The alpha-bungarotoxin site and its relation to the cholinergic and nerve growth factor mediated increases in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in cultures of sympathetic ganglia and chromaffin cells

Inhibitory effects of tramadol on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in adrenal chromaffin cells and in Xenopus oocytes expressing alpha 7 receptors

1. Tramadol has been used clinically as an analgesic; however, the mechanism of its analgesic effects is still unknown. 2. We used bovine adrenal chromaffin cells to investigate effects of tramadol on catecholamine secretion, nicotine-induced cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) increases and membrane current changes. We also investigated effects of tramadol on alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. 3. Tramadol concentration-dependently suppressed carbachol-induced catecholamine secretion to 60% and 27% of the control at the concentration of 10 and 100 microM, respectively, whereas it had little effect on veratridine- or high K(+)-induced catecholamine secretion. 4. Tramadol also suppressed nicotine-induced ([Ca(2+)](i)) increases in a concentration-dependent manner. Tramadol inhibited nicotine-induced inward currents, and the inhibition was unaffected by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. 5. Tramadol inhibited nicotinic currents carried by alpha7 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. 6. Tramadol inhibited both alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive and -insensitive nicotinic currents in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. 7. In conclusion, tramadol inhibits catecholamine secretion partly by inhibiting nicotinic AChR functions in a naloxone-insensitive manner and alpha7 receptors are one of those inhibited by tramadol.

Alpha-conotoxin ImI inhibits the alpha-bungarotoxin-resistant nicotinic response in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The activity of alpha-conotoxin (alpha-CTX) ImI, from the vermivorous marine snail Conus imperialis, has been studied on mammalian nicotinic receptors on bovine chromaffin cells and at the rat neuromuscular junction. Synthetic alpha-CTX ImI was a potent inhibitor of the neuronal nicotinic response in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells (IC50 = 2.5 microM, log IC50 = 0.4 +/- 0.07), showing competitive inhibition of nicotine-evoked catecholamine secretion. Alpha-CTX ImI also inhibited nicotine-evoked 45Ca2+ uptake but not 45Ca2+ uptake stimulated by 56 mM K+. In contrast, alpha-CTX ImI had no effect at the neuromuscular junction over the concentration range 1-20 microM. Bovine chromaffin cells are known to contain the alpha3beta4, alpha7, and (possibly) alpha3beta4alpha5 subtypes. However, the secretory response of bovine chromaffin cells is not inhibited by alpha-bungarotoxin, indicating that alpha7 nicotinic receptors are not involved. We propose that alpha-CTX Iml interacts selectively with the functional (alpha3beta4 or alpha3beta4alpha5) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to inhibit the neuronal-type nicotinic response in bovine chromaffin cells.

Unmasking the functions of the chromaffin cell alpha7 nicotinic receptor by using short pulses of acetylcholine and selective blockers

Methyllycaconitine (MLA), alpha-conotoxin ImI, and alpha-bungarotoxin inhibited the release of catecholamines triggered by brief pulses of acetylcholine (ACh) (100 microM, 5 s) applied to fast-superfused bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, with IC50s of 100 nM for MLA and 300 nM for alpha-conotoxin ImI and alpha-bungarotoxin. MLA (100 nM), alpha-conotoxin ImI (1 microM), and alpha-bungarotoxin (1 microM) halved the entry of 45Ca2+ stimulated by 5-s pulses of 300 microM ACh applied to incubated cells. These supramaximal concentrations of alpha7 nicotinic receptor blockers depressed by 30% (MLA), 25% (alpha-bungarotoxin), and 50% (alpha-conotoxin ImI) the inward current generated by 1-s pulses of 100 microM ACh, applied to voltage-clamped chromaffin cells. In Xenopus oocytes expressing rat brain alpha7 neuronal nicotinic receptor for acetylcholine nAChR, the current generated by 1-s pulses of ACh was blocked by MLA, alpha-conotoxin ImI, and alpha-bungarotoxin with IC50s of 0.1 nM, 100 nM, and 1.6 nM, respectively; the current through alpha3 beta4 nAChR was unaffected by alpha-conotoxin ImI and alpha-bungarotoxin, and weakly blocked by MLA (IC50 = 1 microM). The functions of controlling the electrical activity, the entry of Ca2+, and the ensuing exocytotic response of chromaffin cells were until now exclusively attributed to alpha3 beta4 nAChR; the present results constitute the first evidence to support a prominent role of alpha7 nAChR in controlling such functions, specially under the more physiological conditions used here to stimulate chromaffin cells with brief pulses of ACh.

