The mechanism of actions of collagenase on the inhibition of release of acetylcholine from synaptosomal preparations

Actions of a monoclonal antibody Tor 23 on rat brain presynaptic cholinergic processes

Tor 23 is a monoclonal antibody, generated against cholinergic terminals of the Torpedo californica, that has been found to bind to the extracellular surface of cholinergic neurons in a variety of tissues. This study shows that Tor 23 inhibits: 1) high affinity [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding to detergent-solubilized membranes prepared from rat neocortices; 2) high affinity [3H]choline uptake in rat neocortical and striatal P2 preparations; and 3) [3H]acetylcholine synthesis in isolated nerve terminals. Tor 23 does not appear to affect low affinity [3H]choline uptake or [3H]acetylcholine release. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Tor 23 may bind to nerve terminal high affinity choline transporters in the rat brain.

Norepinephrine increases angiotensin II binding in rat brain synaptosomes

Synaptosomes prepared from rat hypothalamus or brainstem contain specific binding sites for [125I]-angiotensin II (AII). Treatment of these synaptosomes with norepinephrine (NE) (10-500 microM) for 60 min results in a concentration-dependent increase in [125I]-AII specific binding which appears to be an increase in the number rather than the affinity of these binding sites. This effect of NE is qualitatively similar in synaptosomes prepared from neonate (one-day-old) or adult (140-day-old) rats. Furthermore, it is antagonized by prazosin (10 microM) but not by yohimbine (10 microM), indicating the involvement of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Finally, this effect of NE may involve activation of protein kinase C (PKC) because it is mimicked by a PKC agonist (TPA, 0.8 microM; 60 min) and is blocked by a PKC antagonist (H-7, 100 microM). These results match our previous findings on the regulation of AII receptors in neurons cultured from the hypothalamus and brainstem of neonate rats and provide strong evidence for a role of this catecholamine in the modulation of brain AII receptors.

Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes reduce [3H]acetylcholine levels in an eserine-sensitive manner in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes

We investigated the effects of various phospholipids on the presynaptic levels of newly synthesized [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes. When administered as small unilamellar vesicles (200-500 A diameters) dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) reduced [3H]ACh levels in concentration and time-related manners, while increasing the efflux of labelled choline to a similar extent. The reductions in synaptosomal [3H]-ACh levels induced by DPPC (3 mg/ml) were found in the cytosolic S3 but not microsomal P3 fraction, arguing for a cytoplasmic, non-vesicular site of action. DPPC-induced reductions in [3H]ACh levels were blocked by 100 microM eserine, a tertiary amine cholinesterase inhibitor, but not with 100 microM neostigmine, a quaternary ammonium inhibitor. Large unilamellar vesicles (2000-5000 A diameters) consisting of soybean-phosphatidylcholine reduced [3H]ACh levels to the same extent that small vesicles did at the same concentration (3 mg/ml). Taken together, these results suggest that DPPC can fuse with membranes to increase the hydrolysis of cytoplasmic ACh via a small intra-terminal subpopulation of cholinesterases.

Effects of phorbol esters and a calcium ionophore on angiotensin II binding in rat brain synaptosomes

In previous studies we determined that protein kinase C (PKC) and calcium are important intracellular regulators of neuronal angiotensin II (Ang II) binding sites. In the present study we investigated the effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) agonist phorbol esters (PE) and also a calcium ionophore (A23187) on the specific binding of [125I]Ang II to brain synaptosomes prepared from rats of different ages. The rationale was to determine whether the large changes in the level of brain Ang II specific binding observed in different age rats are due to changes in the regulation of these sites by PKC or by calcium. The present data indicate no qualitative differences in the effects of PE or A23187 on [125I]Ang II specific binding to hypothalamic or brain stem synaptosomes, from either 2-5 or 70-day-old rats, i.e. the active PE TPA increased while A23187 decreased Ang II binding in all situations. Thus, the dramatic differences in brain Ang II specific binding seen with age appear not to be due to changes in regulation by PKC or calcium.

