4-Aminopyridine does not increase m.e.p.p. frequencies at junctions depolarized by potassium

Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels regulate neurotransmitter release from mouse motor nerve terminals

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are critical to regulation of neurotransmitter release throughout the nervous system but the roles and identity of the subtypes involved remain unclear. Here we show that Kv3 channels regulate transmitter release at the mouse neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry revealed Kv3.3 and Kv3.4 subunits within all motor nerve terminals of muscles examined [transversus abdominus, lumbrical and flexor digitorum brevis (FDB)]. To determine the roles of these Kv3 subunits, intracellular recordings were made of end-plate potentials (EPPs) in FDB muscle fibres evoked by electrical stimulation of tibial nerve. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) applied at low concentrations (0.05-0.5 mM), which blocks only a few known potassium channels including Kv3 channels, did not affect muscle fibre resting potential but significantly increased the amplitude of all EPPs tested. Significantly, this effect of TEA was still observed in the presence of the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel blockers iberiotoxin (25-150 nM) and Penitrem A (100 nM), suggesting a selective action on Kv3 subunits. Consistent with this, 15-microM 4-aminopyridine, which blocks Kv3 but not large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, enhanced evoked EPP amplitude. Unexpectedly, blood-depressing substance-I, a toxin selective for Kv3.4 subunits, had no effect at 0.05-1 microM. The combined presynaptic localization of Kv3 subunits and pharmacological enhancement of EPP amplitude indicate that Kv3 channels regulate neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals at the NMJ.

Single Ca2+ entry and transmitter release systems at the neuromuscular synapse

The possibility that there exists more than one voltage-gated Ca2+ channel system subserving quantal release of neurotransmitter at nerve endings was examined by measuring the sensitivity of quantal release to agents that block Ca2+ or Ba2+ entry, namely Cd2+, Mg2+, neomycin, and bekanamycin. The results show equal effectiveness vs. release evoked by presynaptic action potentials, brief intense presynaptic depolarizations, or prolonged relatively mild depolarizations, from which it is concluded that the same channel system is involved in each case. In the presence of Ba2+ and no Ca2+, there occur essentially normal (but small) endplate potentials (epps), while in the presence of Ba2+ and Ca2+ epp amplitude and frequency of miniature epps co-modulate with stimulation frequency in a manner which corresponds to a residual Ba2+ model for augmentation. It is therefore also concluded that a single transmitter release system is responsible for normal phasic release and the asynchronous release that is mediated by Ba2+.

Multiple potassium conductances at the mammalian motor nerve terminal

The possibility that multiple K+ conductances are present in mammalian motor nerve terminals was investigated by measuring the differential effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on transmitter release and on nerve terminal excitability in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphram preparations. Neither 4-AP nor TEA alter the spontaneous frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (fmepp) and therefore evidently do not affect calcium channels directly. Both 4-AP and TEA increased the quantal content of end-plate potentials (epps) evoked by nerve stimulation but the effects were not mutually exclusive; TEA continued to act in the presence of a maximally effective concentration of 4-AP. The increase in transmitter release evoked by focal polarisation of the terminal was not affected by 4-AP, whereas TEA exerted an effect consistent with a reduction in membrane conductance. Similarly, threshold for nerve terminal action potential generation was not affected by 4-AP, but TEA caused a reduction in threshold and alteration of the 'accommodation curve' indicative of a reduction of membrane conductance. Under conditions where one would predict no contribution of calcium K+ conductance, i.e., when release was evoked by Ba2+ in the absence of Ca2+, the different and non-competing effects of TEA and 4-AP were still apparent. It is concluded, therefore, that the motor nerve terminal possesses at least two K+ conductances, not including calcium activated gK, which may be distinguished pharmacologically.

