Depression by calcium of spontaneous transmitter release at the mammalian neuromuscular junction

Cationic influences upon synaptic transmission at the hair cell-afferent fiber synapse of the frog

The concentrations of inorganic cations (K+, Na+, and Ca2+) bathing the isolated frog labyrinth were varied in order to assess their role in influencing and mediating synaptic transmission at the hair cell-afferent fiber synapse. Experiments employed intracellular recordings of synaptic activity from VIIIth nerve afferents. Recordings were digitized continuously at 50 kHz, and excitatory postsynaptic potentials were detected and parameters quantified by computer algorithms. Particular attention was focused on cationic effects upon excitatory postsynaptic potential frequency of occurrence and excitatory postsynaptic potential amplitude, in order to discriminate between pre- and postsynaptic actions. Because the small size of afferents preclude long term stable recordings, alterations in cationic concentrations were applied transiently and their peak effects on synaptic activity were assessed. Increases in extracellular K+ concentration of a few millimolar produced a large increase in the frequency of occurrence of excitatory postsynaptic potentials with little change in amplitude, indicating that release of transmitter from the hair cell is tightly coupled to its membrane potential. Increasing extracellular Na+ concentration resulted in an increase in excitatory postsynaptic potential amplitude with no significant change in excitatory postsynaptic potential frequency of occurrence, suggesting that the transmitter-gated subsynaptic channel conducts Na+ ions. Decreases in extracellular Ca2+ concentration had little effect upon excitatory postsynaptic potential frequency, but increased excitatory postsynaptic potential frequency and amplitude. These findings suggest that at higher concentrations Ca2+ act presynaptically to prevent transmitter release and postsynaptically to prevent Na+ influx during the generation of the excitatory postsynaptic potential. The influences of these ions on synaptic activity at this synapse are remarkably similar to those reported at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. The major differences between these two synapses are the neurotransmitters and the higher resting release rate and higher sensitivity of release to increased K+ concentrations of the hair cells over that of motor nerve terminals. These differences reflect the functional roles of the two synapses: the motor nerve terminal response in an all-or-nothing signal consequent from action potential invasion, while the hair cell releases transmitter in a graded fashion, proportionate to the extent of stereocilial deflection. Despite these differences between the two junctions, the similar actions of these elemental cations upon synaptic function at each implies that these ions may participate similarly in the operations of other synapses, independent of the neurotransmitter type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Kinetic differences in the effect of calcium on quantal and non-quantal acetylcholine release at the murine diaphragm

The effects of Ca2+ withdrawal on non-quantal, evoked quantal and spontaneous quantal release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the motor nerve terminals were studied with standard intracellular recording techniques. Anticholinesterase-treated mouse diaphragms were used. In a Ca2(+)-free solution all forms of ACh release decreased, but with different kinetics. As expected, evoked quantal release declined to zero within a few minutes. Spontaneous quantal release, i.e. the frequency of the miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs), decreased to 15% of the control within 20 min after calcium withdrawal. The slowest decay was that of non-quantal release which declined very slowly and reached zero after 45-50 min. Following Ca2+ re-admission, both quantal types of ACh release were rapidly restored (evoked in 10 min, spontaneous in 20 min). However, recovery of non-quantal release did not occur until after 50 to 60 min.

Protons resolve dual effects of calcium on miniature end-plate potential frequency at frog neuromuscular junctions

