Dissociation of acetylcholine- and cyclic GMP-induced currents in Xenopus oocytes

The Ca(2+)-induced leak current in Xenopus oocytes is indeed mediated through a Cl- channel

Defolliculated oocytes of Xenopus laevis responded to removal of external divalent cations with large depolarizations and, when voltage clamped, with huge currents. Single channel analysis revealed a Cl- channel with a slope conductance of about 90 pS at positive membrane potentials with at least four substates. Single channel amplitudes and mean channel currents had a reversal potential of approximately -15 mV as predicted by the Nernst equation for a channel perfectly selective for Cl-. Readdition of Ca2+ immediately inactivated the channel and restored the former membrane potential or clamp current. The inward currents were mediated by a Ca2+ inactivated Cl- channel (CaIC). The inhibitory potency of Ca2+ was a function of the external Ca2+ concentration with a half maximal blocker concentration of about 20 microM. These channels were inhibited by the Cl- channel blockers flufenamic acid, niflumic acid and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC). In contrast, 4,4'-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonicacid (SITS), another Cl- channel blocker, led to activation of this Cl- channel. Like other Cl- channels, the CaIC was activated by cytosolic cAMP. Extracellular ATP inhibited the channel while ADP was without any effect. Injection of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activating phorbol ester, stimulated the Cl- current. Cytochalasin D, an actin filament disrupting compound, reversibly decreased the clamp current demonstrating an influence of the cytoskeleton. The results indicate that removal of divalent cations activates Cl- channels in Xenopus oocytes which share several features with Cl- channels of the CLC family. The former so-called leak current of oocytes under divalent cation-free conditions is nothing else than an activation of Cl- channels.

Activation by KRN2391 and nicorandil of glibenclamide-sensitive K+ channels in Xenopus oocytes

KRN2391 (N-cyano-N'-(2-nitroxyethyl)-3-pyridine-carboximidamide methanesulfonate) and nicorandil, a new class of K+ channel openers, each with an NO2 moiety, induced outward K+ currents in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes. These K+ currents were suppressed concentration-dependently and reversibly by glibenclamide, phentolamine and trifluoperazine, all known to inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channels. The nicorandil-induced K+ current was virtually abolished by defolliculation of oocytes, while the KRN2391 response was little affected by defolliculation. These results suggest that Xenopus oocyte has at least two types of glibenclamide-sensitive K+ channels, one is selectively sensitive to KRN2391 and is probably localized in the oocyte, and the other is sensitive to nicorandil and distributed in the follicle cells surrounding an oocyte.

Guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate regulates calcium channels in neurones of rabbit vesical pelvic ganglia

1. The effects of dibutyryl guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (db-cyclic GMP) were studied in vitro on calcium channels of neurones in rabbit vesical parasympathetic ganglia, using intracellular and single-electrode voltage-clamp recordings. 2. Db-cyclic GMP (100 microM) caused membrane depolarization associated with a decrease in membrane input resistance and an after-hyperpolarization associated with an increase in membrane input resistance. 3. Db-cyclic GMP (0.01-1 mM) caused a concentration-dependent, transient inward current followed by a long-lasting outward current. Membrane conductance was increased and decreased during the inward and outward currents, respectively. 4. The db-cyclic GMP-induced inward current was depressed in nominally calcium-free solutions, by cobalt (1 mM) and nicardipine (10 microM). The mean reversal potentials of the inward current were +42 and -20 mV in the presence and absence of calcium in the external solution, respectively. 5. The db-cyclic GMP-induced inward current was not altered by lowering the external sodium concentration, raising external potassium concentration or by intracellular injection of caesium. 6. A calcium-insensitive component of the db-cyclic GMP-induced current was increased by lowering the external chloride concentration and blocked by 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid, a chloride channel blocker. 7. Voltage-dependent, high-threshold calcium currents were depressed during the db-cyclic GMP-induced inward current and facilitated during the outward current. 8. Cyclic GMP was less potent than db-cyclic GMP in causing both inward and outward currents or modulation of calcium currents. GTP, GDP, GMP, guanosine, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and forskolin did not alter the holding current or voltage-dependent calcium currents. 9. It is concluded that intracellular cyclic GMP causes not only activation of resting calcium and chloride channels but also a transient depression followed by long-lasting facilitation of voltage-dependent calcium currents in neurones of vesical parasympathetic ganglia.

Membrane currents elicited by prostaglandins, atrial natriuretic factor and oxytocin in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes

1. Membrane currents were recorded from voltage clamped Xenopus laevis oocytes, still surrounded by follicular cells, theca and enveloping inner ovarian epithelia (ovarian follicles). 2. Superfusing follicles with frog Ringer solution containing E-series prostaglandins (PGE1 or PGE2) or oxytocin (0.5-2 microM) generated slow membrane currents arising from an increase in membrane conductance to K+. 3. Follicles taken from different frogs varied greatly in responsiveness to PGE and oxytocin. For example, enclosed oocytes with good sensitivity to prostaglandins responded to 1 nM-PGE, whereas follicles from some frogs failed to respond at 5 microM. 4. Oocytes with good responsiveness to PGE also produced K+ currents to PGA1, PGA2, PGB1, 11-deoxy-PGE1 and 11-beta-PGE2, whereas PGF2 alpha, PGI2, PGD2 and 8-iso-PGE1 generally failed to elicit membrane currents. 5. Responses to PGE and oxytocin were mimicked by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin or by intraoocyte pressure injection of cyclic nucleotides. Responses were potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). In IBMX (0.5 mM), human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) (10-60 nM) elicited a similar K+ conductance. This all implied that cyclic nucleotides played a role in the receptor-channel coupling mechanism of these responses. 6. Defolliculating oocytes effectively abolished responses to prostaglandins, oxytocin and ANF, suggesting that the currents arise in follicular cells. 7. The responses of PGE, oxytocin and ANF thus resembled currents elicited by catecholamines, adenosine, gonadotrophins and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). However, PGE, oxytocin and ANF responses were not blocked by catecholaminergic or purinergic antagonists. Moreover, when comparing follicles isolated from different frogs, the sensitivity to PGE and oxytocin varied independently of that to gonadotrophin or VIP. These experiments suggest that Xenopus ovarian follicles contain specific and distinct receptors for PGE, oxytocin and ANF. 8. Acetylcholine attenuated the cyclic nucleotide-mediated K+ responses, including currents elicited by PGE, oxytocin and ANF. Attenuation was not dependent on, or mimicked by, activation of the inositol phosphate-diacylglycerol messenger pathways located in the oocyte itself, nor was it appreciably blocked by loading follicle-enclosed oocytes with 0.1-1.5 mM-EGTA.

Effects of defolliculation on membrane current responses of Xenopus oocytes

1. Catecholamines, adenosine, gonadotrophins, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and E-series prostaglandins all elicit K+ currents in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes. Evidence suggests that cyclic nucleotides act as intracellular messengers in the activation of this K+ conductance. Muscarinic agonists and some divalent cations (e.g. Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+) elicit slow oscillatory Cl- currents, which are activated through hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids and mobilization of intracellular calcium by inositol phosphates. 2. We investigated whether these membrane current responses were generated in the oocyte itself or in enveloping follicular cells which are coupled to the oocyte by gap junctions. Oocytes were defolliculated, either enzymatically using collagenase, or by manual dissection combined with rolling over poly-L-lysine-coated slides. Removal of follicular cells was checked using scanning electron microscopy. Membrane current responses of defolliculated oocytes were compared with responses seen in follicle-enclosed oocytes taken from the same ovary. 3. The K+ responses evoked by all the various hormones/neurotransmitters were either drastically reduced (greater than 90%) or abolished by defolliculation. K+ currents generated by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and by intraoocyte injection of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP), or guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate were similarly reduced in defolliculated oocytes. In contrast, oscillatory Cl- currents to acetylcholine and divalent cations were selectively preserved through defolliculation. 4. Injection of cyclic AMP (1-20 pmol) into defolliculated oocytes had little or no effect on oscillatory Cl- currents elicited by ACh. However, the calcium-dependent transient Cl- current, activated by depolarization of the oocyte membrane, was consistently potentiated (100-900%) by injections of cyclic AMP (1-10 pmol). 5. These experiments suggest that cyclic nucleotide-activated K+ currents arise essentially in follicular cells and are monitored within the oocyte through electrical coupling by gap junctions. Oscillatory Cl- responses evoked by ACh and divalent cations are produced largely or wholly in the oocyte itself.

Is a decrease in cyclic AMP a necessary and sufficient signal for maturation of amphibian oocytes?

Acetylcholine rapidly lowered the intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in stage 5 and 6 Xenopus laevis oocytes. Acetylcholine alone did not induce oocyte maturation, though it did accelerate maturation induced by progesterone. The effect of acetylcholine on oocyte maturation was independent of extracellular calcium concentration. Adenosine increased cyclic AMP and abolished the progesterone-induced decrease in cyclic AMP levels in follicles and in denuded oocytes. This effect of adenosine was blocked by the Ra purinergic receptor antagonist, theophylline. Despite those effects, adenosine alone induced maturation in stage 6 oocytes and accelerated progesterone-induced maturation in both stage 5 and 6 cells. Adenosine also induced a significant increase in the rate of 45Ca efflux from oocytes in the presence and the absence of external calcium. We suggest that the activation of cell surface receptors involved in the release of calcium from cellular stores may induce or accelerate oocyte maturation independently of small changes in intracellular cyclic AMP concentration.

The use of Xenopus oocytes for the study of ion channels

Recently, in addition to the "traditional" research on meiotic reinitiation and fertilization mechanisms, the oocytes of the African frog Xenopus laevis have been exploited for the study of numerous aspects of ion channel function and regulation, such as the properties of several endogenous voltage-dependent channels and the involvement of second messengers in mediation of neurotransmitter-evoked membrane responses. In addition, injection of these cells with exogenous messenger RNA results in production and functional expression of foreign membranal proteins, including various voltage- and neurotransmitter-operated ion channels originating from brain, heart, and other excitable tissues. This method provides unique opportunities for the study of the structure, function, and regulation of these channels. A multidisciplinary approach is required, involving molecular biology, electrophysiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and cytology.