence of tetraethylammonium (TEA), (+)202791 increased and (-)202791 decreased the duration of glucose-induced action potentials. The results again confirm the presence of a dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel in pancreatic B-cells. In addition these data suggest that in these cells there is activation of a dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca2+ entry in the presence of glucose.     

Interactions of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ in regulation of insulin release from rat islets

The effects of glucose and ionic modifications on unidirectional Ca2+ efflux and insulin release has been studied. Rat pancreatic islets were isotopically equilibrated with 45Ca2+ for 2 days and then perifused at 10(-8) M Ca2+ to allow for strict interpretation of 45Ca2+ efflux. Under these conditions 16.7 mM glucose inhibited Ca2+ efflux but did not stimulate insulin release. Removal of Mg2+ from the buffer markedly stimulated Ca2+ efflux that was counteracted by glucose. The omission of Na+ decreased basal Ca2+ efflux by 30% at 10(-8) M Ca2+, thus demonstrating the importance of Na-Ca countertransport for Ca2+ extrusion. Like glucose, Na+ omission or the addition of ouabain attenuated Ca2+ efflux stimulated by Mg2+ removal. Glucose may interfere with Na-Ca countertransport because the actions of 16.7 mM glucose and Na+ omission were not additive. At 10(-8) M Ca2+, glucose elicited insulin release only when both 1) loss of cellular calcium was minimized by prior inhibition of Ca2+ efflux (Na+ omission or ouabain), and 2) Ca2+ mobilization was favored by Mg2+ removal. Under these conditions (in contrast to normal Ca2+), insulin release was not accompanied by increased Ca2+ efflux. Thus, unidirectional Ca2+ measurements do not permit the detection of Ca2+ mobilization in intact islets because glucose may concomitantly inhibit Ca2+ extrusion.     

Modulation by D-glucose anomers of the effect of D-fructose upon 45Ca efflux from prelabelled rat pancreatic islets

It was recently reported that alpha-D-glucose is more potent than beta-D-glucose in conferring to glucokinase positive cooperativity towards D-fructose. We have now extended pilot experiments to investigate whether a comparable situation prevails in intact rat pancreatic islets in terms of the modulation by the D-glucose anomers of the effect of D-fructose upon 45Ca efflux from prelabelled perifused islets. As expected from the effect of increasing concentrations of equilibrated D-glucose upon 45Ca efflux from the prelabelled islets, D-fructose either decreased or increased 45Ca outflow from islets perifused in the presence of either alpha- or beta-D-glucose. In all cases, the alpha-anomer of D-glucose affected more markedly than beta-D-glucose the cationic response to D-fructose. These findings indicate that the anomeric specificity of the effect of D-glucose upon D-fructose phosphorylation by glucokinase is also operative in intact islets.     

Stimulus-secretion coupling of glucose-induced insulin release. XXIX. Regulation of 86Rb+ efflux from perfused islets.

Glucose provokes a dose-related, rapid, sustained, and rapidly reversible reduction in the fractional outflow rate of 86Rb+ from perfused pancreatic islets. This efflux probably corresponds to a passive movement driven by the electrochemical gradient of K+ across the plasma membrane and mediated by a native ionphoretic system. Indeed, it is facilitated by valinomycin or cell membrane depolarization, little affected by ouabain, and inhibited by verapamil or omission of extracellular K+. The effect of glucose upon 86Rb+ efflux does not appear to be directly attributable to changes in either glucose transport, plasma cell polarization, Na+ influx, cyclic AMP concentration, or insulin secretion. Although a modulatory role of intracellular Ca2+ on K+ conductance cannot be ruled out, the experimental data suggest rather that the glucose-induced modification of 86Rb+ fractional outflow rate is directly linked, for its major part, to metabolic events such as an increase in the rate of glycolysis and/or generation of reduced pyridine nucleotides.     

Stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux from rat pituitary by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and other pituitary stimulants.

