α-Latrotoxin from the venom of black widow spider induces and augments neurotransmitter and hormone release by way of extracellular Ca2+ influx and cellular signal transduction pathways. By using whole cell current and capacitance recording, the photolysis of caged Ca2+, and Ca2+ microfluorometry and amperometry, we investigated the stimulating effect and mechanism of o-latrotoxin on exocytosis in rat pancreatic β cells, LβT2 cells and latrophilin plasmid-transfected INS-1 cells. Our data indicated that: (1) α-latrotoxin increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentration through the formation of cation-permitting pores and subsequent Ca2+ influx with the presence of extracellular Ca2+; (2) α-latrotoxin stimulated exocytosis in normal bath solution and its stimulating effect on secretion was eradicated in Ca2+-free bath solution; and (3) α-latrotoxin sensitized the molecular machinery of fusion through activation of protein kinase C and increased the response of cells to Ca2+ photolysed by a flash of ultraviolet light. In summary, α-latrotoxin induced exocytosis by way of Ca2+ influx and accelerated vesicle fusion by the sensitization of fusion machinery.