Investigations on chromatin condensation of hen erythrocyte nuclei in vitro. An ultrastructural and biochemical study

Hen erythrocyte nuclei, isolated in non-buffered sucrose, (3 mM Mg²⁺, at low ionic strength) have a condensed chromatin to which hemoglobin is bound. Incubation of the isolated nuclei in 0.125 M phosphate-buffer solutions of increasing pH induces a release of the bound hemoglobin and a swelling of the nuclei. Between pH 6.4 and 7.0 both processes reach a plateau and above pH 7.0 a second steep increase in nuclear volume is observable, leading to nuclear disruption above pH 7.4. Titration at low ionic strength shifts the process of hemoglobin release and nuclear swelling to higher pH values. Hemoglobin release and nuclear swelling are fully reversible by backtitration to pH 5.8. The nuclear swelling and shrinking is observed electron-microscopically as decondensation and condensation of the chromatin. The results of these investigations suggest that hemoglobin acts like a cation in the maintenance of nuclear condensation under the conditions used for the isolation of hen erythrocyte nuclei, but that this action is unlikely the physiological mechanism causing chromatin condensation during the maturation of erythroid cells.     

Solvent effects on ouabain binding to the (Na+,K+)-ATPase of rat brain

The effects of the solvents deuterated water (²H₂O) and dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) on [³H]ouabain binding to (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase under different ligand conditions were examined. These solvents inhibited the type I ouabain binding to the enzyme (i.e., in the presence of Mg²⁺+ATP+Na⁺). In contrast, both solvents stimulated type II (i.e., Mg²⁺+P_i-, or Mn²⁺-dependent) binding of the drug. The solvent effects were not due to pH changes in the reaction. However, pH did influence ouabain binding in a differential manner, depending on the ligands present. For example, changes in pH from 7.05 to 7.86 caused a drop in the rate of binding by about 15% in the presence of Mg²⁺+Na⁺+ATP, 75% in the Mg²⁺+P_i system, and in the presence of Mn²⁺ an increase by 24% under similar conditions. Inhibitory or stimulatory effects of solvents were modified as various ligands, and their order of addition, were altered. Thus, ²H₂O inhibition of type I ouabain binding was dependent on Na⁺ concentration in the reaction and was reduced as Na⁺ was elevated. Contact of the enzyme with Me₂SO, prior to ligands for type I binding, resulted in a greater inhibition of ouabain binding than that when enzyme was exposed to Na⁺+ATP first and then to Me₂SO. Likewise, the stimulation of type II binding was greater when appropriate ligands acted on enzyme prior to addition of the solvent. Since Me₂SO and ²H₂O inhibit type I ouabain binding, it is proposed that this reaction is favored under conditions which promote loss of H₂O, and E₁ enzyme conformation; the stimulation of type II ouabain binding in the presence of the solvents suggests that this type of binding is favored under conditions which promote the presence of H₂O at the active enzyme center and E₂ enzyme conformation. This postulation of a role of H₂O in modulating enzyme conformations and ouabain interaction with them is in concordance with previous observations.     

Induction by ouabain of hemoglobin synthesis in cultured friend erythroleukemic cells

Induction of erythroid differentiation in ouabain-resistant murine erythroleukemia cells by ouabain is reported. Ouabain induction results in the appearance of hemoglobin-containing cells 12–24 hr earlier than induction of the same clone by dimethyl sulfoxide. The levels of globin mRNA after ouabain induction are similar in amount to the globin mRNA levels observed after induction by dimethyl sulfoxide. The concentration of ouabain required to induce hemoglobin synthesis depends upon the K⁺ ion levels in the culture medium. Lowering the extracellular K⁺ ion concentration 2–4 fold reduced by 10–40 fold the ouabain concentration necessary for the induction of hemoglobin synthesis. In low K⁺ medium (1.8 mM), ouabain is an effective inducer of hemoglobin synthesis at a concentration of 0.02 mM. This K⁺ effect is specific for ouabain induction, since induction by other inducers, such as dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl acetamide, does not exhibit this marked sensitivity to the levels of K⁺ ions in the culture medium. These results suggest that the binding of ouabain to the plasma membrane enzyme, $\text{Na}\text{K}$ ATPase, is required for the induction of erythroid differentiation by ouabain. A small but significant proportion of wild-type, ouabain-sensitive cells also can be induced by ouabain, below ouabain concentrations that are toxic to these cells. The observation that the binding of ouabain to the $\text{Na}\text{K}$ ATPase induces hemoglobin synthesis suggests that changes in the intracellular concentration of K⁺ ions may be involved in the control of erythroid differentiation in Friend erythroleukemic cells.     

