Differential Calcium Dependence of γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Acetylcholine Release in Mouse Brain Synaptosomes

The dependence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetylcholine (ACh) release on Ca2+ was comparatively studied in synaptosomes from mouse brain, by correlating the influx of 45Ca2+ with the release of the transmitters. It was observed that exposure of synaptosomes to a Na+-free medium notably increases Ca2+ entry, and this condition was used, in addition to K+ depolarization and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, to stimulate the influx of Ca2+ and the release of labeled GABA and ACh. The effect of ruthenium red (RuR) on these parameters was also investigated. Of the three experimental conditions used, the absence of Na+ in the medium proved to be the most efficient in increasing Ca2+ entry. RuR inhibited by 60-70% the influx of Ca2+ stimulated by K+ depolarization but did not affect its basal influx or its influx stimulated by the absence of Na+ or by A23187. The release of ACh was stimulated by K+ depolarization, absence of Na+ in the medium, and A23187 in a strictly Ca2+-dependent manner, whereas the release of GABA was only partially dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the medium. The extent of stimulation of ACh release was related to the extent of Ca2+ entry, whereas no such correlation was observed for GABA. In the presence of Na+, RuR did not affect the release of the transmitters induced by A23187. In the absence of Na+, paradoxically RuR notably enhanced the release of both ACh and GABA induced by A23187, in a Ca2+-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protein Kinase C Activation Enhances K+-Stimulated Endogenous Dopamine Release from Rat Striatal Synaptosomes in the Absence of an Increase in Cytosolic Ca2+

The possibility that protein kinase C modulates neurotransmitter release in brain was investigated by examining the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on Ca2+ transport and endogenous dopamine release from rat striatal synaptosomes. TPA (0.16 and 1.6 microM) significantly increased dopamine release by 24 and 33%, respectively, after a 20-min preincubation with TPA followed by 60 s of depolarization with 30 mM KCl. Depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake, measured simultaneously with dopamine release, was not significantly increased by TPA. Neither 45Ca2+ uptake nor dopamine release was altered under resting conditions. When the time course of K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake and dopamine release was examined, TPA (1.6 microM) enhanced dopamine release after 15, 30, and 60 s, but not 1, 3, or 5 s, of depolarization. A slight increase in 45Ca2+ uptake after 60 s of depolarization was also seen. The addition of 30 mM KCl to synaptosomes which had been preloaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorophore fura-2 increased the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) from 445 nM to 506 nM after 10 s of depolarization and remained elevated after 60 s. TPA had no effect on [Ca2+]i under depolarizing or resting conditions. Replacing extracellular Ca2+ with 100 microM EGTA reduced K+-stimulated (60 s) endogenous dopamine release by 53% and decreased [Ca2+]i to 120 nM. In Ca2+-free medium, 30 mM KCl did not produce an increase in the [Ca2+]i. TPA (1.6 microM) did not alter the [Ca2+]i under resting or depolarizing conditions, but did increase K+-stimulated dopamine release in Ca2+-free medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Calcium-Independent Release of Acetylcholine from Electric Organ Synaptosomes and Its Changes by Depolarization and Cholinergic Drugs

Chemiluminescent detection was applied to measure the continuous spontaneous Ca2+-independent liberation of acetylcholine (ACh) from Torpedo electric organ synaptosomes. Differentiation between the release of ACh and choline was achieved by inhibiting cholinesterases with phospholine, and a way to quantify the continuous release was devised. The method permitted measurements during short time intervals from minute amounts of tissue and without an accumulation of ACh in the medium. Synaptosomes continuously liberated small amounts of ACh during incubations in the presence of 3 mM K+ and in the absence of Ca2+. The spontaneous liberation of ACh was similar both quantitatively and qualitatively at pH values of 8.6 and 7.8. It was unaltered by MgCl2 (10.4 mM), 2-(4-phenylpiperidino)cyclohexanol (10 microM), ouabain (104 microM), atropine (10 microM), and valinomycin (102 nM). Carbamoylcholine brought about a decrease, which could be partially reversed by atropine. The Ca2+-independent output of ACh was increased considerably when the concentration of K+ ions was raised (eightfold at 103 and 35-fold at 203 mM K+). Carbamoylcholine (104 microM) blocked the increase in ACh release produced by high K+; this effect of carbamoylcholine was not reversed by atropine (10 microM). When Ca2+ was added to synaptosomes depolarized by a high concentration of K+, the amount of ACh released during the first 1-3 min after the addition of Ca2+ was at least 20 times higher than in the absence of Ca2+, but the release returned rapidly to predepolarization values. Similarly high values of ACh release could be achieved by adding Ca2+ plus the ionophore A23187 and even higher values by adding Ca2+ plus gramicidin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Temporal Characteristics of Potassium-Stimulated Acetylcholine Release and Inactivation of Calcium Influx in Rat Brain Synaptosomes