1. Rat anterior pituitaries were incubated in medium containing 45Ca2+, superfused with non-radioactive medium and the efflux of 45Ca2+ studied. 2. When pituitaries from overiectomized rats were used the addition of LH-RH to the medium at a time when slow exponential efflux of Ca2+ was occurring produced a transient increase in 45Ca2+ efflux simultaneous with or before an increased release of LH. The stimulation of both 45Ca2+ efflux and LH release showed a similar concentration dependence on LH-RH. 3. Increasing the K+ concentration of the medium tenfold also stimulated 45Ca2+ efflux and LH release. The response to LH-RH of both parameters was reduced by superfusion with calcium-free medium. 4. LH-RH induced only a small increase in pituitary 45Ca2+ efflux when intact or thyroidectomized male rats were used. TRH increased 45Ca2+ efflux from thyroidectomized rat pituitaries but had only a small effect when pituitaries from intact or ovariectomized rats were studied. 5. Pretreatment of ovariectomized rats with oestradiol inhibited the subsequent increase in 45Ca2+ efflux induced by LH-RH. 6. It is concluded that the secretagogue induced increase in 45Ca2+ efflux results from an increase in cellular Ca2+ activity which is presumably active in stimulus-secretion coupling.     

Effects on rat parotid amylase and Ca of alpha- and beta-adrenergic sympathetic stimulation.

The roles of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in the regulation of the secretion of amylase and calcium from rat parotid gland were studied by using direct electrical stimulation of the sympathetic innervation to the gland in the presence of selective adrenergic blocking agents. When phenoxybenzamine was administered intraperitoneally 25 min prior to nerve stimulation, the highest [Ca] (12-14 meq/liter) and amylase activity (1,000 mg/microliter) in the evoked saliva were observed. On the other hand, stimulation of the nerve in the presence of propranolol evoked a saliva that contained the lowest [Ca] (5-6 meq/liter) and amylase activity (170 mg/microliter). Furthermore, salivary flow (4.27 +/- 0.42 microliter/min X g) induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation in the presence of phenoxybenzamine was higher than that induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation in the presence of propranolol (2.55 +/- 0.39 microliter/min X g). Therefore, it was concluded that beta-adrenergic receptors play the major role in the regulation of salivary flow and the secretion of amylase and calcium, whereas alpha-adrenergic receptors play a minor role in the regulation of these parameters.     

Effects of CO2, acetylcholine and caerulein on45Ca efflux from isolated mouse pancreatic fragments

Mouse pancreatic fragments were loaded with⁴⁵Ca and placed in a flow cell. The concentration of⁴⁵Ca in the effluent was measured. The effects of changing the tension of carbon dioxide on⁴⁵Ca efflux were observed and compared with effects of pancreatic secretagogues.The normal control solution was equilibrated with 5% CO₂, 95% O₂. Shift to solutions equilibrated with 10, 20, 50 or 100% CO₂ evoked a dose-dependent increase in fractional⁴⁵Ca efflux, with a just detectable effect at 10% and a maximal one at 50%.The CO₂-evoked Ca release was not due to anoxia, since a short period of exposure to a 100% N₂-equilibrated solution had no effect. A decrease in extracellular pH (tris buffering) had only a very modest effect on⁴⁵Ca efflux.CO₂-evoked Ca release under conditions avoiding extracellular pH changes (20% CO₂, 100 mM NaHCO₃). This CO₂-evoked enhanced⁴⁵Ca efflux was sustained during a 30 min stimulation period, but was abruptly terminated on return to the control solution (5% CO₂, 25 mM NaHCO₃). NH₃ (10 mM) added to the 20% CO₂-equilibrated solution for a brief interval in the middle of a period of CO₂-evoked enhanced⁴⁵Ca efflux evoked a rapid return of the fractional Ca efflux towards the resting level. This effect was rapidly reversible.While the CO₂-evoked Ca release was largely sustained, the ACh-evoked increase in⁴⁵Ca fractional efflux was entirely transient. The CO₂-evoked Ca release was not inhibited by a background of sustained ACh stimulation. ACh-evoked Ca release, however, was markedly inhibited in the presence of sustained CO₂ stimulation.2,4 Dinitrophenol (1 mM) in combination with iodoacetate (2 mM), while markedly reducing⁴⁵Ca uptake into the fragments during the loading period had little or no effect on the ACh-evoked increase in⁴⁵Ca fractional efflux. The CO₂-evoked Ca release, however, was markedly reduced by these metabolic inhibitors.The local anaesthetic procaine (1 mM) virtually abolished ACh- or caerulein-evoked Ca release without having any influence on the CO₂ effect.It is concluded that CO₂ releases Ca from pancreatic acinar cells by means of intracellular acidification. This effect may in part be due to H⁺ displacement of Ca²⁺ from intracellular membrane binding sites and partly due to release of Ca from compartments (organelles) into which Ca has been actively accumulated.     

Effects of PHI on hormonal secretion from perfused rat pancreas

Effects of the novel gastrointestinal polypeptide PHI with N-terminal histidine, C-terminal isoleucine amide, and 27 amino acids have been studied in isolated perfused rat pancreas. PHI increased the release of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. The amounts of these hormones released were strictly dependent on the prevailing glucose concentrations. In the absence of glucose, PHI (1 nmol/liter) stimulated glucagon release. In the presence of 4.4 and 6.7 mmol/liter glucose, the same dose of this peptide stimulated insulin and somatostatin release. In the presence of 16.7 mmol/liter glucose, only insulin secretion was increased by PHI. When arginine was used as a secretagogue, PHI (10 nmol/liter) potentiated secretion of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. Thus, PHI may take part in the regulation of the function of the pancreatic A, B, and D cells.     

Effects of glucose on 45Ca2+ uptake by pancreatic islets as studied with the lanthanum method.

1. Fluxes of 45Ca2+ were studied in pancreatic islets from non-inbred ob/ob-mice. Because La3+ blocked the transmembrane fluxes of 45Ca2+ in islet cells, incubations aimed at measuring glucose-induced changes of the intracellular Ca2+ were ended by washing the islets with 2 mM-La3+ for 60 min. 2. Uptake of 45Ca2+ progressed for 2 hr; the intracellular concentration of exchangable Ca2+ was about 7 m-mole/kg dry wt., as estimated from the isotope distribution at apparent equilibrium in islets exposed to 3 mM D-glucose. Raising the D-glucose concentration to 20 mM enhanced the 45 Ca2+ uptake whether or not the islets had first been equilibrated with the isotope. The stimulatory effect of D-glucose was observed in Tris buffer containing no anions but Cl- as well as in polyanionic bicarbonate buffer. The effect could not be reproduced with equimolar L-glucose. 3. The rate of 45Ca2+ release was the same whether the islets had been pre-loaded in the presence of 3 or 20 mM D-glucose. Thus the 45Ca2+ that had been taken up in response to 20 mM D-glucose appeared to be released much more slowly than the bulk of intracellular 45Ca2+. The release of 45Ca2+ was not significantly influenced by D-glucose during the release period. Incubation for 30 min was require for half of the radioactivity to be released. 4. The rates of insulin secretion were about the same in uni-anionic Tris buffer as in polyanionic bicarbonate buffer. A marked insulin secretory response to 20 mM D-glucose was observed in either buffer. 5. It is concluded that 20 mM D-glucose causes a net uptake of Ca2+ from the extracellular fluid into the interior of the beta-cells. This uptake is probably not regulated at the level of the plasma membrane but more likely reflects an increased affinity of some intracellular phase or compartment for the ion. Because the observed uptake and release of intracellular 45Ca2+ are slow processes in comparison with the rapid effects of extracellular Ca2+ on insulin secretion, insulin secretion may also depend on a more superficial and La3+-displacable Ca2+ pool.     

Effects of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on insulin secretion, calcium uptake, and rubidium efflux in mouse pancreatic islets

Epinephrine, norepinephrine or the more selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, inhibited insulin release from isolated pancreatic islets of lean mice or obese mice homozygous for the gene ob. Clonidine was highly effective at 0.1 mumol/l. In contrast, the preferential alpha-1 adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, had no or only a modest effect at 10 mumol/l. The effects of norepinephrine or clonidine were counteracted by yohimbine, a preferential blocker of alpha-2 receptors, but not by prazosine, an alpha-1 receptor blocker. The glucose-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ in the islets was only consistently inhibited by epinephrine. This effect was counteracted by yohimbine. Clonidine had no effect on the release of 86Rb+ from preloaded islets. It is concluded that insulin secretion is suppressed by alpha-2 receptor agonism in the pancreatic beta-cells and that this effect is mediated by mechanisms other than the transmembrane fluxes of calcium or potassium ions.     