Effects of ouabain and isoproterenol on potassium influx in the turkey erythrocyte: Quantitative relation to ligand binding and cyclic AMP generation

Studies have been carried out in the turkey erythrocyte to examine: (1) the influence of external K⁺ concentration on both [³H]ouabain binding and the sensitivity of potassium influx to inhibition by ouabain and (2) the quantitative relation between β-adrenergic receptor site occupancy, agonist-directed cyclic AMP generation and potassium influx rate. Both [³H]ouabain binding and the ability of ouabain to inhibit potassium influx are markedly reduced at increasing external K⁺ concentrations, and at each K⁺ concentration the concentrations of ouabain required for half-maximal binding to the erythrocyte membrane and for half-maximal inhibition of potassium influx are identical. Both basal and isoproterenol-stimulated potassium influx rise with increasing external K⁺ concentrations. In contrast to basal potassium influx, which is 50–70% inhibitable by ouabain, the isoproterenol-stimulated component of potassium influx is entirely insensitive to ouabain. At all concentrations of K⁺, inhibition of basal potassium influx by ouabain is linear with ouabain binding, indicating that the rate of transport per unoccupied ouabain binding site is unaffected by simultaneous occupancy of other sites by ouabain. Similarly, the rate of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis is directly proportional to β-adrenergic receptor occupancy over the entire concentration-response relationship for isoproterenol, showing that at all levels of occupancy β-adrenergic receptor sites function independently of each other.Analysis of the relation of catecholamine-dependent potassium transport to the number of β-adrenergic receptor sites occupied indicates an extremely sensitive physiological system, in which 50%-maximal stimulation of potassium transport is achieved at less than 3% receptor occupancy, corresponding to fewer than ten occupied receptors per cell.     

Effect of Low Root Medium pH on Net Proton Release, Root Respiration, and Root Growth of Corn (Zea mays L.) and Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.)

The effect of low pH on net H⁺ release and root growth of corn (Zea mays L.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.) seedlings was investigated in short-term experiments at constant pH. Broad bean was more sensitive to low pH than corn: the critical values (pH values below which net H⁺ release and root growth ceased) were pH 4.00 (broad bean) and pH 3.50 (corn) at 1 millimolar Ca²⁺. Both proton release and root growth were progressively inhibited as the medium pH declined. Additional Ca²⁺ in the root medium helped to overcome the limitations of low pH for net H⁺ release and root growth. Potassium (for corn) and abscisic acid (for broad bean) increased both net H⁺ release and root growth rate at the critical pH value. It is concluded that poor root growth at low pH is caused by a lack of net H⁺ release that may decrease cytoplasmic pH values. Inhibited net H⁺ release at high external H⁺ activity is not due to a shortage of energy supply to the H⁺ ATPase. Instead, a displacement of Ca²⁺ by H⁺ at the external side of the plasmalemma may enhance reentry of H⁺ into root cells.     

Further aspects on the hemolytic activity of the antibiotic lipopeptide iturin A

The bacterial lipopeptide iturin A is able to cause hemolysis of human erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Hemolysis takes place at iturin concentrations below its critical micellar concentration. Relative kinetics determinations clearly show that K⁺ leakage occurs prior to hemoglobin release. Furthermore, hemolysis can be prevented by addition to the outer solution of osmotic protectants of appropriate size. Altogether these results indicate that iturin A-induced hemolysis follows a colloid-osmotic mechanism, with the formation of a membrane pore of average diameter 32 Å. Iturin A is capable of inducing leakage of an aqueous fluorescent probe trapped in human erythrocyte ghosts, but not in large unilamellar liposomes made of various lipid compositions. The different permeabilizing effects of iturin A on model and biological membranes are discussed on the light of the presented results.     

