Ultrastructure of synaptosomes from one-day old and adult rat brain stem

Summary The ultrastructure and protein content of the five subfractions of the crude mitochondrial fraction from the brain stem of the 1-day old and adult rat was examined. The morphological composition of the subfractions after fixation in glutaraldehyde and osmiumtetroxide in the adult rat brain stem resembled that previously reported for the whole brain; synaptosomes sedimented in a sucrose gradient in subfractions C and D. In the 1-day old rat, mature synaptosomes were found in subfractions A, B, C and D; E contained mainly free mitochondria. 80–95% of the processes in the adult and 10–30% in the 1-day old rat contained synaptic vesicles which were of four types: (1) small agranular vesicles (2) large dense core vesicles (3) large agranular vesicles (4) coated vesicles. Pre- and postsynaptic membrane thickenings were demonstrated in many nerve-ending particles. In the subfractions of the 1-day old rat the protein content was one half and the distribution resembled that in the adult. Evidently nerve endings develop faster in the brain stem than in cortical areas; a serotoninor adrenergic origin of the early synaptosomes is suggested.This study was supported by a grant from the Paulo Foundation.     

Assimilation of glucose carbon in subcellular rat brain particles in vivo and the problems of axoplasmic flow

1. Rats were injected with [U-¹⁴C]glucose and the content of ¹⁴C in proteins and lipids of the cerebral P₁ (`nuclear'), P<sub>2</sub> (`mitochondrial'), P₃ (`microsomal') and high-speed supernatant fractions was measured 7, 22 and 93hr. after injection of labelled glucose. 2. The crude brain mitochondrial fractions (P<sub>2</sub>) were subfractionated on continuous sucrose gradients (0·32–1·8m-sucrose) and the <sup>14</sup>C content of the proteins and lipids of about 20 subfractions was measured. 3. About 40–50% of the <sup>14</sup>C assimilated by brain proteins was found in the P<sub>2</sub> (`mitochondrial') fraction. About 68–70% of the ¹⁴C assimilated by brain lipids was also recovered from the lipids of the P₂ fraction. 4. Between 22 and 93hr. after injection of [U-¹⁴C]glucose both the amount of ¹⁴C in the protein of the P₂ (`mitochondrial') fraction and the specific activity of this protein increased. The specific activity of the protein of all other particulate fractions (P₁, P₂ and P₃) and subfractions (obtained from sucrose-density-gradient subfractionation of fraction P₂) when related to the specific activity of the high-speed supernatant protein also increased during 93hr. after injection of [U-¹⁴C]glucose. The amount of ¹⁴C in the protein of the high-speed supernatant and the specific activity of this protein decreased during the same period. 5. The distribution of ¹⁴C in the lipids of all subcellular particulate fractions remained unchanged during the period 22–93hr. after injection of [U-¹⁴C]glucose. 6. It was concluded that a diffusion occurs of some supernatant proteins into subcellular particulate matter of the cerebrum and no significant preference for any subcellular particulate matter was observed. The lipids occur in the cerebrum mainly in a non-diffusible state, which is consistent with the view that they form almost entirely a part of the structure of the cerebrum. 7. The data obtained do not lend further support to the concept of axoplasmic flow within the cerebrum or the concept of a one-directional flow of mitochondria or other subcellular particles within the cerebrum.     

Metabolism of oleoyl-CoA in rat brain synaptosomes

The hydrolysis of acyl-CoA by acyl-CoA hydrolase (EC 3.1.2.2.) in brain synaptosomes was inhibited by calcium. This inhibition was partly due to interaction of Ca²⁺ with the acyl-CoA, which was present in the soluble form, and partly due to complex formation among acyl-CoA, Ca²⁺ and membrane phospholipids. The inhibition of acyl-CoA hydrolase activity, as well as the complex formation. could be reversed if incubation was carried out in the presence of Ca²⁺ chelating agents. Synaptosomes isolated from brain samples after 1 min of postdecapitative treatment showed a decrease in oleoyl-CoA hydrolase activity. The physiological implication of acyl-CoA metabolism in relation to synaptic function is discussed.Abbreviations FFA Free fatty acids - GPC glycerophosphocholines - GPE glycerophosphoethanolamines - GPI glycerophosphoinositols - GPS glycerophosphoserines     

