Na+ influx through Ca2+ channels can promote striatal GABA efflux in Ca(2+)-deficient conditions in response to electrical field depolarization

Electrical field depolarization releases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat striatal slices in the absence of external Ca2+. omega-Conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx; 1-50 nM), a neuronal Ca2+ channel blocker, inhibits electrically evoked efflux of newly taken up [3H]GABA in a concentration-dependent manner in either normal or Ca(2+)-free medium. This suggests that ion influx occurs through Ca2+ channels in the absence of external Ca2+ and contributes to the efflux of GABA. Reducing external Na+ concentration to 27.25 mM (low [Na+]o medium) by equimolarly substituting choline chloride for sodium chloride has differential effects on electrically evoked GABA efflux depending on the external Ca2+ concentrations. In normal Ca2+ medium, electrically evoked GABA efflux increases whereas, in Ca(2+)-free medium, it is greatly inhibited when [Na+]o is reduced to 27.25 mM. In low [Na+]o medium, GABA efflux is largely tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive, however, spike firing evoked by antidromic stimulation of striatal cells is inhibited. In Na(+)-free medium, resting GABA efflux increases 17-fold whereas evoked GABA efflux diminishes. In Ca(2+)-free medium, 70 min of incubation with 1-2-bis-(1-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N' tetraacetoxy methyl ester (BATPA-AM, 1 microM), an intracellular calcium chelator, increases both resting GABA efflux and electrically evoked GABA overflow by approximately 100%. These results suggest that: (1) in Ca(2+)-free conditions, Na+ permeability of cells increases via Ca2+ channels and this profoundly affects GABA efflux. (2) Electrical field depolarization is likely to release GABA by directly depolarizing axon terminals. (3) Ca(2+)-independent GABA efflux is not promoted by an increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration via Na+/Ca2+ exchange processes from internal pools.

Calcium-independent GABA release from striatal slices: the role of calcium channels

We have investigated the role of Ca2+ and Ca2+ channels in the modulation of GABA release. Brain slices prepared from rat striatum were preincubated with [3H]GABA, superfused with Krebs bicarbonate buffer, and exposed to electrical field stimulation (2 Hz for 3 min). Tritium efflux was measured as an index of GABA release. Both resting and evoked efflux were greatly accelerated by deleting Ca2+ from the medium and adding EGTA (1 mM). However, when the concentration of Mg2+ in the buffer was elevated to 10 mM, no effect of the Ca2(+)-deficiency was observed on resting release and its impact on evoked overflow was diminished. Moreover, addition of verapamil (10 microM), a Ca2+ channel blocking agent, reduced evoked overflow even in the absence of external Ca2+, while 4-aminopyridine (10 microM), a K+ channel inhibitor, enhanced GABA efflux in normal buffer but had no effect in the absence of Ca2+. Finally, we have shown previously that nipecotic acid, an inhibitor of high affinity GABA transport, increases GABA overflow in normal buffer, but blocks it in Ca2(+)-free buffer. Collectively, these results suggest that Ca2+ channels may play two roles in the regulation of depolarization-induced GABA release. Firstly, these channels permit a depolarization-induced influx of Ca2+ which then promotes GABA release. In addition, these channels influence GABA release through a mechanism that does not involve external Ca2+. Although the precise nature of this latter involvement is unclear, we propose that the Ca2+ channels serve to permit an influx of Na+, which in turn promotes Ca2(+)-independent release through an influence on the high affinity GABA transport system.

Dopamine may influence striatal GABA release via three separate mechanisms

We have examined the influence of dopamine (DA) on the spontaneous and electrically evoked release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from striatal slices prepared from rat brain. We observe that DA has at least 3 separate effects on GABA release. These effects include both excitatory and inhibitory influences, and involve DA receptors of the D1- and D2-subtypes as well as a mechanism that is not mediated by either of these receptors.

Characterization of [3H]GABA release from striatal slices: evidence for a calcium-independent process via the GABA uptake system

GABA can be released by depolarization even in the absence of external Ca2+. To investigate the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon, GABA release was studied using slices prepared from rat striatum. Slices were preincubated with [3H]GABA in the presence of beta-alanine and superfused with Krebs buffer. Total tritium efflux was measured as an index of GABA release. Electrical stimulation at 2 Hz for 3 min elevated resting tritium efflux approximately two-fold. Decreasing external Ca2+ to 0.1 mM increased basal tritium efflux and reduced electrically evoked overflow, while omitting Ca2+ entirely (and adding 1 mM EGTA) increased both basal efflux and evoked overflow. Tetrodotoxin (5 microM) abolished the evoked release of tritium but did not affect the resting outflow in either normal or Ca2+-deficient conditions. In the presence of normal Ca2+, nipecotic acid (0.1-1 mM), an inhibitor of GABA transport into neurons as well as glia, enhanced both spontaneous efflux and evoked overflow of tritium. Nipecotic acid also increased spontaneous release when external Ca2+ was reduced or removed; however, under these conditions electrically evoked overflow was reduced. These results suggest that the electrically evoked release of [3H]GABA from striatal slices is of neuronal origin, but can occur in part in the absence of external Ca2+. They further suggest that this Ca2+-independent release, which may co-exist with the Ca2+-dependent release, takes place via the same carrier system utilized for high-affinity GABA uptake.