The Effect of Ouabain on the Release of [14C]Acetylcholine and Other Substances from Synaptosomes

Abstract: The effect of ouabain and dihydroouabain on Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase, ⁸⁶Rb uptake and the release of [¹⁴C]ACh (acetylcholine) from synaptosomal preparations of guinea pigs was compared. At low concentrations of glycoside (<50 μm ) there was a good correlation between the potency of ouabain and of dihydroouabain in inhibiting Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase and in causing the release of [^l4C]ACh in a nondepolarising medium. Ouabain (200 μM) increased the release of [¹⁴C]ACh evoked by 25 mm -KCl, but not that evoked by 100μm -veratrine. The enhancement of release was independent of the presence of calcium. It was observed that in addition to [¹⁴C]ACh release, choline efflux was also stimulated by ouabain, independently of the presence of Ca²⁺. Experiments with hemicholinium-3 showed that the ouabain-induced increase in choline efflux was not due to an inhibition of reuptake. The effect of ouabain on intrasynaptosomal K⁺ concentration was measured in order to investigate the degree of depolarisation it caused. The decrease in K⁺ was found to be similar in magnitude and time course to that caused by veratrine. It was shown that ouabain-induced depolarisation caused an increased efflux of another positive ion (dibenzyldimethylammonium chloride) and retention of a negatively charged ion (chloride), as would be expected from the operation of the electrochemical potential gradient changing as a result of depolarisation. It is suggested that ouabain acts to stimulate ACh release from synaptosomes as follows: following blockage of the Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase there is rapid depolarisation which, if Ca²⁺ is present, provokes the normal Ca²⁺-dependent transmitter release process to occur. In addition, depolarisation accelerates the leakage of positive ions down their electrochemical potential gradient, but causes a retention of negative ions. Such an action does not depend on the presence of Ca²⁺, nor is it specific to transmitters.     

Ouabain Binding and Potassium Transport in Young and Old Populations of Human Red Cells

Human red blood cells were separated according to density by centrifugation through mixtures of phthalate esters. The densest 20% of the erythrocyte population (old cells) had reduced volume and water content compared to the lightest 20% of the cells (young cells). Corpuscular hemoglobin content was unchanged. Young cells had 50% more potassium (K⁺) than old cells, but their total intracellular concentration was only slightly higher; old cells had a small increase in sodium (Na⁺) concentration. Active K⁺ transport of young cells was 37% higher than that of old cells. [³H] + Ouabain binding revealed that this difference was the result of more K⁺ pump sites on young cells, which bound 530 ouabain molecules per cell at 100% K⁺ pump inhibition, as compared to 400 for old cells; unseparated cells bound 450-500 molecules. The relative rates of ouabain binding were identical for the two cell types. Old cells exhibited a greater passive permeability to K⁺, haying a rate coefficient for ouabain-insensitive K⁺ influx 1.8 times that of young cells. There is evidence to suggest that in the face of reduced pump activity this augmented K⁺ “leak” might enhance the osmotic stability of the old cells and function to lengthen their life span.     

Ouabain receptor interactions in (Na + K)-ATPase preparations. III. On the stability of the ouabain receptor against physical treatment, hydrolases and SH reagents

The action of ATP and its analogs as well as the effects of alkali ions were studied in their action on the ouabain receptor. One single ouabain receptor with a dissociation constant (K_D) of 13 nM was found in the presence of (Mg²⁺ + P_i) and (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ + ATP). pH changes below pH 7.4 did not affect the ouabain receptor. Ouabain binding required Mg²⁺, where a curved line in the Scatchard plot appeared. The affinity of the receptor for ouabain was decreased by K⁺ and its congeners, by Na⁺ in the presence of (Mg²⁺ + P_i), and by ATP analogs (ADP-C-P, ATP-OCH₃). Ca²⁺ antagonized the action of K⁺ on ouabain binding. It was concluded that the ouabain receptor exists in a low affinity (R_α) and a high affinity conformational state (R_β). The equilibrium between both states is influenced by ligands of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. With 3 mM Mg²⁺ a mixture between both conformational states is assumed to exist (curved line in the Scatchard plot).     

