Calcium transients evoked by electrical stimulation of smooth muscle from guinea-pig ileum recorded by the use of Fura-2

1. Intracellular free calcium levels were recorded in strips of longitudinal smooth muscle from guinea-pig ileum, by the use of the fluorescent calcium indicator Fura-2. 2. The resting intracellular free calcium concentration was estimated to be 210 nM. Many muscle strips showed spontaneous bursts of contractions, accompanied by bursts of calcium transients. Following these the calcium level often fell transiently below the resting level. The spontaneous transients were unaffected by tetrodotoxin (TTX) and atropine. 3. Field electrical stimulation of muscle strips evoked a series of calcium transients comprising: (i) an initial rise in free calcium, reaching a peak within 20-30 ms of stimulation, (ii) a second rise in calcium, beginning after a few hundred milliseconds, and finally (iii) a decline in calcium to below the resting level, persisting for a few seconds. The mean peak increase in free calcium above the resting level during components (i) and (ii) was, respectively, 130 and 200 nM. The mean decrease in free calcium during the third component was to 20 nM below the resting level. 4. The short-latency calcium transient required relatively long stimuli for activation, and was not blocked by TTX and atropine. The long-latency transient was selectively activated by brief stimuli, and was abolished by TTX and atropine. Thus, the short-latency component probably arose because of direct electrical stimulation of muscle fibres, while the long-latency component was due to stimulation of muscarinic nerves. 5. The first detectable increase in tension began about 100 ms after the peak of the initial calcium transient. Contractions associated with the long-latency calcium transient were much larger than those associated with the short-latency transient, even in muscle strips where the calcium levels were similar for both transients. 6. Removal of calcium in the bathing solution caused the resting intracellular calcium level to fall, following an initial rise accompanied by increased spontaneous transients. Electrically evoked contractions and calcium transients were abolished in calcium-free solution, and by the addition of verapamil or diltiazem to normal Krebs solution.

Effect of tunicamycin on the expression of functional brain neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-operated channels in Xenopus oocytes

The role of N-glycosylation on the expression of functional brain neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-operated channels was studied by injecting Xenopus oocytes with mRNA from rat brain or chick optic lobe, and culturing them in the presence or absence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of asparagine linked glycosylation. Electrophysiological recordings were then made to assess the amounts of functional receptors and channels present in the oocyte membrane. The appearance of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and voltage-activated Na+ channels was profoundly reduced. In contrast, the functional expression of kainate receptors, and voltage-activated K+ and Ca2+ channels was much less affected. Thus, it seems that kainate receptors, and K+ and Ca2+ channels can be expressed and function normally without being glycosylated. On the other hand, GABA receptors and Na+ channels may need to be N-glycosylated in order to function properly, or to ensure their correct insertion into the membrane.

Expression of GABA and glycine receptors by messenger RNAs from the developing rat cerebral cortex

The ontogenesis of mRNAs coding for GABA and glycine receptors in the cerebral cortex of the rat was examined by extracting poly(A)+ mRNA from the brains of embryonic, postnatal or adult rats and injecting it into Xenopus oocytes. The ability of a messenger to express functional receptors was then assayed by measuring the membrane currents elicited by the agonists. The size of the GABA-induced current increased progressively with age, being undetectable in oocytes injected with mRNA from embryonic day 15 and reaching a maximum in oocytes injected with mRNA from postnatal day 30. In contrast, the glycine-induced response was negligible in oocytes injected with mRNA from the cerebral hemispheres of embryos 15 days old; it increased sharply to a maximum with newborn animals and then decreased with age to become very small with mRNA from adult cortex. GABA and glycine receptors induced by mRNA from the cerebral cortex of all ages are associated with chloride channels.

