Important contribution of alpha-neurexins to Ca2+-triggered exocytosis of secretory granules

alpha-Neurexins constitute a family of neuronal cell surface molecules that are essential for efficient neurotransmission, because mice lacking two or all three alpha-neurexin genes show a severe reduction of synaptic release. Although analyses of alpha-neurexin knock-outs and transgenic rescue animals suggested an involvement of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, it remained unclear whether alpha-neurexins have a general role in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis and how they may affect Ca2+ channels. Here we show by membrane capacitance measurements from melanotrophs in acute pituitary gland slices that release from endocrine cells is diminished by > 50% in adult alpha-neurexin double knock-out and newborn triple knock-out mice. There is a reduction of the cell volume in mutant melanotrophs; however, no ultrastructural changes in size or intracellular distribution of the secretory granules were observed. Recordings of Ca2+ currents from melanotrophs, transfected human embryonic kidney cells, and brainstem neurons reveal that alpha-neurexins do not affect the activation or inactivation properties of Ca2+ channels directly but may be responsible for coupling them to release-ready vesicles and metabotropic receptors. Our data support a general and essential role for alpha-neurexins in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis that is similarly important for secretion from neurons and endocrine cells.