Abstract: The time course of Ca²⁺-dependent [³H]acetylcholine ([³H]ACh) release and inactivation of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ entry were examined in rat brain synaptosomes depolarized by 45 m M [K⁺]_o. Under conditions where the intrasynaptosomal stores of releasable [³H]ACh were neither exhausted nor replenished in the course of stimulation, the K⁺-evoked release consisted of a major (40% of the releasable [³H]ACh pool), rapidly terminating phase ( t _1/2 = 17.8 s), and a subsequent, slow efflux that could be detected only during a prolonged, maintained depolarization. The time course of inactivation of K⁺-stimulated Ca²⁺ entry suggests the presence of fast-inactivating, slow-inactivating, and noninactivating, or very slowly inactivating, components. The fast-inactivating component of the K⁺-stimulated Ca²⁺ entry into synaptosomes appears to be responsible for the rapidly terminating phase of transmitter release during the first 60 s of K⁺ stimulus. The noninactivating Ca²⁺ entry may account for the slow phase of transmitter release. These results indicate that under conditions of maintained depolarization of synaptosomes by high [K⁺]_o the time course and the amount of transmitter released may be a function of the kinetics of inactivation of the voltage-dependent Ca channels.     

An Ion Channel Locus for the Protein Kinase C Potentiation of Transmitter Glutamate Release from Guinea Pig Cerebrocortical Synaptosomes

The mechanism by which protein kinase C (PKC) activates transmitter release from guinea pig cerebrocortical synaptosomes was investigated by employing parallel fluorescent assays of glutamate release, cytoplasmic free Ca2+, and plasma membrane potential. 4 beta-Phorbol dibutyrate (4 beta-PDBu) enhances the Ca(2+)-dependent, 4-aminopyridine (4AP)-evoked release of glutamate from synaptosomes, the 4AP-evoked elevation of cytoplasmic free Ca2+, and the 4AP-evoked depolarization of the plasma membrane. 4 beta-PDBu itself causes a slow depolarization, which may underlie the small effect of 4 beta-PDBu on spontaneous, KCl-evoked, and Ca(2+)-independent/4AP-evoked glutamate release. Because 4AP (but not KCl) generates spontaneous, tetrodotoxin-sensitive action potentials in synaptosomes, a major locus of presynaptic PKC action is to enhance these action potentials, perhaps by inhibiting delayed rectifier K+ channels.     

Ca2+-Surrogate Action of Pb2+ on Acetylcholine Release from Rat Brain Synaptosomes

The effect of lead ions on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) was investigated in intact and digitonin-permeabilized rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes that had been prelabeled with [3H]choline. Release of ACh was inferred from the release of total 3H label or by determination of [3H]ACh. Application of 1 microM Pb2+ to intact synaptosomes in Ca2(+)-deficient medium induced 3H release, which was enhanced by K+ depolarization. This suggests that entry of Pb2+ into synaptosomes and Pb2(+)-induced ACh release can be augmented by activation of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in nerve terminals. The lead-induced release of [3H]ACh was blocked by treatment of synaptosomes with vesamicol, which prevents uptake of ACh into synaptic vesicles without affecting its synthesis in the synaptoplasm. This indicates that Pb2+ selectively activates the release of a vesicular fraction of the transmitter with little or no effect on the leakage of cytoplasmic ACh. Application of 1-50 nM (EC50 congruent to 4 nM) free Pb2+ to digitonin-permeabilized synaptosomes elicited release of 3H label that was comparable with the release induced by 0.2-5 microM (EC50 congruent to 0.5 microM) free Ca2+. This suggests that Pb2+ triggers transmitter exocytosis directly and that it is a some 100 times more effective activator of exocytosis than is the natural agonist Ca2+.     