Insulin receptors in the brain: structural and physiological characterization

The present study was conducted to characterize insulin receptors and to determine the effects of insulin in synaptosomes prepared from adult rat brains. Binding of 125I-insulin to synaptosome insulin receptors was highly specific and time dependent: equilibrium binding was obtained within 60 minutes, and a t1/2 of dissociation of 26 minutes. Cross-linking of 125I-insulin to its receptor followed by SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the apparent molecular weight of the alpha subunit of the receptor was 122,000 compared with 134,000 for the liver insulin receptor. In addition, insulin stimulated the dose-dependent phosphorylation of exogenous tyrosine containing substrate and a 95,000 MW plasma membrane associated protein, in a lectin-purified insulin receptor preparation. The membrane associated protein was determined to be the beta subunit of the insulin receptor. Incubation of synaptosomes with insulin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of specific sodium-sensitive [3H]norepinephrine uptake. Insulin inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake was mediated by a decrease in active uptake sites without any effects in the Km, and was specific for insulin since related and unrelated peptides influenced the uptake in proportion to their structural similarity with insulin. These observations indicate that synaptosomes prepared from the adult rat brain possess specific insulin receptors and insulin has inhibitory effects on norepinephrine uptake in the preparation.

Ubiquitin-directed antibodies inhibit neuronal transporters in rat brain synaptosomes

Affinity-purified antibodies specific for ubiquitin were found to inhibit the sodium-dependent uptake of [3H]choline, gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid [( 3H]GABA), [3H]glutamate, [3H]norepinephrine, [3H]aspartate, and [3H]serotonin in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes at a low concentration (10 micrograms/ml). These antibodies (termed anti-Ub) had no effect on the sodium-independent uptake of these substances or their calcium-dependent efflux. Synaptosomal [3H]deoxyglucose uptake was not affected in normal Krebs Ringer buffer containing 10 mM glucose, but was inhibited in glucose-free medium. Other nonneuronal sodium-dependent transport processes were found to be unaffected by 10 micrograms/ml anti-Ub, suggesting that anti-Ub does not bind indiscriminantly to sodium-binding sites on sodium-dependent organic solute transporters. Finally, anti-Ub inhibited sodium-dependent [3H]GABA and [3H]glutamate uptake in plasma membrane ghosts, devoid of membrane potential, which were derived from rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes. These results suggest that neuronal transporters or sites proximal to them may be ubiquitinylated on the plasma membrane surface.

Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes inhibit calcium-dependent [3H]acetylcholine release

We examined the effects of small unilamellar vesicles composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine on rat cerebral cortical [3H]acetylcholine release. Synaptosomes from this region were loaded with the labeled transmitter, and then incubated with the lipid (0-6 mg/ml) for specified intervals before adding various secretagogues. Liposomes (0.4 mg/ml-6 mg/ml) inhibited the calcium-dependent release of [3H]acetylcholine induced by 50 mM K+, A23187 (1-5 micrograms/ml) or 500 microM ouabain; the calcium-independent release induced by ouabain was not affected by the highest liposome concentration studied (6 mg/ml). [3H]Acetylcholine levels were also reduced by the liposomes, but higher concentrations were necessary to do so than to reduce K+-induced release. These reductions occurred in the S3 (cytosol) but not P3 (microsomal) subcellular fraction of the nerve terminals. The 50 mM K+-induced induced release of [3H]norepinephrine and [3H]dopamine from cerebral cortical and striatal synaptosomes, respectively, were not affected by 6 mg/ml lipid. Together, these results suggest that the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes may modulate cholinergic transmission presynaptically at the level of the calcium-dependent transmitter-release process.

Effects of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes on high affinity transport of choline and synthesis of acetylcholine in cerebral cortical synaptosomes in the rat

The presynaptic cholinergic effects of the phospholipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were investigated in non-depolarized synaptosomes from the cerebral cortex of the rat. This naturally-occurring phospholipid, in the form of small unilamellar vesicles (3.0 mg/ml), inhibited both high affinity uptake of [3H] choline and the synthesis of [3H] acetylcholine. This lipid-induced inhibition was apparently competitive, since it was observed at 1 microM but not 20 microM extracellular concentration of choline. These results indicate that dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine may reduce the synthesis of acetylcholine in resting nerve terminals.