Ouabain enhances exocytosis through the regulation of calcium handling by the endoplasmic reticulum of chromaffin cells

The augmentation of neurotransmitter and hormone release produced by ouabain inhibition of plasmalemmal Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase (NKA) is well established. However, the mechanism underlying this action is still controversial. Here we have shown that in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells ouabain diminished the mobility of chromaffin vesicles, an indication of greater number of docked vesicles at subplasmalemmal exocytotic sites. On the other hand, ouabain augmented the number of vesicles undergoing exocytosis in response to a K⁺ pulse, rather than the quantal size of single vesicles. Furthermore, ouabain produced a tiny and slow Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and gradually augmented the transient elevations of the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_c) triggered by K⁺ pulses. These effects were paralleled by gradual increments of the transient catecholamine release responses triggered by sequential K⁺ pulses applied to chromaffin cell populations treated with ouabain. Both, the increases of K⁺-elicited [Ca²⁺]_c and secretion in ouabain-treated cells were blocked by thapsigargin (THAPSI), 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and caffeine. These results are compatible with the view that ouabain may enhance the ER Ca²⁺ load and facilitate the Ca²⁺-induced-Ca²⁺ release (CICR) component of the [Ca²⁺]_c signal generated during K⁺ depolarisation. This could explain the potentiating effects of ouabain on exocytosis.     

Role of synaptosomal Na-accumulation in transmitter release

The mechanism whereby Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitors such as ouabain trigger transmitter release in a calcium-independent manner remains obscure. We have examined the possible role of intra-synaptosomal sodium ion accumulation in ouabain-induced acetylcholine (ACh) release by: 1) Measuring²²Na accumulation in cat cortical synaptosomes in the presence of ouabain, A23187, veratridine, or strophanthidin over the same time course in which we previously determined their effects on ACh release; and 2) measuring synaptosomal²²Na accumulation and ACh-release in the presence of ouabain plus tetrodotoxin in normal or calcium-free buffer. Our results indicate that tetrodotoxin-dependent²²Na accumulation is at least partially responsible for ouabain-induced ACh release in normal and calcium-free media, but that this ion-accumulation per se is not sufficient to elicit release with other secretogogues.Dedicated to Henry McIlwain.     

The effect of temperature on the activity of (Naplus plus K plus)-ATPase

The marked temperature dependence of product formation by microsomal preparations of ouabain-sensitive (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase prepared from rabbit renal cortex has been confirmed by extremely sensitive pH measurement. It was possible to confine measurements of H⁺ release to a change of less than 0.02 pH units. With periods of observation not exceeding 20 sec, the linearity of H⁺ release could be maintained. Below 14 ° there is no detectable H⁺ release which is sensitive to inhibition by 0.2 mm ouabain. Above this critical temperature, however, the reaction increases markedly throughout the range examined. The ouabain-insensitive or “residual” ATPase of these preparations also shows a dependence upon temperature, but only above a critical temperature of 24 °.     

The effect of Na+-K+ ATPase inhibition by ouabain on histamine release from human cutaneous mast cells

Background: There are controversial reports on the effect of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase) inhibition on mast cell mediator release. Some of them have indicated that ouabain (strophanthin G), a specific Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase inhibitor, inhibited the release, whereas the others have shown that ouabain had no effect or even had a stimulatory effect on the mediator secretion. Most of these studies have utilized animal-derived mast cells. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase inhibition on human skin mast cells. Methods: Unpurified and purified mast cells were obtained from newborn foreskins and stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187 (1 μM) for 30 min following a 1 hr incubation with various concentrations (10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁸ M) of ouabain. Histamine release was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The results indicated that ouabain had no significant effect on the non-immunologic histamine release from human skin mast cells, in vitro. Conclusions: Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase inhibition by ouabain had no significant effect on the non-immunologic histamine release from human cutaneous mast cells and suggested differences between human and animal mast cells.     