Mode of Action of Palytoxin on the Release of Acetylcholine from Rat Cerebrocortical Synaptosomes

Palytoxin (PTX; 10(-14)-10(-6) M) caused a dose-dependent increase in the release of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh), cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), and uptake of 22Na+ and decrease in membrane potential in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes. The dose-response curves for the PTX-induced increases in [3H]ACh release and in [Ca2+]i were depressed by removing extracellular Ca2+ or by decreasing extracellular Na+ concentrations. The release of [3H]ACh induced by concentrations of PTX less than 10(-10) M was more dependent on the simultaneous presence of both Ca2+ and Na+ than the release induced by higher concentrations of PTX. The PTX-induced increase both in [3H]ACh release and in [Ca2+]i was almost completely abolished by the combination of Ca2+ deprivation and Na+ concentration reduction. All responses to PTX were highly resistant to 10(-6) M tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that low concentrations of PTX cause depolarization as a result of an increase in Na+ permeability through tetrodotoxin-insensitive channels. This, in turn, increases Ca2+ influx and leads to an increase in the release of ACh. It appears that at high concentrations PTX increases the release of [3H]ACh by directly increasing the influx of Ca2+ into synaptosomes and by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites via an Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange mechanism.     

Phorbol ester translocation of protein kinase C in guinea-pig synaptosomes and the potentiation of calcium-dependent glutamate release

The distribution of protein kinase C activity and specific phorbol ester binding sites between soluble and particulate fractions of isolated guinea-pig cerebral cortical synaptosomes is examined following preincubation with phorbol esters. Half-maximal decrease in cytosolic activity requires 10 nM 4 beta-phorbol myristoyl acetate. Specific [3H]phorbol dibutyrate binding sites are translocated from cytoplasmic to particulate fractions in parallel with protein kinase C activity. Depolarization of the plasma membrane by 30 mM KCl does not cause translocation of protein kinase C. 1 microM 4 beta-phorbol myristoyl acetate and 1 microM 4 beta-phorbol didecanoate (but not 1 microM 4 alpha-phorbol didecanoate) enhance the release of glutamate from synaptosomes partially depolarized by 10 mM KCl; however, 4 beta-phorbol myristoyl acetate is ineffective at 20 nM. 1 microM 4 beta-phorbol myristoyl acetate slightly increases the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration of polarized synaptosomes, but not that following partial depolarization. 4 beta-Phorbol myristoyl acetate causes a concentration-dependent increase in the Ca2+-dependent glutamate release induced by sub-optimal ionomycin concentrations, but is without effect on the release induced by maximal ionomycin. It is concluded that phorbol esters stereospecifically enhance the Ca2+-sensitivity of glutamate release, but that higher concentrations may be required than for protein kinase C translocation in the same preparation. Instead the enhancement may be related to the rapid inactivation of protein kinase C which occurs with phorbol esters.     

Relation of Acetylcholine Release to Ca2+ Uptake and Intraterminal Ca2+ Concentration in Guinea-Pig Cortex Synaptosomes

[14C]Acetylcholine (ACh) release and parallel alterations in 45Ca2+ uptake and intrasynaptosomal free CA2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured in guinea-pig brain cortex synaptosomes. Depolarization by high K+ concentrations caused a rapid transient increase in Ca2+ uptake, terminating within 60 s (rate constant = 0.060 s-1; t1/2 = 11.6 s). This resulted in a rapid increase (within 1 s) in [Ca2+1]i, which then fell to a maintained but still-elevated plateau level (t1/2 for the decline was 15 s). Peaks of [Ca2+]i showed a sigmoidal dependence on depolarization, contrasting with the simple linear dependence of plateau levels of [Ca2+]i. The K+-evoked ACh release also had two phases: a fast initial increase (t1/2 = 11.3 s), which terminated within 60 s, was followed by a slow additional increase during sustained depolarizations of up to 10 min. Depolarization by veratridine led to a slow gradual increase in Ca2+ uptake (t1/2 = 130 s) over a 10-min incubation period, whereas an elevated plateau level of [Ca2+]i was achieved within 2 min (without a rapid peak elevation). The Ca2+-dependent fraction of the veratridine-evoked ACh release correlated with the increase in [Ca2+]i rather than with Ca2+ uptake. Using two different methods of depolarization partially circumvented the time limitations imposed by a buffering Ca2+ indicator and we suggest that, in the main, ACh is released in bursts associated with [Ca2+]i transients.     