Angiotensin II inhibits the K+-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine from hypothalamic synaptosomes of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

The effect of angiotensin II on the basal and K+-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine was examined in hypothalamic and brainstem synaptosomes from adult male normotensive (Wistar-Kyoto, WKY, and Sprague-Dawley, SD), and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Angiotensin II attenuated the [3H]norepinephrine release caused by maximal depolarizing concentrations of K+ (75 mM) in hypothalamic synaptosomes of the SH rat, but had no effect on basal [3H]norepinephrine release. Angiotensin II had no effect on either the basal or K+-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine in brain synaptosomes prepared from either WKY or SD adult male rats. The results suggest a distinct role of angiotensin II in the modulation of catecholamine release in the SH rat.

Effects of acetylethylcholine mustard on [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding and acetylcholine release in rat brain synaptosomes

The effects of acetylethylcholine mustard and its aziridinium derivative (AMMA) on acetylcholine (ACh) release and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding were studied in rat cortical synaptosomes. After incubation for 5 min at 37 degrees C, AMMA reduced [3H]QNB binding with an IC50 of 9 microM. Following incubation for 5 min with 50 microM AMMA and washing, there was a 62% reduction in the [3H]QNB binding capacity with no change in the KD value for the remaining receptors, a result indicating the irreversibility of the AMMA binding. AMMA and oxotremorine both reduced the basal and 30 mM K+-induced release of newly synthesized [3H]ACh in dose-dependent manners over a 2.5-min period. At identical 50 microM concentrations, AMMA produced a much longer inhibition of basal [3H]ACh release than oxotremorine did. The inhibition of basal and 30 mM K+-induced [3H]ACh release by AMMA (10-250 microM) was blocked by 2 microM atropine during a 2.5-min release incubation, but not during a 30-min release incubation. After synaptosomes were treated with 50 microM AMMA for 5 min and the unbound drug was washed out from the tissue, [3H]ACh release (basal and K+-induced) was reduced. AMMA (50 microM) reduced high-affinity choline uptake and ACh synthesis by greater than 90% in this tissue, but these effects did not account for the [3H]ACh release inhibition, because they were not atropine sensitive and hemicholinium-3 had no effect on [3H]ACh release under the conditions used in these studies, i.e., after extracellular [3H]choline was washed out. Taken together, these results suggest that AMMA may be an irreversible agonist at presynaptic muscarinic autoreceptors.

Some biochemical characteristics and cell membrane actions of a toxic phospholipase A2 isolated from the venom of the pit viper Agkistrodon halys (Pallas)

A toxic component (AgTx) from the venom of Agkistrodon halys (Pallas) was isolated using DEAE-cellulose DE11 and CM-Sephadex C50 column chromatography and finally purified to homogeneity by FPLC on a MonoQ column. The toxin is a neutral (pI 6.9) single chain polypeptide with a mol. wt of 14,000 and an amino acid composition (123 residues) roughly similar to that of notexin. AgTx was found to have phospholipase A2 activity which was dependent on calcium and stimulated by sodium deoxycholate. The toxin caused efflux of 2-deoxy-(1-3H)-glucose-6-phosphate (a cell membrane integrity probe) as well as of [3H]acetylcholine from rat brain synaptosomes. No cell membrane damage was induced by AgTx on cultured N1E 115 neuroblastoma cells and chick myotube cultures. The LD50 ws 150 micrograms/kg (i.p.) in mice. The main symptom observed was respiratory paralysis. The results obtained show that AgTx can be classified as a toxic phospholipase A2 with a presynaptic site of action.