Anatoxin-a is a potent agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

(+)-Anatoxin-a is a neurotoxic alkaloid produced by the cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae. In this study synthetic (+/-)-anatoxin-a was tested on isolated bovine adrenal chromaffin cells to determine its ability to evoke secretion of endogenous catecholamines through neuronal-type nicotinic receptor activation. Anatoxin-a was found to act as a potent agonist of the secretory response of chromaffin cells with an EC50 of 1-2 microM, compared with an EC50 of 4-5 microM for nicotine. The cells responded to anatoxin-a and nicotine with bell-shaped concentration-response curves consistent with desensitisation at concentrations of anatoxin-a greater than 5 microM and of nicotine greater than 20 microM. The secretion of catecholamines stimulated by anatoxin-a was completely inhibited in a non-competitive manner by the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine with an IC50 of 0.4-0.5 microM. In the presence of depolarising concentrations of K+ (15 or 50 mM), anatoxin-a increased the secretion of catecholamines in a concentration-dependent manner up to the same maximum as that achieved by anatoxin-a alone. It is concluded that anatoxin-a acts as a potent and selective nicotinic agonist, capable of evoking secretion of endogenous catecholamines from chromaffin cells via their neuronal-type nicotinic receptor.

Thymopoietin, a thymic polypeptide, potently interacts at muscle and neuronal nicotinic alpha-bungarotoxin receptors

Current studies suggest that several distinct populations of nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors exist. One of these is the muscle-type nicotinic receptors with which neuromuscular nicotinic receptor ligands and the snake toxin alpha-bungarotoxin interact. alpha-Bungarotoxin potently binds to these nicotinic receptors and blocks their function, two characteristics that have made the alpha-toxin a very useful probe for the characterization of these sites. In neuronal tissues, several populations of nicotinic receptors have been identified which, although they share a nicotinic pharmacology, have unique characteristics. The alpha-bungarotoxin-insensitive neuronal nicotinic receptors, which may be involved in mediating neuronal excitability, bind nicotinic agonists with high affinity but do not interact with alpha-bungarotoxin. Subtypes of these alpha-toxin-insensitive receptors appear to exist, as evidenced by findings that some are inhibited by neuronal bungarotoxin whereas others are not. In addition to the alpha-bungarotoxin-insensitive sites, alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive neuronal nicotinic receptors are also present in neuronal tissues. These latter receptors bind alpha-bungarotoxin with high affinity and nicotinic agonists with an affinity in the microM range. The function of the nicotinic alpha-bungarotoxin receptors are as yet uncertain. Thymopoietin, a polypeptide linked to immune function, appears to interact specifically with nicotinic receptor populations that bind alpha-bungarotoxin. Thus, in muscle tissue where alpha-bungarotoxin both binds to the receptor and blocks activity, thymopoietin also potently binds to the receptor and inhibits nicotinic receptors-mediated function. In neuronal tissues, thymopoietin interacts only with the nicotinic alpha-bungarotoxin site and not the alpha-bungarotoxin-insensitive neuronal nicotinic receptor population. These observations that thymopoietin potently and specifically interacts with nicotinic alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive receptors in neuronal and muscle tissue, together with findings that thymopoietin is an endogenously occurring agent, could suggest that this immune-related polypeptide represents a ligand for the alpha-bungarotoxin receptors. The function of thymopoietin at the alpha-bungarotoxin receptor is as yet uncertain; however, a potential trophic, as well as other roles are suggested.