Ca2+-dependent protein phosphorylation of purely cholinergic Torpedo synaptosomes.

Preincubation of intact, purely cholinergic Torpedo synaptosomes with [32P]Pi results in the incorporation of 32P into about 10 specific proteins. Depolarizing the Torpedo synaptosomes by a high K+ buffer or treatment with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 result in Ca2+ uptake, in acetylcholine (ACh) release, and in a marked increase of 32P incorporation into a specific protein band with an apparent subunit molecular weight of 100,000 (band alpha). The kinetics of synaptosomal 45Ca2+ uptake, of 32P incorporation into band alpha, and of ACh release is similar and reach maximal values about 45 s after the synaptosomes have been treated. Sr2+ and Ba2+ can replace Ca2+ in evoking both K+ depolarization-dependent ACh release and 32P incorporation into band alpha. The effectiveness of these ions (Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+) is similar in both cases. The data presented suggest that Ca2+ accumulation by Torpedo synaptosomes leads to an increase in the phosphorylation of a specific protein and to ACh release. This phosphoprotein may be involved in the regulation of presynaptic processes which underly ACh release.     

Somatostatin Release from Rat Cerebral Cortex Synaptosomes

Rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes were exposed in superfusion to various depolarizing stimuli and the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SRIF-LI) was measured by means of a radioimmunoassay procedure. High KCl (9-50 mM) concentration dependently evoked SRIF-LI release; the evoked overflow reached a plateau at 25 mM KCl and was completely abolished when Ca2+ ions were omitted from the superfusion medium, independently of the concentration of KCl used. The 15 mM K(+)-evoked release of SRIF-LI increased sharply as the Ca2+ concentration was raised to 0.8 mM, then leveled off and reached a plateau at 1.2 mM. The 15 mM K(+)-evoked overflow, but not the spontaneous outflow, was partially decreased (50%) by 1 microM tetrodotoxin. The presence in the superfusion fluid of a mixture of peptidase inhibitors did not improve the recovery of SRIF-LI both in the absence and in the presence of high K+. Exposure of synaptosomes to veratrine (1-50 microM) induced release of SRIF-LI in a concentration-dependent way. The effect of the alkaloid was strictly Ca2+ and tetrodotoxin sensitive. Replacement of extracellular Na+ by sucrose caused an acceleration of the spontaneous SRIF-LI outflow that was inversely correlated to the Na+ content in the superfusion medium. The release evoked by the sodium-deprived media did not exhibit any calcium dependence. HPLC analysis of the samples collected during superfusion showed that greater than 90% of the SRIF-LI released either during the spontaneous outflow or by 15 mM KCl was represented by SRIF-14 (SRIF-28(14-28]. These values reflected the ratio SRIF-14/SRIF-28 found in synaptosomes at the end of the experiments.     

A homeostatic mechanism counteracting K(+) -evoked choline release in adult brain

Choline (Ch) is an essential nutrient as the biosynthetic precursor of acetylcholine (ACh) and phospholipids. Under resting conditions, the intracellular accumulation of Ch (above 10-fold), which is positively charged, is governed by the membrane potential and follows the Nernst equation. Accordingly, in synaptosomes from adult rats during depolarization, we observed a linear relationship between release of free cytoplasmic Ch and KCl concentration (2.7-120 mm). The K(+) -evoked Ch release was Ca(2+) -independent and did not originate from ACh or phospholipid hydrolysis. In superfused brain slices of adult rats, however, a K(+) -induced Ch efflux was absent. Also, under in vivo conditions, 30-60 mm KCl failed to increase the extracellular Ch level as shown by microdialysis in adult rat hippocampus. On the contrary, in brain slices from 1-week-old rats, high K(+) as well as 4-aminopyridine evoked a marked Ch efflux in a concentration-dependent fashion. This phenomenon faded within 1 week. Hemicholinium-3 (HC-3, 1 and 10 microm), a blocker of cellular choline uptake, caused a marked efflux of choline from adult rat slices but no or significantly less release from immature slices. We conclude that depolarization of synaptic endings causes a Ca(2+) -independent release of free cytoplasmic Ch into the extracellular space. In adult rat brain, this elevation of Ch is counteracted by a homeostatic mechanism such as uptake into brain cells.     