Effects of different secretagogues and intracellular messengers on the muscarinic modulation of [3H]acetylcholine release

We have investigated whether muscarinic receptors modulate the release of [3H]ACh elicited by secretagogues that act by different mechanisms in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes. Oxotremorine (10 microM) reduced the calcium-dependent [3H]ACh release induced by mild K+-depolarization (10 and 15 mM K+), but not that by higher K+ concentrations. The ACh-release induced by A23187 (0.2-5 micrograms/ml), liposomes laden with 113 mM CaCl2, or 4-aminopyridine (1-10 mM) was not modulated by oxotremorine. Ouabain (100 microM)-induced release of [3H]ACh was reduced by oxotremorine in normal but not calcium-free KR, indicating that extracellular calcium-uptake but not Na+, K+-ATPase activity may be necessary for release-modulation. With respect to possible second messenger systems, dibutyrylcyclic AMP (0.1-2 mM), dibutyrylcyclic GMP (0.1-2 mM), forskolin (100 microM), and phorbol ester (0.3-3 micrograms/ml) were without effect on release or release-modulation. These results are consistent with an involvement of K+-channels and voltage-sensitive calcium-channels in the muscarinic release-inhibition process. They argue against an involvement of Na+, K+-ATPase, adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase, and phosphatidylinositol turnover in the release-modulation process.

Effects of 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulfonic acid (AH5183) on rat cortical synaptosome choline uptake, acetylcholine storage and release

The cholinergic vesicular uptake blocker, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulfonic acid (AH5183), had several effects on presynaptic cholinergic function that depended on the duration of treatment and dose. The synthesis, storage and release of newly synthesized [3H]ACh were monitored because the vesicular uptake of this pool of transmitter may be preferentially affected by the drug. Initially, high concentrations of AH5183 (over 10 microM) increased the spontaneous release but decreased the K+ depolarization-induced release of newly synthesized transmitter. [3H]Choline efflux was not altered by the drug. High affinity choline uptake was slightly (10-20%) inhibited by AH5183 in an apparently competitive but time-dependent manner. In contrast to its initial effects on [3H]ACh release, AH5183 (50nM-100 microM) very potently inhibited both the spontaneous and K+-induced release of [3H]ACh but not of [3H]choline after a 60 min preincubation. [3H]ACh levels in cytoplasmic (S3) and crude membrane (P3) fractions were not affected by a 2-min incubation with 10 microM AH5183. After a 60-min preincubation with this drug dose, however, the P3 and S3 levels of newly synthesized transmitter were decreased and increased, respectively. Subsequent fractionation of synaptosomes by sucrose-density gradient centrifugation revealed that these reductions in P3 [3H]ACh-levels were referable to reductions in two subfractions D and H that have been reported to contain low density vesicles and denser vesicles associated with plasma membranes, respectively.

Role of synaptosomal Na-accumulation in transmitter release

The mechanism whereby Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitors such as ouabain trigger transmitter release in a calcium-independent manner remains obscure. We have examined the possible role of intra-synaptosomal sodium ion accumulation in ouabain-induced acetylcholine (ACh) release by: 1) Measuring 22Na accumulation in cat cortical synaptosomes in the presence of ouabain, A23187, veratridine, or strophanthidin over the same time course in which we previously determined their effects on ACh release; and 2) measuring synaptosomal 22Na accumulation and ACh-release in the presence of ouabain plus tetrodotoxin in normal or calcium-free buffer. Our results indicate that tetrodotoxin-dependent 22Na accumulation is at least partially responsible for ouabain-induced ACh release in normal and calcium-free media, but that this ion-accumulation per se is not sufficient to elicit release with other secretogogues.