Labelling kinetics of ribosomal RNA's in rat brain

Slices of cerebral cortex and cerebellum from two-week-old rats were incubated in the presence of [14C] uridine and [methyl-3H] methionine. Incorporation of 14C- and 3H-radioactivity into 18S and 28S RNA's of the two tissues was analysed by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The results show that the rates of synthesis of ribosomal RNA's as well as the pattern of methylation in the two tissues were different. Some of these differences may be ascribed to factors such as pool sizes, intracellular rate of transport of the precursors by other pathways, etc. Examination of the results indicates that some differences may consist in the actual biosynthesis and maturation of ribosomal RNA's.     

d-glucosamine uptake by rat brain synaptosomes

Uptake of d-glucosamine by rat brain synaptosomes occurs via a saturable transport process (K_m 2.1 mM, V 3.0 nmol/mg per min) which was clearly distinguishable from simple diffusion. This transport process is highly sensitive to cytochalasin (K_i = 7 · 10^?5 mM. d-Glucose competitively inhibits d-glucosamine uptake with a K_i value of 8 · 10^?1 mM.     

Uptake and release of kyotorphin in rat brain synaptosomes

Uptake and release of kyotorphin (TyrArg) in rat brain synaptosomes were studied. Synthetic kyotorphin was taken up into crude synaptosomes (P₂), in a temperature-dependent manner. The Km and Vmax of the uptake were 1.31 ± 0.12 × 10⁻⁴M and 5.9 ± 0.5 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Metabolic inhibitors such as dinitrophenol and iodoacetamide and ouabain which is known as an inhibitor of Na⁺ dependent uptake mechanism significantly inhibited the uptake. When the synaptosomes previously preloaded with synthetic kyotorphin at 10⁻⁴M were exposed to high K⁺ medium, kyotorphin was released in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. These findings support the view that kyotorphin plays a role as neurotransmitter/neuroregulator.     

Adenosinetriphosphatase and nucleotide metabolism in synaptosomes of rat brain

—In the presence of synaptosomes prepared from rat brain, only ATP, dATP and ADP but not dADP were active as substrates of phosphatase (ATP phosphohydrolase; EC 3.6.1 4) in the presence of 150mm-Na⁺ and 20mm-K⁺. An active adenylate kinase (ATP:AMP phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.4.3.) was demonstrated in the synaptosomal fractions by means of paper chromatography, paper electrophoresis and enzymic reactions, so that the high activity with ADP as substrate could represent an activity of an ATPase. Apparently dADP was not a substrate for the kinase; no dATP was formed when dADP was incubated with the synaptosomal fraction in the presence of Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺. Small amounts of P₁ were liberated with dADP, IDP, GDP or CDP, but not UDP, as substrates, but none was produced in the presence of mononucleotides. The adenine-deoxyribose bond, but not the adenine-ribose bond, was hydrolysed upon the addition of 5% (w/v) TCA to the reaction mixture. The K_M for the hydrolysis of ATP but not ITP, in the presence of Mg²⁺, or of Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺, was lower for the synaptosomal ATPase than for the microsomal ATPase, and the values for V_max for synaptosomal ATPase were higher. The activation increment was generally higher for the synaptosomal ATPase and no distinct differences in the properties of the enzyme from either particulate fractions were observed. Mg²⁺ could be partially replaced by Mn²⁺ in the synaptosomal ATPase system, but there was little Na⁺-K⁺-activation observed in the presence of the latter. The effects of ouabain and of homogenization under various conditions suggested localization of the K⁺-sensitive site of the ATPase on the surface of the synaptosomal membrane. Activity of the Na⁺-K⁺-Mg²⁺ ATPase increased after freezing and thawing of the sonicated, sucrose or tris-treated preparations but decreased considerably in the synaptosomes treated with 001 m-deoxycholate. Activity of the Mg²⁺ ATPase in the latter preparation showed little change.     