Effect of synaptosomal cytosolic [3H]GABA pool depletion on secretory ability of alpha-latrotoxin

alpha-Latrotoxin, a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus, induces massive [3H]GABA release from rat brain synaptosomes as a result of interaction with either Ca(2+)-dependent (neurexin 1 alpha or Ca(2+)-independent (latrophilin) membrane receptor. The main aim of the study was to elucidate whether the binding of alpha-latrotoxin to different types of receptors led to [3H]GABA secretion from one pool or in each case the source of neurotransmitter differs: in the presence of Ca2+ exocytosis is induced, while in the absence of Ca(2+)--outflow by mobile membrane GABA transporter from cytoplasm. We examined the effect of the depletion of cytosolic [3H]GABA pool by competitive inhibitors of the GABA transporter (nipecotic acid and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid) on the alpha-latrotoxin-stimulated neurotransmitter release. We also compared the influence of these agents on neurosecretion, evoked by depolarization with that evoked by alpha-latrotoxin. Depolarization was stimulated by 4-aminopyridine in the Ca(2+)-containing saline and high KCl in Ca(2+)-free medium. In synaptosomes treated with nipecotic acid unstimulated [3H]GABA release was significantly augmented and high KCl-evoked Ca(2+)-independent [3H]GABA release was essentially inhibited. But under the same conditions neurosecretion stimulated by alpha-latrotoxin greatly raised with respect to the control response. The similar results were obtained with the synaptosomes treated with 2,4-diaminobutyric acid. Another way to determine which of GABA pool is the target of alpha-latrotoxin action lay in analysis of the toxin effects on the preliminary depolarized synaptosomes. alpha-Latrotoxin influence was diminished by the preceding depolarization by 4-aminopyridine in Ca2+ presence. But after the high KCl stimulation effect of alpha-latrotoxin didn't change. These data suggest that alpha-latrotoxin triggers neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles via exocytosis. We suppose that the type of membrane receptor does not determine the mechanism of GABA release evoked by the toxin.     

Calcium-Dependent and-Independent Release of Glutamate from Synaptosomes Monitored by Continuous Fluorometry

An enzyme-linked fluorometric assay is described for the continuous monitoring of the unidirectional efflux of glutamate from guinea-pig synaptosomes. Glutamate efflux from freshly suspended, polarized synaptosomes occurs at 0.35-0.39 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1 and is not significantly affected by external Ca2+. KCl depolarization (30 mMKCl) in the absence of Ca2+ doubles this rate, whereas in the presence of Ca2+, the initial kinetics of the assay are consistent with the release in the first 5 s of 0.6 nmol mg of protein-1. The final extent of Ca2+-dependent release amounts to 1.9 nmol mg of protein-1, or 8.5% of the total intrasynaptosomal glutamate content. Preincubation of synaptosomes at 30 degrees C for 2 h before depolarization leads to a decrease in Ca2+-independent release and an increase in Ca2+-dependent release, consistent with an intrasynaptosomal relocation of the amino acid.     

Monitoring of potassium-stimulated catecholamine changes in striatal synaptosomal preparations and in corpus striatum of rats: a comparative voltammetric study.