Intraspecies genotypic heterogeneity among Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains

The DNA cleavage patterns and protein profiles of six Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains from various parts of the world were compared. Obvious differences among the strains were obtained by DNA restriction analysis. Reflection of genotypic variations in the polypeptide patterns was less pronounced; slight differences in the protein profiles of the strains were found. The data presented here indicate that some intraspecies polymorphism exists among M. gallisepticum strains.

Inhibitory effect of ionized free intracellular calcium enhanced by ruthenium red and m-chloro-carbonylcyanide phenyl hydrazon on the evoked release of acetylcholine

In order to understand the relationship between the free ionized calcium concentration in the axon terminals and the transmitter release we have investigated the effect of ruthenium red (RuR) and m-chloro-carbonylcyanide phenyl hydrazon (CCCP), mitochondrial uncoupler agents on the liberation of acetylcholine from myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum. Both compounds are able to enhance intracellular free Ca2+. In the presence of RuR and CCCP the spontaneous release of radioactivity from isolated myenteric-plexus preparation, previously loaded with (methyl-3H)-choline chloride was significantly enhanced while that evoked by electrical stimulation was decreased. Atropine did not affect the electrically evoked release in the presence of CCCP, indicating that in the effect of CCCP the presynaptic muscarinic receptors mediated negative feedback modulation does not play any role. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the enhanced level of intracellular free Ca2+ enhances the spontaneous while depresses the electrically evoked release of transmitter.

Noradrenaline releasing effect of an ouabain-like compound on pulmonary artery

The effect of ouabain and an endogenous ouabain-like compound (OLC) was studied on (3H)noradrenaline [3H)NA) release from rabbit pulmonary artery. Similarly to ouabain, OLC enhanced the release of (3H)NA in response to electrical stimulation. These findings are the first evidence that OLC is able to act presynaptically and enhance the amount of (3H)NA release per impulse. It is suggested that this mechanism might be involved in the physiological regulation of blood pressure or in the genesis of hypertension.

Effect of lanthanum on the release of acetylcholine from the myenteric plexus and on its activation by ouabain and electrical stimulation

The effect of lanthanum ions (La3+) on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from longitudinal muscle strips of the guinea pig ileum with the myenteric plexus attached was investigated. After an exposure of the tissue to 2 mM LaCl3 for 18 min the rate of ACh release was increased approximately eightfold and the increased release lasted for more than 100 min. The augmented release of ACh was accompanied by enhanced synthesis. At the end of the experiments (102 min after LaCl3 had been removed), when the release of ACh was still more than six times higher than in controls, the content of ACh was the same in La3+-treated and untreated tissues. Electrical field stimulation failed to cause a further increase in the release of ACh from La3+-pretreated preparations whereas ouabain released considerable more ACh when compared to controls. It is concluded from this difference that electrical stimulation and ouabain release ACh from different pools.

Inhibition by p-nitrophenylphosphate of acetylcholine release induced by Na+-deprivation

The effect of p-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP) on the release of acetylcholine evoked by drugs and ionic environments known to inhibit Na+, K+-ATPase was studied in isolated cortical slices of rat brain and longitudinal muscle strip of guinea-pig ileum. p-NPP inhibited the release of acetylcholine induced by sodium deprivation provided that the circumstances were in favour of the function of the K+-activated part of ATPase. However, it failed to antagonize the increase in the acetylcholine release elicited by omission of K+ or by administration of ouabain. Therefore it is concluded that the K+-stimulated phosphatase moiety of the Na+, K+-ATPase might be involved in the release of acetylcholine.

CH-38083, a selective, potent antagonist of alpha-2 adrenoceptors

The selectivity and specificity of CH-38083 [7,8-(methylenedioxi)-14-alpha-hydroxyalloberbane HCl], a berbane derivative for alpha adrenoceptors has been studied and compared with yohimbine and idazoxan in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system. In isolated tissue experiments CH-38083 was a competitive antagonist at presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors on the axon terminals of the rat vas deferens (pA2 against xylazine = 8.17 +/- 0.06) and of the longitudinal muscle strip of guinea pig ileum (pA2 against xylazine = 8.07 +/- 0.20). As far as its postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonistic activity is concerned its affinity in rat vas deferens (pA2 = 4.95 +/- 0.11) against l-phenylephrine and in rabbit pulmonary artery (pA2 = 5.38 +/- 0.33 against l-norepinephrine) was markedly less than that displayed for presynaptic sites. From pA2 values obtained in rat vas deferens the calculated alpha-1/alpha-2 adrenoceptor selectivity ratios for yohimbine, idazoxan and CH-38083 were 4.7, 117.5 and 1659, respectively. CH-38083 failed to show any affinity for histamine and muscarinic receptors and it even potentiated the effect of serotonin on atropinized longitudinal muscle strip of guinea pig ileum. It enhanced the release of [3H]norepinephrine from electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens loaded previously with labeled [3H]norepinephrine. In binding studies carried out in rat brain membrane preparations using [3H]prazosin and [3H]idazoxan, the selectivity ratios (Ki alpha-1/Ki alpha-2) proved to be 32.5, 289.5 and 1368 for yohimbine, idazoxan and CH-38083, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)