Effects of collagenase on the release of [3H]-noradrenaline from bovine cultured adrenal chromaffin cells

Bovine isolated adrenal chromaffin cells maintained in culture at 37 degrees C for 1-7 days become polygonal and bipolar, with typical varicosity-like extensions. Catecholamine levels and dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity decreased after 24-48 h of culture, but recovered to normal levels 3-7 days later. Incubation of 1-7 day-old cells in the presence of increasing concentrations of [3H]-noradrenaline (3.91 to 125 nM) resulted in the retention by the cells of amounts of radioactivity directly proportional to the amine present in the media. One day-old cells took up and retained only one third of the radioactivity found in 2-7 day-old cells. The addition of collagenase to cultured cells caused a decrease in the uptake of tritium. However, the enzyme treatment did not affect the amine taken up by the cell before collagenase treatment. Release of tritium from cultured cells evoked by nicotine, acetylcholine (ACh) or 59 mM K+ was very poor in 24 h-old cells; the secretory response to nicotine, ACh or K+ was dramatically increased after 2-7 days of culture. Bethanecol did not cause any secretory response. When treated with collagenase, cultured cells which had recovered fully their secretory response, lost again the ability to release tritium evoked by ACh or nicotine. However, the responses to high K+, veratridine or ionophore X537A were not affected. The nicotinic response was recovered two days after collagenase treatment. The data suggest that the use of collagenase to disperse the adrenomedullary tissue during the isolation procedure might be responsible for the lost secretory response of young cultured chromaffin cells. Since collagenase specifically impairs the nicotinic cholinoceptor-mediated catecholamine release, it seems likely that the enzyme is exerting its action on the ACh receptor complex. It is unlikely that either voltage-sensitive Na+ or Ca2+ channels are affected by collagenase as the responses induced by high K+ or veratridine were unaffected by this enzyme.

Cobalt-ions dissociate between calcium uptake through voltage-dependent sodium and calcium channels in synaptosomes

Calcium ions are taken up through at least two separate, voltage-dependent channels in rat cortical synaptosomes. One channel is opened by 60 mM K+, blocked completely with 500 microM Co2+ and unaffected by 1 microM tetrodotoxin; the other is opened by 20 microM veratridine in a sodium-independent manner, blocked by 1 microM tetrodotoxin, and only partially inhibited by Co2+. Calcium-uptake through either channel is functional with respect to releasing [3H]ACh.

High-affinity choline transport in proteoliposomes derived from rat cortical synaptosomes

Functional high- and low-affinity choline transport processes from rat cortical plasma membranes were reconstituted in phosphatidylcholine bilayer liposomes. The high-affinity choline transporter demonstrated a pharmacological profile and ion dependency that were identical to those of intact synaptosomes. This preparation may be used to further characterize choline transport and, with appropriate supplementation, to investigate the release of acetylcholine in the absence of synaptic vesicles.

Neurochemical characterization of an antimony-choline analog in rat cortical synaptosomes

An analog of choline, in which nitrogen was replaced by antimony, was neurochemically characterized in rat cortical synaptosomes. It was found to be a substrate for several cholinergic enzymes, transported by a Na+-dependent, hemicholinium-3-sensitive process, acetylated, and subsequently released by depolarization in a calcium-dependent manner. Sb-choline also completed with choline for Na+-dependent uptake and for acetylation by [14C]acetyl-CoA in synaptosomes. These results suggest that Sb-choline and its acetylated product should be useful substrates for the x-ray microanalytical localization of cholinergic pools in intact nerve terminals.

Acetylation and phosphorylation of choline following high or low affinity uptake by rat cortical synaptosomes

Synaptosomal acetylcholine synthesis was found to be dependent on the presence of Na+-dependent HC-3 sensitive choline transport at low (5.5 mM) and high (35 mM) K+ concentrations. However, at 5, 20, and 100 microM choline, choline phosphorylation was proportional to total choline uptake, in the presence or absence or high affinity transport. Only in the presence of eserine (50 microM) did acetylcholine synthesis increase as the choline concentration was elevated from 20 microM to 100 microM, and this effect was observed at low and high K+ concentrations. Our results suggest that: 1) the synthesis of non-surplus synaptosomal ACh is dependent on high affinity choline transport; and 2) choline is equally likely to be phosphorylated after being taken up by low or high affinity transport.