The action of thallium acetate on phasic transmitter release in the mouse neuromuscular junction

Endplate potentials (EPP's) and miniature endplate potentials (MEPP's) were recorded from neuromuscular junctions of the mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, blocked by high Mg++ (12 X 10(-3) mol/l)-Ringer. Superfusion of the preparations with Mg++-Ringer solutions containing thallium acetate (5 X 10(-4) mol/l Tlac) decreased phasic transmitter release as judged by EPP amplitudes as well as average quantal content, until total synaptic blockade (within about 300 min) occurred. Simultaneously MEPP amplitudes remained unchanged, whereas the frequency of MEPP's increased. When EPP amplitudes and/or quantal content were reduced by 50% (usually within about 180 min), superfusion with Mg++-Ringer solution without Tlac did not restore phasic transmitter release. However, the increase in spontaneous transmitter release was reversible, as MEPP frequencies returned to normal values. 4-Aminopyridine (5 X 10(-4) mol/l 4-AP) as added to the bath solution in the state of 50%-reduced phasic release temporarily restored EPP amplitudes and average quantal content, whereas MEPP amplitudes remained unchanged. It is concluded that thallium irreversibly blocks phasic transmitter release, whereas spontaneous transmitter release is reversibly enhanced.

Facilitation of transmission at the crayfish neuromuscular synapse by a convulsant phenol

The effects of the convulsant drug 4-Cl phenol on synaptic transmission were studied in the opener muscle of the crayfish walking leg. 4-Cl phenol was found to increase the amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic potential without affecting the resting potential or input resistance of the muscle fiber. The drug did not change the frequency of spontaneous miniature postsynaptic potentials in K+-depolarized fibers. The postsynaptic voltage response to bath-applied glutamate (the excitatory transmitter compound) was decreased while the Cl(-) -conductance increase related to the action of bath-applied gamma-aminobutyric acid (the inhibitory transmitter) was not affected. In the light of previous results obtained on crayfish axons it is concluded that convulsant phenols induce an increase in the evoked release of transmitter by increasing the duration of the presynaptic depolarization through a block of voltage-dependent potassium channels.

Effect of 4-aminopyridine on transmitter release in synaptosomes

The effect of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on the release of labeled transmitters in mouse brain synaptosomes was studied in a superfusion system. 4-AP at microM concentrations notably stimulated the spontaneous release of labeled GABA and glutamate, and of acetylcholine (ACh) derived from tritiated choline. No effects on the release of labeled alpha-aminoisobutyric acid were observed. The stimulation of GABA and ACh release was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the superfusion media, whereas the effect on glutamate release was more variable and no clear Ca2+-dependence was observed. In contrast to these results, 4-AP did not have any effect on the release of the above transmitters stimulated by K+-depolarization in the presence of Ca2+. These results are discussed in terms of the possible participation of Ca2+ in the action of 4-AP on spontaneous transmitter release in isolated nerve endings.

Effects of 4-aminopyridine on synaptic transmission in the cat spinal cord

An analysis was made of effects of 0.1-1.0 mg/kg 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) i.v. on excitatory and inhibitory spinal reflex pathways in lightly anaesthetized or decerebrated cats. The effects appeared within the first minutes of the injection, reached maximum after about 10-15 min and remained stable during at least several hours. 4-AP enhanced the following synaptic actions on motoneurones: monosynaptic excitation from Ia afferents and descending tracts, disynaptic and polysynaptic excitation from group Ib, group II, cutaneous and high threshold muscle afferents, disynaptic inhibition from Ia and Ib afferents and recurrent and polysynaptic inhibition from different afferents. 4-AP also increased primary afferent depolarization and excitation of ascending tract cells by peripheral stimuli. In the case of the disynaptic inhibitory pathways it has been shown that 4-AP may enhance the excitation of the interposed interneurones but it also increases the action of these interneurones on the motoneurones; monosynaptic inhibition evoked in motoneurones by electrical stimulation of the axons of the inhibitory interneurones was used as a test response in these experiments. No indications were found of direct effects of 4-AP on excitability of afferent fibres or motoneurones to electrical stimuli. No systematic changes were either found in the membrane potential of motoneurones or in the duration of action potentials of these neurones or primary afferents. It is therefore concluded that small doses of 4-AP enhance synaptic transmission in the spinal cord by an action at a presynaptic level.