Part of “CHAPTER 85 – PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ADRENAL MEDULLA AND THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM“

ACh depolarizes chromaffin cells by increasing membrane permeability to sodium. Transmembrane influx of calcium directly or indirectly results from this increase in intracellular sodium; thus, cytoplasmic calcium levels increase. The latter process is thought to be part of an incompletely defined biomechanical final common pathway in cellular activation leading to exocytotic release of vesicular contents.