Cysteine sulfinic acid in the central nervous system: uptake and release of cysteine sulfinic acid by a rat brain preparation

Uptake and release of cysteine sulfinic acid by synaptosomal fractions (P2) and slices of rat cerebral cortex were investigated. The P2 fraction had a Na+-dependent high-affinity uptake system for cysteine sulfinic acid (Km, 12 microM), which was restricted to the synaptosomes. High-affinity uptake of cysteine sulfinic acid was competitively inhibited by glutamate, aspartate, and cysteic acid. None of the various centrally acting drugs tested specifically inhibited this transport system. Release of [14C]cysteine sulfinic acid from preloaded cortical slices or P2 fractions was examined by a superfusion method, which avoided reuptake of released [14C]cysteine sulfinic acid. High K+ (56 mM) and veratridine (10 microM) stimulated the release of cysteine sulfinic acid from slices and the P2 fraction in a partly Ca2+-dependent manner. Diazepam at concentrations of 10 and 100 microM markedly inhibited the stimulated release, but not the spontaneous release, by cortisol slices. On the contrary, it had no effect on the stimulated release of cysteine sulfinic acid from the P2 fraction.

Antibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, obtained from serum of myasthenic patients, may decrease acetylcholine release from rat hippocampal nerve endings in vitro

Release of [3H]-ACh from [3H]-Ch loaded nerve endings from rat hippocampus is dependent on Ca2+ and K+-concentration. [3H]-ACh release, evoked by a depolarizing K+ concentration is decreased in the presence of IgG isolated from the serum of some myasthenic patients but not in that of IgG from controls. Myasthenic IgG contains antibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Isolated nerve endings were shown not to be leaky. Curare-sensitive alpha-bgt receptor was found at a concentration of 60-90 fmol/mg protein. It is discussed if a presynaptic nAChR exists in the membrane of hippocampal nerve endings and is involved in an autoregulation of ACh-release or if myasthenic IgG in a manner independent of the receptor.

Correlations between Na+-K+ ATPase activity and acetylcholine release in rat cortical synaptosomes

[3H]Acetylcholine efflux and Na+-K+ ATPase ion pump activity were measured concomitantly in rat cortical synaptosomes. Ouabain (500 microM), strophanthidin (500 microM), and parachloromercuribenzene sulfonate (500 microM) each inhibited ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake and elevated [3H]acetylcholine release independently of the external calcium concentration. Veratridine (10 microM), electrical field stimulation (60 V, 60 Hz, 5-ms pulse duration), or the calcium ionophore A23187 (10 micrograms/ml) also inhibited ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake and released [3H]acetylcholine, but via a calcium-dependent process. Veratridine-induced [3H]acetylcholine release and ion pump inhibition were correlated over a wide range of drug concentrations and both effects were blocked by pre-treatment with tetrodotoxin (1 microM). The rate of [3H]acetylcholine efflux from superfused synaptosomes was increased within 15 s of exposure to ouabain, strophanthidin, veratridine, A23187, or field stimulation, while ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake was significantly decreased within a similar interval. These results suggest that [3H]acetylcholine release is due at least in part to inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase.

Muscarinic autoreceptor regulates acetylcholine release in rat hippocampus: in vitro evidence

Release of 3H-ACh from isolated nerve endings of rat hippocampus was evoked by incubation in Krebs-Ringer's buffer containing 25 or 35 mM potassium. The release was Ca2+-dependent and could be inhibited by Mg2+ (20 mM). The muscarinic antagonist, atropine (10(-10)-10(-6) M), enhanced 3H-ACh-release. The muscarinic agonist, carbachol (10(-5)-10(-3) M) inhibited 3H-ACh release via interaction with muscarinic receptors: this effect could be blocked by atropine (10(-6) M). The presence of the feed-back regulation of 3H-ACh release in a cell-free preparation provides further evidence that the presynaptic regulation is exerted by muscarinic autoreceptors localized on the cholinergic nerve ending itself. The feed back inhibition of the 3H-ACh release does not require the presence of intact neurons or neuronal loops as tetrodotoxin (2.5 x 10(-6) M) does not affect the above results.