Synthesis of glutamate and aspartate in rat brain synaptosomes

ATP and glutamine are the sources of endogenous ammonia in rat brain synaptosomes. The amount of endogenous ammonia formed from exogenous ATP is not sufficient to assure the maximum rate of aspartate and glutamate accumulation in the synaptosomes utilizing pyruvate + malate. Addition of exogenous NH4+ or depolarization of synaptosome plasma membranes with high K+ concentration led to a twofold increase in the rate of accumulation of these amino acids. This indicates that both exogenous and endogenous NH4+ is involved in the synthesis of aspartate and glutamate in nerve terminals. Accumulation of glutamate was stimulated by aminooxyacetate and inhibited by haloperidol which indicates that NH4+ is bound in the reaction catalysed by glutamate dehydrogenase. Endogenous oxaloacetate derived from pyruvate metabolism was the substrate for synthesis of aspartate. Additive inhibition of aspartate accumulation by fluorocitrate and (-) hydroxyacetate shows that, in addition to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the reaction catalysed by ATP-citrate lyase serves in the synaptosomes as another source of oxaloacetate.     

Regulation of catecholamine synthesis in rat brain synaptosomes

Abstract— Catecholamine synthesis in synaptosomal preparations of rat striatum, cortex and brain stem was investigated. The striatum had much higher activity than either the cortex or brain stem. Equilibration of labelled tyrosine between tissue and incubation medium was completed within 2 min. The apparent K_m of tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.3a) and of the overall catecholamine synthetic pathway were both approximately 5 ± 10^?6m for tyrosine. The following amines were found to inhibit striatal dopamine synthesis: dopamine, 25% inhibition at 5 ± 10^?7m ; noradrenaline, 25% inhibition at 5 ± 10^?6m ;and serotonin, 30% inhibition at 10^?5m . The catecholamine-induced inhibition of synthesis was antagonized by pre-incubation with cocaine. Increasing the potassium concentration from 5 to 55 mm caused a release of amines into the medium which was accompanied by a 40% increase in dopamine synthesis, when synthesis was measured during the first 5 min of exposure to elevated potassium. These results indicate that synaptosomal catecholamine synthesis is inhibited by increases in intra-synaptosomal amine levels, and that short-term exposure to depolarizing concentrations of potassium can increase synthesis.     

Interaction of thiamine with rat brain synaptosomes

Thiamine has been shown to be bound specifically by a synaptosomal plasmatic membrane and transported inside to the nervous ending. Apparent K[symbol: see text] and Km for processes of binding and transport have been determined as equal 2.34 +/- 0.55 MKM and 3.92 +/- 1.3 MKM, respectively. The thiamine uptake by the isolated nervous endings (synaptosomes) at its physiological concentration is reduced in presence of metabolic inhibitors and partially depends on Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions, that can testify about the interrelation between endogenic thiamine phosphorilation and its transport through the membrane. Thiamine binding with synaptosomes is inhibited by ouabain and neurotoxins such as, latrotoxin and most significantly--with veratridin; tetrodotoxin fail to be efficient practically. In the conditions of synaptic membranes depolarisation their ability to bind thiamine is reduced and output of already uptaken with synaptosomes thiamine is observed.     

Fusion between rat brain synaptosomes and phosphatidylserine liposomes

Synaptosomal fractions isolated from rat cerebral cortex were incubated in the absence and presence of phosphatidylserine (PS) liposomes. The PS treated synaptosomes yielded ligher bouyant bands when centrifugated on discontinuous sucrose gradients. In these bands an increase in the lipidic phosphorus/protein ratio together with a massive incorporation of PS and a relative decrease of phosphatidylcholine was observed. Besides, in the synaptosomes treated with PS (0.5–0.7 μg/mg protein). Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity was 30–50% higher than in the controls.