The effects of extracellular sodium on acid release and motility initiation in rat caudal epididymal spermatozoa in vitro

When rat caudal epididymal spermatozoa were incubated in a sodium-free solution, they suffered a progressive fall in motility, and by 40 min the motility was completely suppressed. However, upon resuspending the spermatozoa in a sodium containing solution, motility was completely restored within 15 min. During this reinitiation period, H⁺ ions were found to be released from spermatozoa. Both motility reinitiation and acid release were found to be closely dependent on the extracellular sodium. Of the other monovalent cations studied, only NH₄⁺ could replace Na⁺ in these events. Both processes were partially inhibited by amiloride (10^?4-10^?3 M) and ouabain (10^?4-10^?3 M) but was unaffected by acetazolamide (10^?4 M). The motility activation and acid release were studied under various conditions. It was found that there was a close correlation between the two processes. The H⁺ efflux during motility activation was accompanied by a rise in the intracellular pH of the sperm. It is proposed that the requirement of Na⁺ for the motility initiation is attributed to an increase in the intracellular pH via the Na⁺-H⁺ exchange. An intracellular pH shift might be involved in motility activation in mammalian sperm.     

Correlative secretion of protein, lactose and K + in milk of the goat

Rates of secretion of milk constituents (fat, protein, lactose, Na⁺ and K⁺) in the lactating goat were measured under normal circumstances and after injections of ouabain. In all experiments a close association was noted in the secretion rates for protein, lactose and K⁺. Under the influence of ouabain, the concentration of Na⁺ in the milk tended to rise and that of K⁺ to fall. The rate of milk fat secretion varied independently from the rates for the other constituents. It is reasonably assumed that the principal mechanism of milk protein secretion is by emptying of Golgi vesicles through the plasma membrane. The close correlation in rates for protein, lactose and K⁺ supports the contention that all three are assembled in Golgi vesicles and secreted by the same mechanism.     

Homeostasis of Sodium and Potassium Ions in Erythrocytes of the Lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis: Effect of Ion Transport and Metabolic Blockers, and Ionophores

After incubation of lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis erythrocytes in the standard medium for 90–120 min, intracellular Na⁺ and K⁺ content remained unchanged (28.7 ± 1.1 and 66.3 ± 1.5 mmol/l cells, respectively, n = 33). The erythrocyte ion content also did not change after treatment of the cells with ion transport inhibitors, Ba^{2 +} and amiloride. Addition of 0.1 mM ouabain to the incubation medium led to a decrease of K⁺ content by 8.4 ± 1.2 and to an increase of Na⁺ content by 2.4 ± 0.8 mmol/l/2 h. Similar reciprocal changes in the cellular ion composition were observed after treatment of the erythrocytes by oxidative metabolism inhibitors (rotenone and CCCP—carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone). The metabolic blockers produced more significant ion composition changes in comparison with ouabain. An increase of intracellular Na⁺ content under effect of CCCP was completely inhibited by amiloride. It can be suggested that inhibition of oxidative metabolism is accompanied by a cell acidification and Na⁺/H⁺ exchange activation. Erythrocyte acidification by a K⁺/H⁺ ionophore led to a rapid cellular Na⁺ accumulation, which indicates the presence of a Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger with high activity. The K⁺ ionophore valinomycin produced a relatively small K⁺ loss from the lamprey erythrocytes to indicate a low anion conductance of the cells. The data obtained indicate an important role of oxidative metabolism in the monovalent ion homeostasis in the lamprey red blood cells.     

The effect of sodium on inorganic phosphate- and p-nitrophenyl phosphate-facilitated ouabain binding to (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase

The effect of the hydrolysis product P_i and the artificial substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate (p-nitrophenyl-P) on ouabain binding to (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated ATPase was investigated.The hypothesis that (Mg²⁺ + p-nitrophenyl-P)-supported ouabain binding might be due to P_i release and thus (Mg²⁺ + P_i)-supported could not be confirmed.The enzyme · ouabain complexes obtained with different substrates were characterized according to their dissociation rates after removal of the ligands facilitating binding. The character of the enzyme · ouabain complex is determined primarily by the monovalent ion present during ouabain binding, but, qualitatively at least, it is immaterial whether binding was obtained with p-nitrophenyl phosphate or P_i.The presence or absence of Na⁺ during binding has a special influence upon the character of the enzyme · ouabain complex. Without Na⁺ and in the presence of Tris ions the complex obtained with (Mg²⁺ + P_i) and that obtained with (Mg²⁺ + p-nitrophenyl-P) behaved in a nearly identical manner, both exhibiting a slow decay. High Na⁺ concentration diminished the level of P_i-supported ouabain binding, having almost no effect on p-nitrophenyl phosphate-supported binding. Both enzyme · ouabain complexes, however, now resembled the form obtained with (Na⁺ + ATP), as judged from their dissociation rates and the K⁺ sensitivity of their decay. The complexes obtained at a high Na⁺ concentration underwent a very fast decay which could be slowed considerably after adding a low concentration of K⁺ to the resuspension medium. The most stable enzyme · ouabain complex was obtained in the presence of Tris ions only, irrespective of whether p-nitrophenyl phosphate or P_i facilitated complex formation. The presence of K⁺ gave rise to a complex whose dissociation rate was intermediate between those of the complexes obtained in the presence of Tris and a high Na⁺ concentration.It is proposed that the different ouabain dissociation rates reflect different reactive state of the enzyme. The resemblance between the observations obtained in phosphorylation and ouabain binding experiments is pointed out.     