Nicotinic and muscarinic modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from porcine and canine small intestine

Strips of porcine and canine small intestine were incubated in vitro and the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. The spontaneous outflow of 5-HT from the porcine and canine small intestine largely reflects calcium-dependent 5-HT secretion from enterochromaffin cells which are under a spontaneous neuronal, excitatory input as indicated by the inhibitory effect (30-40%) of tetrodotoxin. In both species, nicotine enhanced the release of 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner by a maximum of about 50% at 100 microM. This effect was blocked by the nicotine receptor antagonist hexamethonium, but not by the subtype-selective nicotine receptor antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin. The effect of nicotine was rapidly desensitized. The presence of tetrodotoxin abolished the effect of nicotine on 5-HT release in canine tissue but not in porcine tissue. The presence of the muscarine receptor antagonist scopolamine prevented the effect of nicotine on 5-HT release from canine tissue, but significantly enhanced 5-HT release from porcine tissue. The muscarine receptor agonist oxotremorine inhibited 5-HT release from porcine tissue, but increased 5-HT release from canine tissue. However, in the presence of tetrodotoxin, oxotremorine enhanced 5-HT release in tissue from both species. In conclusion, activation of nicotine receptors induce the release of 5-HT from porcine and canine small intestine. In the dog, the effect of nicotine is mediated via the release of acetylcholine which then stimulates 5-HT release via muscarine receptors on the enterochromaffin cells. In the pig, the stimulatory effect of nicotine appears to be located directly on the enterochromaffin cells. In addition, activation of neuronal muscarine receptors in the porcine small intestine induced the release of a previously unidentified neurotransmitter which inhibited 5-HT release. Nicotine, via cholinergic interneurons, also appears to induce the release of this inhibitory neurotransmitter which opposes the direct stimulatory action of nicotine on 5-HT release.

Phorbol esters and d-tubocurarine up-regulate alpha-bungarotoxin sites in chromaffin cells in culture via distinct mechanisms

Previous work had shown that nicotinic antagonists resulted in a marked up-regulation of alpha-bungarotoxin sites in chromaffin cells in culture. The present experiments were done to determine the intracellular mechanism(s) whereby nicotinic antagonists might mediate their effects on these receptors. Chromaffin cells were cultured for three days with various concentrations of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an agent which affects protein kinase C by mimicking the actions of diacylglycerol. The phorbol ester resulted in a dose-dependent increase in alpha-bungarotoxin binding which was maximal with 100 nM 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. This increase in binding appeared to be due to an increase in the maximal number of alpha-bungarotoxin sites. Time dependence studies showed that the effect of the phorbol was undetectable with incubations of 24 h or less and appeared to plateau by 72-96 h. A similar increase in toxin binding was also observed with 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. On the other hand, an inactive analog of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no significant effect on binding. D-Sphingosine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, was able to partially block the phorbol ester-induced increase in toxin binding while polymyxin B, another protein kinase C inhibitor, completely prevented the up-regulation of the alpha-bungarotoxin sites. Carbachol and nicotine prevented this enhancement of toxin binding in the presence of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Although the phorbol ester resulted in an increase in toxin binding, acetylcholine-evoked catecholamine secretion from chromaffin cells in culture was decreased, indicating a dissociation between the functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptor population and the alpha-bungarotoxin sites. To determine whether agents which affect protein kinase C can alter the up-regulation of alpha-bungarotoxin sites by d-tubocurarine, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was added to the cells in combination with the nicotinic antagonist. The up-regulation of toxin binding sites induced by d-tubocurarine was additive with that induced by the phorbol and was not affected by polymyxin B. Thus, the results would suggest that there are at least two mechanisms by which alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites can be regulated. One is mediated via an interaction at nicotinic receptors, while the other occurs in response to phorbol esters and thus may be mediated by protein kinase C. Interestingly, although the molecular mechanisms resulting in alpha-bungarotoxin receptor up-regulation differ, both the d-tubocurarine- and the phorbol ester-induced increases were prevented by nicotinic receptor ligands.