We have employed an assay for lipid mixing based on the self-quenching relief of octadecylrhodamine B fluorescence. The decrease in the self-quenching of the probe in the gradient bands of liposomes treated synaptosomes, besides the chemical analysis data, indicated that a fusion process between synaptosomes and liposomes has taken place. It is the first time that a fusion process is proved between native synaptosomes and an artificial lipidic membrane.     

Interaction between phosphatidylserine vesicles and rat brain synaptosomes

Five different DNA sequences of Phanerochaete chrysosporium capable of supporting autonomous replication of yeast integration plasmid (YIp5) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated. These hybrid plasmids with the autonomous replication sequences from P. chrysosporium are maintained extra-chromosomally, are mitotically unstable and transform Ura3 deletion mutant of S. cerevisiae to Ura+ phenotype with high frequency. The autonomous replication sequence in pRR2, one of the recombinant plasmids, was further characterized and was shown to be homologous to P. chrysosporium genomic DNA. Restriction analyses showed that this plasmid has unique PvuII and SalI restriction sites for cloning.     

Characterization of the glucose transporter from rat brain synaptosomes

Our goal was to characterize the glucose transporter in synaptosomes and to compare it to the different forms of transporter already identified. Cross-reactivity with antibodies to the human erythrocyte transporter, Km of glucose uptake, reversibility of NEM inhibition of transport, and insulin sensitivity were all examined. Immunoblotting showed a band at Mr 40,000, and the Km of glucose uptake was determined to be about 4 mM. Treatment with NEM caused irreversible inhibition of glucose uptake, while incubation with insulin failed to stimulate uptake. The results suggest that the transporter in synaptosomes resembles the human erythrocyte transporter.     

Developmental regulation of phospholipid methylation in rat brain synaptosomes

Phospholipid methylation was studied in cortical synaptosomes prepared from 7 and 14 day and adult rat brain. Using varying concentrations of [³H] S-adenosylmethionine, Km and Vmax values were determined for the formation of [³H] phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine (PME), [³H] phosphatidyl-dimethylethanolamine and [³H] phosphatidylcholine (PC). At 25°C, the Km values for the formation of all three products, significantly decreased with development. Increasing the temperature to 37°C increased the Km values in the 14 day and adult but not the 7 day preparation. The Vmax values at 25°C were highest at 7 and 14 days, depending on the product and then decreased in the adult. At 37°C, the Vmax values were highest in the 14 day preparation. The overall results are discussed in terms of the developmentally regulated decrease in both synaptic membrane PC and membrane fluidity.     

Inactivation of depolarization-induced calcium uptake in rat brain synaptosomes

The inactivation of depolarization-induced Ca uptake into rat brain synaptosomes was demonstrated biochemically by comparing⁴⁵Ca fluxes after various intervals of predepolarization achieved by abruptly increasing {K⁺}₀. The chemical composition of the medium was maintained throughout the predepolarization and Ca uptake steps. Under these conditions, inactivation was dependent on depolarization, i.e., basal unstimulated Ca uptake in the presence of 5 mM {K⁺}₀ did not inactivate. Inactivation of stimulated Ca uptake was dependent on the predepolarization interval, moderately dependent on {Ca}₀ and relatively independent of membrane potential, i.e., {K⁺}₀ and ions such as Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ that blocked Ca uptake. Both cinnarizine and lidoflazine blocked stimulated Ca uptake in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting the % inactivation. Although the amount of stimulated uptake increased greatly between 10 and 30°C, the % inactivation was unaffected by temperature. These findings suggest that inactivation of the presynaptic Ca uptake is an intrinsic property of the channel independent of calcium uptake.