Transient potassium current in native Xenopus oocytes

Depolarization of follicle-enclosed oocytes of Xenopus laevis obtained from some donors elicits, in addition to other responses, a fast transient outward current. After holding the membrane potential at -100 mV this response begins to be activated by depolarizations to around -30 mV, and increases progressively as the voltage is raised further. A striking characteristic is that the current recovers only slowly (several seconds) from inactivation following a depolarizing pulse. Because of its outward direction and insensitivity to removal of extracellular chloride or addition of tetrodotoxin, the current probably arises largely through a flux of potassium ions. The current was abolished after treatment of oocytes with collagenase to remove enveloping cells, and although it was blocked by barium and zinc ions, tetraethylammonium was relatively ineffective. In addition, the potassium current was unaffected by 5 mM manganese, suggesting that it does not arise as a consequence of an influx of calcium into the oocyte.

Expression of ACh-activated channels and sodium channels by messenger RNAs from innervated and denervated muscle

Xenopus oocytes were used to express polyadenylated messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding acetylcholine receptors and voltage-activated sodium channels from innervated and denervated skeletal muscles of cat and rat. Oocytes injected with mRNA from denervated muscle acquired high sensitivity to acetylcholine, whereas those injected with mRNA from innervated muscle showed virtually no response. Hence the amount of translationally active mRNA encoding acetylcholine receptors appears to be very low in normally innervated muscle, but increases greatly after denervation. Conversely, voltage-activated sodium currents induced by mRNA from innervated muscle were about three times larger than those from denervated muscle; this result suggests that innervated muscle contains more mRNA coding for sodium channels. The sodium current induced by mRNA from denervated muscle was relatively more resistant to block by tetrodotoxin. Thus a proportion of the sodium channels in denervated muscle may be encoded by mRNAs different from those encoding the normal channels.

Responses to GABA, glycine and beta-alanine induced in Xenopus oocytes by messenger RNA from chick and rat brain

Poly (A)+ messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from rat and chick brains, and injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis. This led to the expression of receptors that evoked membrane currents in response to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine and beta-alanine. These currents all inverted at about the chloride equilibrium potential in the oocyte, and showed a marked rectification at negative potentials. Oocytes injected with mRNA from chick optic lobe gave large responses to GABA and beta-alanine, but small responses to glycine. In contrast, one fraction of mRNA from rat cerebral cortex (obtained by sucrose density gradient centrifugation) caused oocytes to develop sensitivity to GABA, glycine and beta-alanine, but very little to GABA. The pharmacological properties of the three amino acid responses also differed. Barbiturate and benzodiazepines potentiated the responses to GABA and beta-alanine, but not to glycine. Strychnine reduced the responses to glycine and beta-alanine, but not to GABA, whereas bicuculline reduced the responses to GABA and beta-alanine, but not to glycine. We conclude that different species of mRNA code for receptors to GABA and glycine, and possibly also for separate beta-alanine receptors.

A calcium-independent chloride current activated by hyperpolarization in Xenopus oocytes

Hyperpolarization of oocytes of Xenopus laevis usually elicits mainly passive currents. However, when polarized to potentials more negative than about -100 mV, oocytes obtained from some donors show a relatively well maintained current that is carried mainly by chloride ions. This response does not depend upon external calcium, and is thus clearly different from the calcium-dependent transient chloride current previously described.

Tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current in native Xenopus oocytes

Depolarization of oocytes of Xenopus laevis usually elicits mainly passive currents, and a calcium-dependent chloride current. However, oocytes obtained from some donors show, in addition, a transient inward current on depolarization to potentials beyond ca. -40 mV. This current is abolished by tetrodotoxin at submicromolar concentrations, and is prolonged by veratrine; thus, it probably arises through sodium channels of a type similar to those found in nerve and muscle cells. However, the kinetics of the sodium currents varied between oocytes from different donors; this result suggests that genes encoding different sodium channels may be expressed in oocytes from different donors. The presence of these native channels may complicate experiments to study the expression of exogenous sodium channels encoded by foreign messenger RNAs injected into the oocyte.

Injection of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate into Xenopus oocytes generates a chloride current dependent upon intracellular calcium

Injection of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) into voltage-clamped oocytes of Xenopus laevis elicited an oscillatory chloride membrane current. This response did not depend upon extracellular calcium, because it could be produced in calcium-free solution and after addition of cobalt to block calcium channels in the surface membrane. However, it was abolished after intracellular loading with the calcium chelating agent EGTA, indicating a dependence upon intracellular calcium. The mean dose of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 required to elicit a threshold current was 4 x 10(-14) mol. In comparison, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) gave a similar oscillatory current with doses of about one twentieth as big. Hyperpolarization of the oocyte membrane during activation by Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 elicited a transient inward current, as a result of the opening of calcium-dependent chloride channels subsequent to the entry of external calcium. In some oocytes the injection of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was itself sufficient to allow the generation of the transient inward current, whereas in others a prior injection of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was required. We conclude that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 causes the release of intracellular calcium from stores in the oocyte, albeit with less potency than Ins(1,4,5)P3. In addition, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 activates voltage-sensitive calcium channels in the surface membrane, via a process that may require 'priming' by Ins(1,4,5)P3.

Migration from plasticized films into foods. 1. Migration of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate from PVC films during home-use and microwave cooking

Migration of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) into a diverse range of foods arising from the domestic use of plasticized PVC films has been determined using a stable isotope dilution GC/MS procedure. Aspects of home use reported in this study include the wrapping and covering of foods such as cheese, cooked meats, sandwiches, cakes, fresh fruit and vegetables; the use of films during food preparation such as marinading; covering during microwave reheating of previously prepared foods, and covering during microwave cooking. Contact between film and foods was for differing temperatures and times, representative of the range of conditions likely to be experienced in practice in the home. Migration increased with both the length of contact time and temperature of exposure, with the highest levels observed where there was a direct contact between the film and food, and where the latter had a high fat content on the contact surface. Highest levels of migration were observed for cheese, cooked meats, cakes and for microwave-cooked foods, whilst lower levels were observed for wrapping of unfilled sandwiches, fruit and vegetables (except avocado), and for food preparation including microwave reheating where there was covering of the food in a container but little or no direct contact.

Activation of a common effector system by different brain neurotransmitter receptors in Xenopus oocytes

Xenopus oocytes possess 'native' muscarinic receptors, which give rise to oscillatory chloride currents; similar responses are elicited by activation of foreign receptors to serotonin, glutamate and noradrenaline, expressed in oocytes after injection of messenger RNA from rat brain. When low concentrations of two agonists are applied together, the combined response is greater than would be expected from the sum of the responses to each agonist applied alone. Potentiation of acetylcholine by serotonin is blocked by the serotonin antagonist methysergide; conversely, the potentiation of serotonin by acetylcholine is blocked by the muscarinic antagonist atropine. This indicates that each agonist acts on a distinct receptor. The interactions between serotonin, acetylcholine and other agonists provide further evidence that the different receptors may all 'link in' to a common receptor-channel coupling system, in which phosphoinositide metabolism and calcium liberation lead to the opening of chloride channels in the oocyte membrane.

Inositol trisphosphate activates a voltage-dependent calcium influx in Xenopus oocytes

Injection of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) into oocytes of Xenopus laevis induces the appearance of a transient inward (Tin) current on hyperpolarization of the membrane. This current is carried largely by chloride ions, but is shown to depend on extracellular calcium, because it is abolished by removal of calcium in the bathing fluid or by addition of manganese. Recordings with aequorin as an intracellular calcium indicator show that a calcium influx is activated by hyperpolarization after intracellular injection of IP3 as well as after activation of neurotransmitter receptors thought to mediate a rise in IP3. Furthermore, by substituting barium for calcium in the bathing solution, inward barium currents can be recorded during hyperpolarization. We conclude that intracellular IP3 modulates the activity of a class of calcium channels, so as to allow an influx of calcium on hyperpolarization. In normal Ringer solution this then leads to the generation of a chloride current, because of the large numbers of calcium-dependent chloride channels in the oocyte membrane.

Beta-adrenergic agonists and cyclic AMP decrease intracellular resting free-calcium concentration in ileum smooth muscle

Intracellular free-calcium levels were measured in strips of longitudinal smooth muscle from guinea-pig ileum; fura-2 was used as a calcium monitor. At rest the calcium concentration was about 180 nM, and this rose to 300-400 nM following electrical stimulation and during spontaneous calcium transients (all measurements at 23-25 degrees C). Isoprenaline suppressed the spontaneous calcium transients, and reduced the resting calcium level to about 130 nM. This fall in resting calcium concentration was seen even in muscle strips which did not have spontaneous activity. Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, produced by forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, mimicked the actions of isoprenaline. We conclude that the relaxant effects of beta-adrenergic agonists of visceral smooth muscle may be explained partly by a fall in intracellular resting free-calcium level, mediated via an increase in cyclic AMP.

Oscillatory chloride current evoked by temperature jumps during muscarinic and serotonergic activation in Xenopus oocyte

1. Membrane currents were recorded from voltage-clamped oocytes of Xenopus laevis, during temperature jumps imposed by a heating light. Resting oocytes usually showed little response, but large oscillatory membrane currents developed in response to cooling steps applied during activation of 'native' muscarinic receptors. 2. Similar temperature jump (Tjump) currents were seen during activation of oscillatory chloride currents mediated by muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin, glutamate and noradrenaline receptors, expressed in the oocyte following injection with messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) from rat brain. The Tjump response during muscarinic activation was selectively blocked by atropine, and that during serotonergic activation by methysergide. In contrast, the 'smooth' membrane currents elicited by nicotinic ACh, kainate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were not accompanied by Tjump responses. 3. Rapid cooling of the oocyte gave larger Tjump currents than a gradual cooling over a few seconds. The size of the Tjump current elicited by a fixed cooling step increased linearly with the preceding time of warming, becoming maximal at intervals greater than about 100 s. 4. The Tjump current was inward at a clamp potential of -60 mV and reversed direction at about -22 mV, which corresponds to the chloride equilibrium potential in the oocyte. In low-chloride solution the reversal potential was shifted to more positive potentials, but it was almost unchanged by changes in potassium and sodium concentration. The size of the Tjump current decreased as the membrane potential was made more negative than about -40 mV. 5. The period of oscillation of the Tjump current increased with decreasing temperature, following a Q10 of 3.15. Depolarization also caused a small increase in period. 6. The Tjump current was not abolished in calcium-free solution, or by addition of manganese or lanthanum to the bathing solution. However, it was abolished by intracellular injection of the calcium-chelating agent EGTA. 7. Intracellular injection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate evoked an oscillatory membrane current, during which Tjump responses developed similar to those after muscarinic activation. Intracellular injection of calcium evoked a chloride current, but this was not accompanied by Tjump responses. 8. We conclude that the oscillatory currents evoked by temperature jumps arise from chloride channels activated by intracellular calcium. This calcium is probably mobilized from intracellular stores by inositol trisphosphate which is liberated as a result of activation of muscarinic receptors, and also receptors for serotonin and glutamate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of hypertonic solutions on calcium transients in frog twitch muscle fibres

1. The effects of hypertonic solutions on excitation-contraction (e.-c.) coupling in frog skeletal muscle fibres were investigated using Arsenazo III to monitor intracellular calcium transients in voltage-clamped fibres. 2. In solutions made hypertonic with sucrose or sodium chloride, the size of the Arsenazo signal evoked by a 5 ms depolarization to 0 mV was little altered by increases in tonicity up to about twice normal, but declined in higher tonicities, and was almost completely suppressed at 4 times normal tonicity. 3. The latency to onset of the Arsenazo signal was increased in hypertonic solutions (2.3 and 3.1 times normal tonicity), but the decay time constant of the signal was little changed with tonicities up to 2.3 times normal. 4. The rheobase potential for a just-detectable Arsenazo signal was shifted about 4 mV more negative by increases in tonicity up to 2.3 times normal, but further increases reversed the direction of the shift, and in 3.95 times normal tonicity the rheobase was 10 mV more positive than in normal Ringer solution. 5. With short (less than 10 ms) pulse durations the depolarization needed to elicit a threshold Arsenazo signal increased steeply with increasing tonicity. Changes in the strength-duration curve could be accounted for by an increase in the time constant for build-up of a hypothetical coupler in the e.-c. coupling process. 6. Solutions of about twice normal tonicity are commonly used to suppress muscle contraction. Since the size of the Arsenazo signal was only slightly reduced by this tonicity, the main effect is presumably on the contractile proteins.

Cocaine-sensitive O-methylation of noradrenaline in dental pulp of the rabbit: comparison with the rabbit ear artery

Incisor pulp from the rabbit metabolises exogenous noradrenaline in concentrations between 0.12 and 1.2 mumol/l mainly to NMN. Effects of chronic sympathetic denervation indicated that in incisor pulp the NMN is extraneuronal in origin, and that DOPEG and DOMA formation, as well as a major part of the noradrenaline which accumulates in the tissue, are associated with the sympathetic nerves. NMN formation was unaffected by hydrocortisone 210 mumol/l, but was strongly inhibited by cocaine 30 mumol/l. These effects contrasted with those in the rabbit ear artery, where NMN formation was increased by cocaine 30 mumol/l and decreased by hydrocortisone 210 mumol/l. In COMT-inhibited denervated pulp, cocaine inhibited the accumulation of noradrenaline. Monoamine fluorescence histochemistry of pulp exposed to noradrenaline 50 mumol/l indicated that cocaine-sensitive uptake occurred in fibroblasts. It is concluded that O-methylation of noradrenaline in dental pulp involves prior uptake of the amine by a process resembling uptake1 but which is distinguished from uptake1 by its extraneuronal location.

Role of sympathetic nerves in the metabolism of exogenous noradrenaline in rabbit gingival tissue and ear artery

Uptake and metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline 0.18 mumol/l was examined in rabbit gingival slices and ear artery segments. The tissues were incubated with the 3H-amine for 30 min. The artery accumulated approximately ten times more of the 3H-amine and generated four times more 3H-metabolites than the gingiva. In both tissues, chronic sympathetic denervation resulted in marked decreases in 3H-noradrenaline accumulation and deamination. An inhibitor of sympathetic neuronal uptake, cocaine 30 mumol/l, strongly inhibited the firmly-bound component of 3H-noradrenaline accumulation by the tissues and strongly decreased the accumulation of deaminated metabolites in the incubating medium. It is concluded that the sympathetic nerve terminals play an important role in the accumulation and deamination of noradrenaline in the gingiva and in the artery. Chronic sympathetic denervation resulted in increased 3H-normetanephrine (NMN) formation by the gingiva and the artery, indicating that in both tissues the noradrenaline was O-methylated at sites extraneuronal to the sympathetic nerves. Differences between the effects of cocaine in the gingiva and artery, with respect to 3H-NMN accumulation in the incubating medium, are interpreted as evidence that in the gingiva, but not in the artery, cocaine inhibits extraneuronal O-methylation, as well as neuronal uptake, of noradrenaline.

A general approach to the optimization of the conformation of ring molecules with an application to valinomycin

A general and efficient methodology is presented which allows molecules containing one or many rings of any size to be manipulated within energy minimization procedures. Variables describing the conformation of the molecules concerned are limited to dihedral and ring valence angles and the ring closure conditions are treated as equality constraints. An application is made to the ion transporter valinomycin and its complexes with K+ and Na+ which illustrates the possibilities of the approach and leads to results which allow a better understanding of the conformational mechanics of this important ionophore.

Neurotensin and substance P receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes by messenger RNA from rat brain

Xenopus oocytes were induced to acquire sensitivity to neurotensin and substance P, by injecting them with a fraction of poly(A)+ mRNA from rat brain. Non-injected oocytes, and oocytes injected with other brain mRNAs, failed to show responses, suggesting that receptors to these peptides were expressed by specific brain mRNAs. Responses to substance P and neurotensin comprised an oscillatory chloride current, and a smooth current having different ionic basis. These currents resembled those seen during activation of muscarinic and serotonergic receptors, but were not blocked by the corresponding antagonists atropine and methysergide. The responses to substance P, and to a lesser extent to neurotensin, showed a long-lasting desensitization. Similarities between the oscillatory currents evoked by the peptides acetylcholine and serotonin suggest that all these receptors may 'link in' to a common intracellular messenger pathway.

Minimal latency of calcium release in frog twitch muscle fibres

Intracellular release of calcium in frog skeletal muscle fibres was monitored by the use of arsenazo III, in response to voltage clamped depolarizing pulses. A latency of a few milliseconds was evident between the onset of depolarization and the first detectable rise in the arsenazo-calcium signal, and this decreased logarithmically as the depolarization was increased. The minimal latency with strong depolarization (to +20 to +100 mV) was about 2 ms at 5 degrees C. This delay appears to be sufficiently long to be compatible with a chemically mediated coupling mechanism between depolarization and calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Catecholamine contents of rabbit gingiva and dental pulp

The contents of endogenous noradrenaline (NA) in rabbit gingiva and dental pulp were approximately 15-fold greater than either adrenaline (A) or dopamine (DA). Whereas catecholamine contents of maxillary incisor pulps were similar to those in mandibular incisor pulps, variations existed between gingiva excised from different regions. Both reserpine pretreatment and chronic sympathetic denervation greatly decreased the NA contents. These findings support the view that NA is the sympathetic neurotransmitter in dental pulp and gingiva.

Changes in intracellular calcium and in membrane currents evoked by injection of inositol trisphosphate into Xenopus oocytes

Intracellular calcium was monitored by the use of aequorin in voltage-clamped oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Injection of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) into oocytes elicited slowly rising and decaying aequorin/calcium signals and produced oscillatory chloride membrane currents. These responses did not depend upon extracellular calcium, since they could be elicited in calcium-free solution and after addition of cobalt or lanthanum to block calcium channels in the surface membrane. We conclude that IP3 causes the release of calcium from intracellular stores in the oocyte. Injections of calcium gave aequorin and membrane current responses that were more transient than those seen with IP3.

Actions of pentobarbital on rat brain receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Functional receptor channels activated by GABA and other neurotransmitters were "transplanted" from rat brain to Xenopus oocytes by injecting the oocytes with total poly(A)+ mRNA isolated from rat or chick brain. Membrane currents elicited in the oocyte by GABA inverted polarity at about the chloride equilibrium potential (ca. -25 mV). Pentobarbital potentiated the GABA-activated currents, without appreciably changing the reversal potential or form of the current-voltage relationship. At low (less than 10(-5) M) concentrations of GABA, pentobarbital (100 microM) potentiated the responses by a factor of 10 or more, but responses to high (ca. 1 mM) concentrations of GABA were almost unchanged. Half-maximal activation of the response was obtained with about 3 X 10(-5) M GABA when applied alone and with about 4 X 10(-6) M GABA when applied together with 100 microM pentobarbital. At low doses of GABA, the size of the current increased as the 1.4th power of GABA concentration, but this relationship became nearly linear in the presence of pentobarbital. The potentiation of the GABA response increased linearly with concentrations of pentobarbital up to about 300 microM, reaching a maximum of about 50-fold. At higher concentrations of pentobarbital, the response to GABA declined. Relaxations of GABA-activated currents following voltage steps became slower in the presence of pentobarbital, suggesting that the open life-time of the channels was prolonged. In addition to actions on GABA-activated currents, pentobarbital itself elicited a small membrane current that inverted polarity at a potential (-10 mV) more positive than the GABA-activated current.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)