Inhibition of transmitter release by protons (H+) was studied at the frog neuromuscular junction at various extracellular concentrations of calcium ([Ca++]o) and potassium ([K+]o) by recording miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) frequency with the intracellular microelectrode. H+ decreased K+ -stimulated MEPP frequency. A double logarithmic graph of MEPP frequency at 7.5 mM K+ vs. [H+]o yielded a straight line with negative slope. At 10 mM K+, there was a parallel shift to the right of the graph. According to the surface charge model, K+ acts solely to depolarize the prejunctional membrane in accordance with the Nernst equation. By decreasing the prejunctional negative surface charge, H+ decreases K+ -stimulated MEPP frequency by decreasing [Ca++]o at the Ca++ channel. An estimated pKa of 4.20 may represent an acidic site at the Ca++ channel associated with Ca++ influx. As [Ca++]o increased above 1 mM for pH 7.40 and 10 mM K+, MEPP frequency decreased, i.e., the inhibitory component of dual effects of Ca++ occurred. At pH 6.40, the inhibitory component was abolished, unmasking the stimulatory effect of Ca++ on MEPP frequency. Reversal of Ca++ action by H+ could not be explained by surface charge theory alone. A double logarithmic graph of MEPP frequency vs. [K+]o at 8.5-10.5 mM was linear with a slope of 4. There were parallel shifts to the right of this graph for changes in pH from 7.40 to 6.90 and in [Ca++]o from 1 to 2.5 mM. These results are explained on the hypothesis that K+ also acts at an acidic prejunctional site to increase Ca++ -dependent quantal transmitter release. This action of K+ was inhibited by H+ and raised Ca++. Based on kinetic theory, the estimated pKa of the acidic prejunctional K+ site was 6.31. Based on free energy calculations, its cation preference was H+ greater than K+ greater than Ca++.

Effect of external Ca2+ on the spontaneous and the various stimuli-induced acetylcholine release from guinea-pig ileum myenteric plexus

Effect of external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) on spontaneous and various types of stimuli-induced acetylcholine (ACh) release from guinea-pig ileum myenteric plexus was studied. Electrical field stimulation- or high-K+-induced ACh release increased with the increment of [Ca2+]o. On the other hand, the spontaneous and the nicotine-induced ACh release increased up to 0.45 mM [Ca2+]o and then declined progressively as [Ca2+]o was raised. Qualitatively similar results were obtained with dimethylphenylpirerazinium-, 5-hydroxytryptamine- and substance P-induced ACh release. These results were discussed in terms of the stabilizing effect of Ca2+.

Presynaptic effect of streptomycin on the insect neuromuscular junction

The effect of streptomycin on the neuromuscular junction of the cockroach leg muscle was studied by means of intracellular electrodes. The miniature excitatory postsynaptic potential (MEPSP) frequency decreased in the presence of 1 mM streptomycin. Double logarithmic plots of the quantal content against the external calcium concentration in the absence and presence of streptomycin suggested the competition for a common site of presynaptic membrane at insect neuromuscular junctions.

Alterations of spontaneous quantal transmitter release at the mammalian neuromuscular junction induced by divalent and trivalent ions

The present studies have demonstrated that Ca and Sr have a similar ability to support the release of spontaneous quanta of transmitter at the rat neuromuscular junction. The foreign ions Co, Pb, Zn and La have also been shown to support spontaneous release, although the time course of the increase in miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.s) caused by these ions is much slower than that caused by Ca and Sr. However, Sr, Co, Pb and Zn were unable to sustain m.e.p.p.s for prolonged periods. High extracellular K (10--15 mM) inhibited the steady state m.e.p.p. frequency in Ca and Sr concentrations above 1 mM, and also delayed the m.e.p.p. frequency increase induced by 1 mM Pb. It is suggested that K ions directly inhibit divalent ion entry into the nerve terminal.

Facilitatory effects of 4-aminopyridine on normal neuromuscular transmission

The effects of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on neuromuscular transmission were studied in vitro in the rat flexor digitorum longus muscles. 4-AP produced dose-dependent increases in endplate potential (EPP) amplitude, in rise time to peak, and in the average number of acetylcholine quanta released by presynaptic nerve impulses. The neuromuscular blocking effects of d-tubocurarine or low Ca2+/high Mg2+ concentrations could be completely reversed by 4-AP, and EPPs developed into muscle action potentials (APs). The drug had minimal effects on the amplitude or frequency of spontaneous miniature endplate potentials, but increased the duration of indirectly elicited muscle APs. The action of 4-AP required the presence of extracellular Ca2+; thus, its effect may be to promote Ca2+ entry into the motor nerve terminal, and thereby increase the neurally evoked transmitter release. 4-AP is effective in overcoming both presynaptic and postsynaptic blockade of neuromuscular transmission, suggesting a potential role for this drug in the treatment of neuromuscular diseases.