Effect of hexachlorophene on monovalent cation transport in human erythrocytes a mechanism for hexachlorophene-induced hemolysis

Hexachlorophene-induced hemolysis, as studied by phase contrast microscopy, appeared to be a result of osmotic swelling. Both swelling and subsequent hemolysis were markedly delayed by addition of the non-penetrating solute sucrose to the incubation mixture. Binding studies indicated that hexachlorophene is associated primarily with the erythrocyte membrane, the remainder being found in the cytoplasm. Hexachlorophane induced a dose-dependent, first-order efflux of Na⁺ and K⁺ from red cells. The rates of hemolysis and K⁺ efflux induced by hexachlorophene were much greater than would be expected if this compound were acting simply as a metabolic inhibitor and/or an inhibitor of (Na⁺-K⁺-Mg²⁺)-ATPase. It is suggested that hexachlorophene induces the efflux of Na⁺ and K⁺ from red cells by directly altering the permeability of the cellular membrane. Further, hexachlorophene-induced hemolysis is probably a secondary event resulting from osmotic swelling subsequent to increased membrane permeability.     

Modulation of Aspartate Release by Ascorbic Acid and Endobain E,an Endogenous Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase Inhibitor

The isolation of a soluble brain fraction which behaves as an endogenous ouabain-like substance, termed endobain E, has been described. Endobain E contains two Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitors, one of them identical to ascorbic acid. Neurotransmitter release in the presence of endobain E and ascorbic acid was studied in non-depolarizing (0 mM KCl) and depolarizing (40 mM KCl) conditions. Synaptosomes were isolated from cerebral cortex of male Wistar rats by differential centrifugation and Percoll gradient. Synaptosomes were preincubated in HEPES-saline buffer with 1 mM d-[³H]aspartate (15 min at 37°C), centrifuged, washed, incubated in the presence of additions (60 s at 37°C) and spun down; radioactivity in the supernatants was quantified. In the presence of 0.5–5.0 mM ascorbic acid, d-[³H]aspartate release was roughly 135–215% or 110–150%, with or without 40 mM KCl, respectively. The endogenous Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitor endobain E dose-dependently increased neurotransmitter release, with values even higher in the presence of KCl, reaching 11-times control values. In the absence of KCl, addition of 0.5–10.0 mM commercial ouabain enhanced roughly 100% d-[³H]aspartate release; with 40 mM KCl a trend to increase was recorded with the lowest ouabain concentrations to achieve statistically significant difference vs. KCl above 4 mM ouabain. Experiments were performed in the presence of glutamate receptor antagonists. It was observed that MPEP (selective for mGluR5 subtype), failed to decrease endobain E response but reduced 50–60% ouabain effect; LY-367385 (selective for mGluR1 subtype) and dizocilpine (for ionotropic NMDA glutamate receptor) did not reduce endobain E or ouabain effects. These findings lead to suggest that endobain E effect on release is independent of metabotropic or ionotropic glutamate receptors, whereas that of ouabain involves mGluR5 but not mGluR1 receptor subtype. Assays performed at different temperatures indicated that in endobain E effect both exocytosis and transporter reversion are involved. It is concluded that endobain E and ascorbic acid, one of its components, due to their ability to inhibit Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, may well modulate neurotransmitter release at synapses.