Voltammetric techniques were used to compare the effects of K(+)-induced depolarization on catecholamine levels in in vitro synaptosomal preparations of the corpus striatum with those in the in vivo corpus striatum of anaesthetized animals. In vitro, the catechol-oxidation currents could be recorded only in dopamine-preloaded synaptosomes. In isolated synaptosomes prepared in the presence of elevated concentrations of Ca2+ (1 mmol.l-1) and Na+ (135 mmol.l-1), K(+)-induced depolarization had variable effects on catechol-oxidation current. The stimulatory effect of K(+)-induced depolarization (a short transient increase of catechol-oxidation current lasting for 30 s) could be observed after the addition of dopamine loaded synaptosomes in EGTA into the medium with elevated K+ concentration (90 mmol.l-1) and decreased concentrations of Na+ (75 mmol.l-1) and Ca2+ (0.75 mmol.l-1). These results suggest that experimental procedures and parameters of ionic composition of incubation media have to be carefully controlled, owing to an enhanced in vitro permeability of membranes of isolated synaptosomes for Ca2+ and Na+. In in vivo experiments, microinjection of KCl (3 microliters of 0.5 mol.l-1 KCl in 10 mmol.l-1 HEPES, pH 7.4) resulted in the appearance of several phases of catechol-oxidation current: the current increased (to severalfold of the control values) followed by a decrease or even total disappearance, with a gradual return to control values. Under conditions of depletion of extracellular calcium by EGTA (5 microliters of 0.5 mol.l-1 KCl + 0.25 mol.l-1 EGTA in 10 mmol.l-1 HEPES, pH 7.4) K(+)-induced depolarization confirmed the key role of calcium in the release of catecholamine transmitters as well as that in processes regulating the uptake and metabolism of these transmitters. The voltammetric techniques used in the present study may be a useful tool in extending of our knowledge about the cellular mechanisms of stimulus-response coupling in nerve cells.     

Conditions Restricting Depolarization-Dependent Calcium Influx in Synaptosomes Reveal a Graded Response of P96 Dephosphorylation and a Transient Dephosphorylation of P65

Temporal changes in the phosphorylation level of synaptosomal phosphoproteins following depolarization of synaptosomes were investigated under conditions restricting calcium influx. High-K+ depolarization in media of low [Na+]o (32 mM during preincubation and depolarization) at pH 6.5 resulted in a pronounced fall in the cytosolic free calcium concentration transient, and in a reduction in the initial K(+)-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake and endogenous acetylcholine release relative to the values obtained with control synaptosomes (preincubated and depolarized in Na(+)-based media). This reduction was paralleled by a decrease in the rate of dephosphorylation of the synaptosomal protein P96. A slower dephosphorylation of P96 also was observed on exposure to 20 microM veratridine at 0.5 mM external calcium. Our results indicate that, similar to synapsin I phosphorylation, P96 dephosphorylation shows a graded response to the amount of calcium entering the presynaptic terminal. Depolarization of synaptosomes under conditions restricting the influx of calcium revealed a transient dephosphorylation (reversed within 10 s) of the phosphoprotein P65. The possible significance of this finding to the process of neurotransmitter release is discussed.     

Mechanisms controlling choline transport and acetylcholine synthesis in motor nerve terminals during electrical stimulation

Electrical stimulation of the chick ciliary nerve leads to a frequency-dependent increase in the Na+-dependent high affinity uptake of [3H]choline (SDHACU) and its conversion to acetylcholine (ACh) in the nerve terminals innervating the iris muscle. The forces that drive this choline (Ch) uptake across the presynaptic membrane were evaluated. Depolarization with increased [K+] out or veratridine decreases Ch accumulation. In addition to the electrical driving force, energy is provided by the Na+ gradient. Inhibition of the Na,K-ATPase decreased the Ch taken up. Thus, changes in the rate of Ch transport are dependent on the electrochemical gradients for both Ch and Na+. Ch uptake and ACh synthesis were increased after a conditioning preincubation with high [K+] out or veratridine. As is the case for electrical stimulation, this acceleration of Ch uptake and ACh synthesis was strongly dependent on the presence of Ca++ in the incubation medium. Na+ influx through a TTX-sensitive channel also contributed to this acceleration. Inasmuch as membrane depolarization reduces the initial velocity of Ch uptake and ACh synthesis, their increases during electrical stimulation therefore cannot be the direct effect of the depolarization phase of the action potential. Instead they are the result of the ionic fluxes accompanying the presynaptic spike. It is concluded that stimulation of Ch uptake and ACh synthesis by nerve activity depends first, on the ACh release elicited by Ca++ influx after depolarization and second, on the activation of the Na,K-ATPase due to Na+ entry. Furthermore, it is suggested that the release of ACh after stimulation drives translocation of cytoplasmic ACh into a protected compartment (probably vesicular). This recompartmentation of intraterminal ACh stimulates ACh synthesis by mass action, allowing further accumulation of Ch.     