High-affinity and selectivity of neosurugatoxin for the inhibition of 22Na influx via nicotinic receptor-ion channel in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells: comparative study with histrionicotoxin

In cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells, neosurugatoxin and histrionicotoxin inhibited carbachol-induced influx of 22Na, 45Ca and secretion of catecholamines with IC50 of 27 nM and 3 microM, respectively. The inhibitory effects of neosurugatoxin were reversed by the increased concentrations of carbachol, whereas those of histrionicotoxin were not. Histrionicotoxin at concentrations higher than 10 microM also reduced veratridine-induced influx of 22Na, 45Ca and secretion of catecholamines, while neosurugatoxin had no effects. High K-induced 45Ca influx and catecholamine secretion were not altered by either neosurugatoxin or histrionicotoxin. The present findings suggest (1) neosurugatoxin competitively inhibits nicotinic receptor-ion channel complex at nanomolar concentrations, but has no effects on voltage-dependent Na channel and voltage-dependent Ca channel; (2) histrionicotoxin at micromolar concentrations non-competitively suppresses nicotinic receptor-ion channel complex. Higher concentrations of histrionicotoxin also interferes with voltage-dependent Na channel, but has no effect on voltage-dependent Ca channel; (3) neosurugatoxin, due to its high-affinity and selectivity, may be a useful probe for studying nicotinic receptors in nervous tissues.

The effects of neosurugatoxin on evoked catecholamine secretion from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

1. The effect of neosurugatoxin (NSTX), a toxin from the Japanese ivory mollusc (Babylonia japonica), on the nicotinic response of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined. 2. NSTX inhibited acetylcholine- and nicotine-induced catecholamine secretion from the cultured cells with an IC50 against 5 microM nicotine of 30 nM. 3. This inhibitory effect was reversible and independent of the presence of agonist. 4. NSTX had no effect on the catecholamine release from cultured cells evoked by 50 mM K+, or 1 microM histamine. 5. NSTX had no effect on the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism evoked by 100 microM muscarine. 6. These results suggest NSTX may be useful as a nicotinic receptor probe in tissues such as the adrenal and sympathetic ganglia where alpha-bungarotoxin is ineffective.

The development and distribution of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites in rat tectal transplants

The development and distribution of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) binding sites in tectal grafts was examined autoradiographically using the radioligand [125I]-alpha-BTX. High alpha-BTX binding was observed in localized areas within grafts; these areas corresponded to regions which contained high acetylcholinesterase activity and received retinal input. Receptor differentiation also occurred in the absence of specific host afferents. The graft data show that, as in normal superior colliculus, development of high alpha-BTX binding is limited to areas containing presumptive superficial layer cells.

Modulation of the nicotinic alpha-bungarotoxin site in chromaffin cells in culture by a factor(s) endogenous to neuronal tissue

An endogenous factor(s) which affects the in vitro binding of (alpha-BGT) to rat brain membranes has previously been found in brain supernatant. This fraction, as well as a partially purified preparation of this material from bovine brain, is here shown to affect the binding of alpha-BGT to chromaffin cell membranes. To study possible long term effects, the supernatant extract was added to adrenal medullary chromaffin cells in culture. The cells were incubated for several days and at the end of this time, the medium bathing the cells, which contained the endogenous factor(s), was removed and alpha-BGT binding to the cells measured. Binding to control cultures had shown that alpha-BGT bound to the chromaffin cells in a saturable manner, with high affinity (Kd = 1.5 nM) and the specificity of a nicotinic receptor ligand. After incubation of the cells with supernatant factor, a marked decline in the number of alpha-BGT binding sites was observed with no change in affinity. This does not appear to be due to a detrimental effect on the cells as cell number did not appear to be decreased in the cultures preincubated with the supernatant extract and the DNA and protein content were similar in the control and treated cultures. The possibility that there was some non-specific detrimental effect to the chromaffin cell membrane was considered; however, the stimulated release of noradrenaline from the cells was not affected by treatment of the cultures in the presence of the supernatant fractions. In addition, tyrosine hydroxylase activity was significantly increased in the treated cultures. D-Tubo-curarine, an antagonist at the acetylcholine receptor, caused an increase in alpha-BGT binding after 7 days of treatment, while the agonist nicotine and choline had no effect. These results suggest that in brain supernatant there may exist an endogenous factor(s), which may function in the regulation of the nicotinic-like alpha-BGT receptors in neuronal cell.

