Adenohypophysial Transmembrane Potentials: Polarity Reversal by Elevated External Potassium Ion Concentration

Abstract

Incubation of rat adenohypophyses in potassium ion of sufficient concentration to provoke the release of several of the adenohypophysial trophic hormones produces a reversed, positive transmembrane potential in more than half the cells. This finding is consistent with a process of "stimulus-secretion coupling" in which hypothalamic releasing factors act by selective depolarization of their "target" cells. The positive potentials may be due to a prolonged preferential permeability to calcium ions triggered by an initial depolarization of the cell membrane to a threshold value by increased external potassium ion.