Effects of Ca2+ ions on gastric acid secretion by the rat isolated stomach

The role of Ca²⁺ in the stimulatory action of histamine has been evaluated in the isolated gastric fundus from immature rats, by changing the concentration of calcium ions in the bathing solutions. Lowering Ca²⁺ to 1.2 mM greatly enhanced the secretory response to histamine, while leaving unaffected that to the H₂-receptor agonist, dimaprit. The effect of histamine was competitively antagonized by ranitidine (pA₂=6.78) in normal solutions; conversely in 1.2 mM Ca²⁺, the antagonism by ranitidine became unsurmountable. Basal rates of acid secretion did not change in low Ca²⁺ solutions, whereas they were reduced approximately by 50% in Ca²⁺-free media. Finally, the secretory response to theophylline was significantly lower in low Ca²⁺ solutions in comparison with that in control conditions. From the above results it may be concluded that changes in the concentration of Ca²⁺ ions caused different changes in the secretory response of the rat stomach in the various experimental conditions. The marked enhancement of the response to histamine observed in low Ca²⁺ is unlikely to be connected with H₂-receptors, as suggested by the lack of interference in the response to dimaprit, but it could be related to intracellular mechanisms (H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, carbonic anhydrase activation etc.).     

Altered insulin and glucagon secretion in perfused ethionine-treated rat pancreases

The endocrine secretory function of rat pancreases in which pancreatitis had been induced by feeding rats a 0.5% ethionine diet was investigated. Despite loss of 50% of exocrine tissue and widespread destruction of acinar structure, pancreatic insulin and glucagon contents and 4-h fasting plasma insulin levels in vivo did not differ significantly from those of food-restricted, weight-matched controls. Plasma glucose concentrations (fasting and after oral glucose) were significantly lower than control. In isolated, perfused ethionine-treated pancreases secretin failed to stimulate insulin secretion, whereas basal insulin secretion and insulin responses to glucose, arginine, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and somatostatin were similar to those of controls. Basal glucagon secretion was elevated in ethionine-treated pancreases, and glucagon outputs in response to arginine, VIP, and somatostatin showed a consistent trend toward higher levels than those of controls. These findings demonstrate that ethionine-induced pancreatitis selectively impairs islet secretory function. These effects may be due to damage to islet cell membranes by exocrine enzymes and/or a direct pathogenic action of ethionine on the islets.     

Effects of Ca2+ on ileal transport and electrically induced secretion

[Ca2+] affects nerves and target cells in stimulus-secretion coupling. In flux-chamber studies of full-thickness rabbit ileum, we determined the effects of 1) ethylene glycol bis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) 1.25 mM, 2) verapamil 0.1 mM and nifedipine 0.1 mM, and 3) trifluoperazine 0.1 mM on ion transport and its response to electrical field stimulation (EFS). EGTA increased JClm leads to s, JNam leads to s, Cl absorption and conductivity (G), and reduced Isc. In the absence of EGTA, EFS increased transmural PD and Isc and caused secretion of Na and Cl. EGTA prevented the responses to EFS, but the Isc responses to aminophylline and to glucose were normal. Verapamil reduced the response of Isc and Cl transport to EFS. Nifedipine reduced Isc but not the Isc response to EFS. Trifluoperazine reduced Isc and almost eliminated the Isc response to EFS. EFS did not increase the tissue concentration of cAMP. We conclude: 1) low extracellular [Ca2+] enhances net Cl absorption; 2) extracellular Ca2+ is required for the response of ion transport to EFS; 3) cAMP does not mediate Isc response to EFS; and 4) Isc response to EFS is blocked by trifluoperazine. The findings suggest that EFS stimulates secretion by increasing Ca entry into the epithelial cells, either directly or indirectly.