Effect of alpha-bungarotoxin and etorphine on acetylcholine-evoked release of endogenous and radiolabeled catecholamines from primary culture of adrenal chromaffin cells

Cell cultures of adrenal medulla have become an important research tool to study basic processes that regulate catecholamine storage, release and synthesis. Release has been studied either by labeling with [3H]norepinephrine and measuring release of radioactivity or by measuring the endogenous catecholamines released with HPLC. Acetylcholine (5 X 10(-6)-10(-4) M) appears to release preferentially norepinephrine, although the cells store more epinephrine than norepinephrine. Etorphine and alpha-bungarotoxin antagonize the release of catecholamines elicited by acetylcholine. This inhibitory action appears to be greater when the measurement of endogenous catecholamines rather than radioactive norepinephrine is used to monitor the action of acetylcholine. The data suggest that the measurement of endogenous catecholamines by HPLC is preferable to the [3H]NE loading and release technique, especially when analyzing the effects of low concentrations of drugs that are thought to affect nicotinic receptor function.

Specific binding of alpha-bungarotoxin to synaptic membranes in rat sympathetic ganglion: computer best-fit analysis of electron microscope radioautographs

In the rat superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (SCG), alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha BT) demonstrates binding that is saturable and inhibited by nicotinic ligands. However, alpha BT does not inhibit the physiological response of ganglionic neurons to preganglionic stimulation or to exogenously applied acetylcholine. Thus the specificity of alpha BT for ganglionic nicotinic cholinergic receptors has been questioned. The present study provides a morphological localization of the binding sites of 125I-labelled alpha BT in the rat SCG using the method of Blackett and Parry on electron microscopic radioautographs. The distribution of grains resulting from specific binding was calculated by subtracting the nonspecific distribution (alpha BT in the presence of D-tubocurarine, a known nicotinic ligand) from the total grain distribution (alpha BT alone). A hypothetical grain distribution was obtained based on the geometrical properties of the tissue sections. A computer minimizing routine was employed to adjust the relative weights of each of the potential sources of hypothetical grains until a 'best-fit' with the real grain distributions occurred. The nonspecific binding of alpha BT was uniform across all tissue components, with the exception of a significant concentration on the membrane of the ganglion cell body. By contrast, the specific binding of alpha BT was highly localized to synaptic membranes, and to a lesser extent, to dendritic membranes.

Use of isolated chromaffin cells to study basic release mechanisms

An account is given of the authors' work with isolated adrenal chromaffin cells to study the synthesis, storage and release of catecholamines and of a number of neuropeptides endogenous to the adrenal medulla. A review of other studies in the literature with the isolated chromaffin cell system is included. It is seen that the isolated chromaffin cells are a convenient in vitro system well-suited to studies of basic release mechanisms. The isolated adrenal chromaffin cells maintain high levels of catecholamines and opiates and release them by exocytosis. The cells have both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors but only the nicotinic are involved in the agonist-evoked release of catecholamines (EC50 nicotine 5 X 10(-6) M: ACh 5 X 10(-5) M). The cells can synthesize AChE and selectively release the 10S molecular form by a mechanism different from exocytosis. Substance P (SP) modulates the secretion of catecholamines and ATP evoked by ACh or nicotine but not that evoked by K+ or veratridine. SP appears to interact with the nicotinic receptor-ionophore complex to regulate Na+ entry. SP receptors on the chromaffin cells show similar structural requirements to SP receptors in other SP responsive tissues. Binding studies on isolated chromaffin cell membranes with [4-3H-Phe]SP have shown specific binding in the nM range. In addition, at high concentrations of ACh, SP protects against nicotinic receptor desensitization. Since SP is contained in the splanchnic nerve terminals that innervate the medulla, the demonstration of SP action and SP receptors on the chromaffin cells suggests a physiological role for SP in the regulation of secretion from the adrenal medulla. Somatostatin (SS) and a number of SS analogues also inhibit release, but are approximately 15-fold less potent than SP. Leu- and Met-enkephalin, which are co-stored with adrenaline in the bovine adrenal medullary cells produce a non-specific inhibition of the nicotine-evoked release of CA, but enhance the basal release of endogenous catecholamines by a mechanism that is Ca2+-dependent, stereospecific and reversible by naloxone and naltrexone. The implication of these peptide-amine interactions for physiological processes regulating homeostasis in the adrenal are discussed.