Effects of resveratrol, a grape polyphenol, on catecholamine secretion and synthesis in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells

We report the effects of resveratrol, a polyphenol found in the skins of red grapes, on catecholamine secretion and synthesis in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. Resveratrol suppressed catecholamine secretion and (22)Na(+) and (45)Ca(2+) influx induced by acetylcholine, an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50)=20.4, 11.0, and 62.8 microM, respectively). Resveratrol also inhibited catecholamine secretion induced by veratridine, an activator of voltage-dependent Na(+) channels, and 56 mM K(+), an activator of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, at concentrations similar to those for (45)Ca(2+) influx. Resveratrol directly inhibited the current evoked by acetylcholine in Xenopus oocytes expressing alpha3beta4 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (IC(50)=25.9 microM). Furthermore, resveratrol (IC(50)=5.32 microM) attenuated (14)C-catecholamine synthesis induced by acetylcholine. The present findings suggest that resveratrol inhibits acetylcholine-induced catecholamine secretion and synthesis through suppressing ion influx in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells.