The coupling of neurotransmitter receptors to ion channels in the brain

Serotonin-induced bistability of turtle motoneurones caused by a nifedipine-sensitive calcium plateau potential

1. The effect of serotonin on the firing properties of motoneurones was studied in transverse sections of the adult turtle spinal cord in vitro with intracellular recording techniques. 2. In normal medium, turtle motoneurones adapt from an initial high frequency to a low steady firing during a depolarizing current pulse. In the presence of serotonin (4-100 microM) motoneurones responded with accelerated firing and a frequency jump during a depolarizing current pulse followed by an after-depolarization outlasting the stimulus. From a depolarized holding potential motoneuronal activity was shifted between two stable states by brief depolarizing and hyperpolarizing current pulses. As an expression of this bistable firing behaviour, the frequency-current relation in response to a triangular current injection was counter-clockwise in serotonin while clockwise in normal medium. 3. The delay to onset of the frequency jump was shortened as the amplitude of the activation pulse was increased. From a positive holding potential the after-depolarization exceeded spike threshold and its duration increased with an increase in steady bias current. The effect of serotonin on turtle motoneurones could be blocked by methysergide (10 microM). 4. When action potentials were depressed by tetrodotoxin, a voltage-dependent, non-inactivating plateau potential, intrinsic to the motoneurone, was revealed. Activation of this voltage plateau provides the motoneurones with two stable states of firing. The apparent input resistance was 2-4-fold lower during the plateau than at rest. 5. The serotonin-induced plateau potential was Ca2+-dependent and was blocked when Ca2+ was replaced by either Co2+ (3 mM) or Mn2+ (3 mM). 6. The Ca2+ plateau was blocked by nifedipine (1-15 microM). 7. Serotonin reduced the slow after-hyperpolarization following action potentials. The change in balance between inward and outward currents seems to be sufficient to reveal the plateau response. 8. Although a small plateau response was induced by Bay K 8644 (1-15 microM), this L-channel agonist could not reproduce the pronounced effect of serotonin. 9. It is concluded that serotonin induces a Ca2+-dependent and nifedipine-sensitive plateau potential in turtle motoneurones primarily by reducing a K+-current responsible for the slow after-hyperpolarization.

Modulation of an electrical synapse between solitary pairs of catfish horizontal cells by dopamine and second messengers

1. Retinas from channel catfish were dissociated and the cells maintained in culture. Horizontal cells that normally receive input from cone photoreceptors were identified. The conductance of the electrical junction formed between a pair of 'cone' horizontal cells was measured by controlling the membrane voltage of each cell with a voltage clamp maintained through either a micropipette or a patch pipette. The two techniques yielded similar results. 2. Transjunctional current was measured while transjunctional voltage was stepped to values between +/- 60 mV. The current (measured 5 ms after a step) was proportional to voltage over the range tested. For steps to voltages greater than +/- 45 mV, the current exhibited a slight time-dependent decline. 3. Dopamine decreased junctional conductance in a dose-dependent fashion. A 50% reduction was obtained with 10 nM-dopamine. The D1 agonist fenoldopam (100 nM) also decreased junctional conductance. The uncoupling produced by either agent was rapid and reversible. 4. The introduction of 100 microM-cyclic AMP into one cell of a pair decreased junctional conductance by, on average, 40%. Forskolin (1-10 microM), an activator of adenylate cyclase, decreased junctional conductance 50-90%. 5. The introduction of 80 microM-cyclic GMP into one cell of a pair decreased junctional conductance by, on average, 40%. Nitroprusside (1-10 microM), an activator of guanylate cyclase, reduced junctional conductance 40-65%. 6. The introduction of a peptide inhibitor specific for the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase reversed a decrease in junctional conductance produced by superfusion with either dopamine (1 microM), fenoldopam (100 nM) or forskolin (5-10 microM). 7. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration was measured with the fluorescent indicator Fura-2. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration was increased by activation of a Ca2+ current. Junctional conductance remained constant as the internal Ca2+ concentration changed from 100 to 700 nM. 8. Intracellular pH was measured with the fluorescent indicator bis-carboxyethylcarboxyfluorescein. The application of acetate (2.5 mM) reduced intracellular pH by 0.2-0.3 units and decreased junctional conductance by approximately 50%. A subsequent application of fenoldopam did not alter intracellular pH, but decreased junctional conductance by more than 50%. 9. The sensitivity of the junctional conductance between isolated horizontal cells to dopamine is consistent with dopamine having a direct effect on coupling in intact retina. Dopamine regulates the activity of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase which in turn modulates junctional conductance. Changes in intracellular pH and Ca2+ concentration are not involved in mediating the effect of dopamine on coupling. Cyclic GMP and intracellular pH may participate in regulatory pathways independent of that used by cyclic AMP.

Ectopic expression of the serotonin 1c receptor and the triggering of malignant transformation

Neurotransmitter receptors are usually restricted to neuronal cells, but the signaling pathways activated by these receptors are widely distributed in both neural and non-neural cells. The functional consequences of activating a brain-specific neurotransmitter receptor, the serotonin 5HT1c receptor, in the unnatural environment of a fibroblast were examined. Introduction of functional 5HT1c receptors into NIH 3T3 cells results, at high frequency, in the generation of transformed foci. Moreover, the generation and maintenance of transformed foci requires continued activation of the serotonin receptor. In addition, the injection of cells derived from transformed foci into nude mice results in the generation of tumors. The serotonin 5HT1c receptor therefore functions as a protooncogene when expressed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

Cellular mechanisms underlying modulation of breathing pattern in mammals

Understanding the generation and modulation of respiratory pattern requires knowledge of the cellular and network properties of the central nervous system controller. Although considerable efforts have focused on network properties, recent efforts in several laboratories have emphasized the importance of cellular mechanisms. Using a novel experimental in vitro system, we have been able to investigate several classes of cellular mechanisms difficult or impossible to study in vivo or in tissue slices. The conclusions and hypotheses that we have made include the following: 1. Respiratory rhythm and spatiotemporal patterns of (pre)motoneuronal activity are separately generated. 2. Cl- -dependent inhibition is critical in burst pattern formation. 3. Cl- -dependent and at least one type of K+-dependent (GABAB) inhibition is not necessary for rhythm generation. 4. Inhibitory neurotransmitters, including those acting through second messenger systems, can modulate respiratory rhythm and pattern. 5. Pacemakers underlie rhythm generation. 6. Excitatory inspiratory drive to respiratory motoneurons is mediated by an excitatory amino acid, which acts on both post- and presynaptic receptors. The effort to verify these conclusions and test these hypotheses should greatly enhance our understanding of the nervous control of respiration.

GABAB receptor mediated effects on central respiratory system and their antagonism by phaclofen

The role of GABAB receptors in control of central respiratory system was evaluated by cycle-triggered averaging of phrenic nerve activity (PNA) of the rabbit. Blockade of GABAB receptors of the caudal brainstem by intracerebroventricular administration of phaclofen augmented PNA, decreased the duration of inspiration and to about the same extent increased the duration of expiration thus unmasking intrinsically active GABA. Analogously, stimulation of brainstem GABAB receptors by exogenous baclofen decreased PNA. Preceding administration of larger doses of phaclofen could block the effects of baclofen. It is proposed that GABAB receptors are involved in tonic and phasic modulation of central respiratory activity.

The search for the endogenous digitalis: an alternative hypothesis

The universal presence of a binding site for cardiac glycosides on Na+-K+-ATPase has engendered speculation as to whether it also serves as a receptor for an endogenous digitalis-like hormone or autacoid. If such a hormone were to exist, it could play a role in sodium homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of primary hypertension and uremia. However, we believe that this hypothesis rests on unproven assumptions. Although typical of many toxins and drugs, binding to a single protein that acts as both its receptor and effector mechanism at the cell membrane, thereby directly affecting transmembrane ion flux, would be unusual for a hormone or autacoid. As an alternative hypothesis for the evolutionary conservation of the cardiac glycoside binding site, we suggest that its endogenous ligand may exist within the cell. After cotranslational insertion of the alpha- and beta-subunits into the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Na+-K+-ATPase, like most integral membrane proteins, 1) must be targeted through a complex network of intracellular organelles to the correct plasmalemmal domain, 2) must be monitored for appropriate protein conformation and subunit assembly, and perhaps 3) could have its catalytic function regulated before insertion in the cell membrane. Because the lumina of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and other organelles and vesicles are topologically equivalent to the outside of the cell, all three functions could be subserved by an intraorganellar ligand for the cardiac glycoside binding site.

A superfusion system designed to measure release of radiolabeled neurotransmitters on a subsecond time scale

A new method for subsecond measurement of release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminal preparations (e.g., synaptosomes) in vitro is described. Synaptosomes were prelabeled with [3H]GABA via a Na-dependent GABA uptake system. The prelabeled nerve terminals are retained on small glass fiber filters in a superfusion chamber accessed by three high speed, solenoid-driven valves. Microcomputer-programmed circuitry controls the timing of valve operation. Each valve controls the delivery of a separate solution to the chamber, permitting rapid and independent control of membrane potential, [Ca2+]e, and drug delivery. The minimal dead volume of the chamber and the relatively high solution flow rate afford time resolution for release of at least 60 ms. This time resolution was necessary to observe the most rapid of at least three components of GABA release.

Regulation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in insulinoma cells: activation by somatostatin and protein kinase C and the role of cAMP

The actions of somatostatin and of the phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were studied in rat insulinoma (RINm5F) cells by electrophysiological and 86Rb+ flux techniques. Both PMA and somatostatin hyperpolarize insulinoma cells by activating ATP-sensitive K+ channels. The presence of intracellular GTP is required for the somatostatin effects. PMA- and somatostatin-induced hyperpolarization and channel activity are inhibited by the sulfonylurea glibenclamide. Glibenclamide-sensitive 86Rb+ efflux from insulinoma cells is stimulated by somatostatin in a dose-dependent manner (half maximal effect at 0.7 nM) and abolished by pertussis toxin pretreatment. Mutual roles of a GTP-binding protein, of protein kinase C, and of cAMP in the regulation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels are discussed.

Carbachol depresses synaptic responses in the medial but not the lateral perforant path

The effects of applications of carbachol on evoked synaptic responses recorded in the dentate gyrus of guinea pig hippocampal slices were examined. Carbachol depressed potentials recorded extracellularly in the medial perforant path terminal zone, but did not significantly alter field potentials recorded in the lateral perforant path terminal zone. Carbachol-induced depression was reversed by applications of the muscarinic antagonists, atropine or pirenzepine. It was suggested that the difference observed in carbachol-induced depression of medial versus lateral perforant path field potentials may be due to regional differences in acetylcholine receptor distribution in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.

Cholinergic responses in human neocortical neurones

Neurones in deeper layers of slices of temporal or frontal human neocortex maintained in vitro were impaled with microelectrodes and responses to cholinergic agonists were studied under current and voltage clamp conditions. A range of membrane currents were identifiable: inactivating and persistent Na(+)-conductances, inactivating and persistent Ca2(+)-conductances, two types of inward currents activated by hyperpolarization (IQ and If.i.r.) and voltage and Ca2(+)-activated K(+)-conductances, which were distinguished on the grounds of their characteristic voltage or pharmacological specificity. The cholinergic agonists muscarine or carbachol were applied in the medium superfusing the slices. Two major effects were observed: consistently, the time and voltage-dependent noninactivating K(+)-conductance IM was suppressed and, when Ca2(+)-influx was permitted (in the absence of Ca2(+)-channel blockers), a Ca2(+)-activated K(+)-conductance was transiently or persistently potentiated. Consistent with a suppression of IM, muscarine excited human neocortical neurones only when applied during a period of membrane depolarization to a potential at which IM would be expected to exert a braking effect on excitability. Applied at a potential negative to the M-current activation range, muscarine had no excitatory or even an inhibitory effect on the cell. Collectively, these results demonstrate that in the human, IM can be a target for cholinergic regulation and, in addition, complex effects of ACh on other conductances could modulate cell firing patterns.

A dopaminergic inhibitory postsynaptic potential mediated by an increased potassium conductance

Intracellular recordings from intact pituitary melanotrophs show that, in the same cell, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials resulting from either pituitary stalk stimulation or exogenous dopamine are abolished by D2 receptor antagonists, display identical conductance changes, are reversed in polarity at the same membrane potential and are sensitive to pertussis toxin pretreatment. The reversal potential of the inhibitory postsynaptic potential shows a 65 mV shift with a 10-fold change in external potassium concentration, which is close to that predicted by the Nernst equation. We conclude that activation of this synapse releases dopamine which acts on a D2 receptor to increase potassium conductance via a G-protein-mediated mechanism. This is the first characterization of an inhibitory dopaminergic synapse in the mammalian nervous system.

Mediation of acetylcholine's excitatory actions in central neurons

In experiments on the hippocampus in situ (in rats under urethane), neither cyclic GMP nor H-8 (an antagonist of cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases) had much effect on CA1/CA3 population spikes or on the excitatory action of ACh. This is further evidence against the idea that cyclic nucleotides play a major role as cholinergic second messengers. On the other hand, the results of tests with a PKC antagonist sphinganine are in keeping with some involvement of PKC in cholinergic actions. (Another PKC antagonist, H-7, proved to be a very powerful excitant, probably via disinhibition). Preliminary experiments on CA1 neurons in hippocampal slices (by single electrode voltage clamp), confirmed previous reports that carbachol depresses A- and C-type K currents, as well as inward Ca2+ currents; though the latter effect was sometimes mainly due to frequency-dependent inactivation of Ca currents. It is suggested that a single, primary muscarinic action, the acceleration of phosphinositide turnover, may account for a variety of secondary effects: on the one hand, via activation of PKC, a number of possible PKC-mediated actions, such as block of the slow AHP; on the other, via IP3 formation, a block of IM and a rise in cycloplasmic free Ca2+ that may cause inactivation of both Ca2(+)-inward currents, and Ca2(+)-dependent GKs.

The cholinergic nucleus basalis: a key structure in neocortical arousal

Single unit studies indicate that increased activity in the cholinergic nucleus basalis (NB) correlates with behavioral activation and neocortical desynchronization. Lesions of the NB result in neocortical slow delta waves, similar to the action of antimuscarinic drugs, and the lesion releases the oscillation of GABAergic neurons in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, resulting in high voltage neocortical spindles. Extensive damage of the thalamus does not produce slowing of neocortical activity but it abolishes neocortical spindles. We suggest that the NB plays a key role in neocortical activation by a) blocking the afterhyperpolarizations and accommodation in neocortical pyramidal neurons and b) suppressing the rhythm generation in the reticular nucleus-thalamocortical circuitry. We further suggest that the NB system may serve as a structural basis for the concept of the generalized activation described by Moruzzi and Magoun (1949).

Pharmacological characterization of muscarinic responses in rat hippocampal pyramidal cells

Intracellular recording from hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells was used to characterize the pharmacological properties of muscarinic responses. Results obtained with the M1 antagonist pirenzepine and the M2 antagonist gallamine suggest that an M1 muscarinic receptor is involved in the muscarinic-induced membrane depolarization and blockade of the afterhyperpolarization (AHP). On the other hand, an M2 receptor may be involved in the cholinergic depression of the EPSP and the blockade of the potassium current termed the M-current. Pretreatment of hippocampi with pertussis toxin did not prevent any of the muscarinic responses suggesting that a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein is not involved. The M-current, in contrast to the other muscarinic actions, was unaffected by muscarinic agonists which are weak at increasing phosphoinositide (PI) turnover and actually blocked the action of full agonists. This finding suggests that stimulation of PI turnover may be involved in the blockade of the M-current. Although activation of protein kinase C with phorbol esters has little effect on the M-current, intracellular application of inositol trisphosphate did reduce the M-current. We were unable to establish any clear relationship between biochemical effector systems and the muscarinic receptor subtypes.

On the properties and origin of the GABAB inhibitory postsynaptic potential recorded in morphologically identified projection cells of the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

Intracellular recordings were performed from projection cells of the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in vitro to investigate the properties and origin of optic tract evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials mediated by GABAB receptors and their relationship to the physiologically different cell classes present in this nucleus. In all three main laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, stimulation of the optic tract evoked an excitatory postsynaptic potential followed by two inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. The first is a GABAA receptor mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potential since it was blocked by bicuculline, reversed in polarity following intracellular Cl- injection and had a reversal potential similar to the bicuculline sensitive hyperpolarizing effect of GABA. The second is a GABAB receptor mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potential. Its amplitude was not linearly related to membrane potential (maximal amplitude at -60 mV), it decreased when using frequencies of stimulation higher than 0.05 Hz and it was reversibly increased by addition of bicuculline to the perfusion medium. The reversal potential of GABAB inhibitory postsynaptic potentials was dependent on the extracellular K+ concentration but did not change in the presence of bicuculline or when recording with Cl- filled microelectrodes. While GABAA inhibitory postsynaptic potentials always abolished repetitive firing of projection cells, GABAB inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were able to block weak firing but unable to decrease strong activation of projection cells evoked by direct current injection. Optic tract evoked GABAB (as well as GABAA) inhibitory postsynaptic potentials could be recorded in slices which did not include the perigeniculate nucleus, thus indicating that they are generated by the interneurons of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Using intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase, we have found that the GABAB inhibitory postsynaptic potentials are present in projection cells showing many different types of neuronal morphologies. In conclusion, GABA released from interneurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus is capable of evoking an early, short-lasting GABAA and a late, long-lasting GABAB inhibitory postsynaptic potential in projection cells with diverse morphology, indicating that the late inhibition in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus can no longer be associated exclusively with the recurrent inhibitory pathway through the perigeniculate nucleus.

Newly identified brain potassium channels gated by the guanine nucleotide binding protein Go

Potassium channels in neurons are linked by guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins to numerous neurotransmitter receptors. The ability of Go, the predominant G protein in the brain, to stimulate potassium channels was tested in cell-free membrane patches of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Four distinct types of potassium channels, which were otherwise quiescent, were activated by both isolated brain G0 and recombinant Go alpha. Hence brain Go can couple diverse brain potassium channels to neurotransmitter receptors.