K+ depolarization and phospholipid metabolism in frog sartorius muscle

K+ depolarization evokes phosphatidylinositol response, i.e. the increased 32P orthophosphate labelling of phosphatidylinositol in frog sartorii muscles. The phosphatidylinositol response seems to be closely related to K+ depolarization and not to the transient Ca2+ release at the beginning of depolarization. It ceases as soon as the muscles depolarized by 90 mmol/l KCl for a short period of time are repolarized, while it continues when the depolarization is maintained. When the muscles are depolarized with 20 mmol/l KCl, the phosphatidylinositol response is also observed. This response is not suppressed by drugs that block Ca2+ mobilization. Other agents like caffeine, azide or EGTA which induce some effects similar to that of K+ depolarization, do not evoke phosphatidylinositol response. Rather, they simply cause a decrease in the labelling of phospholipids, phosphatidylinositol being the least affected. In muscles derived from frogs maintained under healthy conditions Ca2+ release in the early phase of K+ depolarization does not cause significant changes in phospholipid labelling. However, in muscles from frogs starving for many months, a large decrease in the labelling of phospholipids is observed in the early phase of K+ depolarization. It is postulated that the changes in the physicochemical state of the membrane and not Ca2+ gating mechanism or free cell Ca2+ level are crucial in the phosphatidylinositol response in the frog sartorii muscles depolarized by high K+.     

EFFECT OF PRETREATMENT UNDER VARIOUS CATIONIC CONDITIONS ON ACETYLCHOLINE CONTENT AND CHOLINE TRANSPORT IN RAT WHOLE BRAIN SYNAPTOSOMES

The effects of different ionic environments were measured on the concentration of acetyl-choline (ACh) from synaptosomes and their effect on subsequent high affinity choline (Ch) transport and ACh synthesis after resuspension of the synaptosomes in the normal Krebs medium. KCl (40 mM) was used to induce ACh release and reduce synaptosomal ACh content. The effects of Na⁺ omission, Ca²⁺ omission, and high Mg²⁺ on spontaneous (KC1: 4.75 mM) and potassium induced (KC1: 40 mM) ACh release and other cholinergic parameters are presented. The high affinity transport of Ch was more highly correlated with the reciprocal of the ACh level (r= 0.934, P= 9.7 × 10^-4) than with the ACh release rate during preincubation (r= 0.792, P= 3.4 × 10^-2). The results are consistent with the view that the consequences of the various ionic conditions on Ch transport and ACh synthesis are dependent on their effects on intrasynaptosomal ACh levels and only secondarily on synaptosomal ACh release.     

Acetylcholine release and choline uptake by cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) optic lobe synaptosomes

Acetylcholine (ACh), which is synthesized from choline (Ch), is believed to hold a central place in signaling mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and other coleoid cephalopods. Although the main elements required for cholinergic function have been identified in cephalopods, the transmembrane translocation events promoting the release of ACh and the uptake of Ch remain largely unsolved. The ACh release and Ch uptake were quantitatively studied through the use of in vitro chemiluminescence and isotopic methods on a subcellular fraction enriched in synaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from cuttlefish optic lobe. The ACh release evoked by K+ depolarization was found to be very high (0.04 pmol ACh.s(-1).mg(-1) protein). In response to stimulation by veratridine, a secretagogue (a substance that induces secretion) that targets voltage-gated Na+ channels, the release rate and the total amount of ACh released were significantly lower, by 10-fold, than the response induced by KCl. The high-affinity uptake of choline was also very high (31 pmol Ch.min(-1).mg(-1) protein). The observed ACh release and Ch uptake patterns are in good agreement with published data on preparations characterized by high levels of ACh metabolism, adding further evidence that ACh acts as a neurotransmitter in cuttlefish optic lobe.