Small pial vessels, but not choroid plexus, exhibit specific biochemical correlates of functional cholinergic innervation

Ventricular choline transport: a role for organic cation transporter 2 expressed in choroid plexus

To determine whether organic cation transporter (OCT) family members might mediate choline transport in choroid plexus (CP), the handling of choline by cloned transporters and by intact CP isolated from the adult rat was investigated. Expression of OCT1 and OCT2 in Xenopus oocytes increased hemicholinium-3-sensitive choline uptake. In contrast, OCT3 did not mediate choline transport. Estimated K(m) values for choline in rOCT1-, rOCT2-, and hOCT2-expressing oocytes were 346 +/- 50, 441 +/- 67, and 102 +/- 80 microm, respectively. Membrane potential was the major driving force for choline uptake in rat and human OCT2-expressing oocytes and in intact CP in vitro. Lowering of medium pH (6 versus 7.4) was equally effective at inhibiting choline uptake in CP, suggesting that there might be a non-OCT component of choline uptake that is responsive to an H(+) gradient. However, choline efflux from CP was not stimulated by a trans-applied H(+) gradient. Choline uptake by CP was Na(+)-independent with an estimated K(m) of 183 microm. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction detected OCT2 and OCT3, but not OCT1, mRNA expression in CP. Transfection of intact CP with a rOCT2/green fluorescent protein fusion construct resulted in strong apical membrane fluorescence with no detectable signal in the basal and lateral plasma membranes. These data indicate that OCT2 mediates choline transport across the ventricular membrane of CP.

Choline uptake across the ventricular membrane of neonate rat choroid plexus

The uptake of [3H]choline from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) side of the rat neonatal choroid plexus was characterized in primary cultures of the choroidal epithelium grown on solid supports. Cell-to-medium concentration ratios were approximately 5 at 1 min and as high as 70 at 30 min. Apical choline uptake was facilitated; the Km was approximately 50 microM. Several organic cations (e.g., hemicholinium-3 and N1-methylnicotinamide) inhibited uptake. The reduction or removal of external Na+ or the addition of 5 mM LiCl had no effect on uptake. However, increasing external K+ concentration from 3 to 30 mM depolarized ventricular membrane potential (-70 to -15 mV) and reduced uptake to 45% of that for the control. Treatment with 1 mM ouabain or 2 mM BaCl2 reduced uptake 45%, and intracellular acidification reduced uptake to approximately 90% of that for controls. These data indicate that the uptake of choline from CSF across the ventricular membrane of the neonatal choroidal epithelium is not directly coupled to Na+ influx but is sensitive to plasma membrane electrical potential.

Ultrastructural localization of cholinergic muscarinic receptors in rat brain cortical capillaries

Cholinergic innervation of the cerebrovasculature is known to regulate vascular tone, perfusion rate and permeability of the microvascular wall. Notably the cholinergic innervation of cerebral capillaries is of interest since these capillaries form the blood-brain barrier. Although there is a general consensus as to the presence of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the domain of the capillary wall, their precise anatomical position is unknown. The subcellular localization of muscarinic receptors in rat cortical capillaries was approached by way of immunocytochemistry at the ultrastructural level using monoclonal antibody M35 against muscarinic receptor protein. Binding of this antibody in the microvascular domain was found in 5% of the capillaries studied and was exclusively present in perivascular astroglia, and never in endothelium or pericytes. Combined with reported data on presynaptic cholinergic innervation the results indicate a cholinergic innervation pattern of non-directed presynaptic terminal structures in apposition to cholinoceptive perivascular astroglia with muscarinic receptor positive endfeet embracing the capillary basement membrane. The possible functional significance of such a cholinergic vascular innervation pattern is discussed with respect to capillary dynamics and barrier function.

Cholinergic and vasoactive intestinal polypeptidergic innervation of the cerebral arteries

Acetylcholine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are not only two vasoactive agonists that predominantly induce a vasodilatation of the cerebral arteries, but also correspond to neurotransmitters that innervate the various anatomical segments of the cerebral vasculature. The distinct patterns of the cerebrovascular cholinergic and vasoactive intestinal polypeptidergic innervation, their neurochemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, as well as the putative pathophysiological implications of these neurotransmission systems are critically summarized on the basis of the most recently published literature.

Nicotinic cholinergic receptors associated with mammalian cerebral vessels

Current evidence suggests that the cerebral vasculature may be modulated by cholinergic nerves. We used ligand binding methods to examine the presence of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in brain vasculature. We found carbachol-displaceable [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) and [3H]nicotine (NIC) binding sites in preparations of intraparenchymal cerebral microvessels (CMV) and larger pial vessels from human and pig brains. Specific binding sites for [3H]ACh and [3H]NIC in cerebral microvessels were saturable and comparable in density to those in cerebral cortex. The Kds for the two ligands ranged 3-18 nM whereas the Bmaxs were 25-45 fmol/mg protein. In contrast, the binding of [3H]pirenzipine or [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, index for muscarinic receptors, was low (9-15% of cortex) in microvessels compared to the cerebral cortex. Our observations suggest the association of cholinergic nicotinic receptors with cerebral microvessels, which may be involved in the modulation of the cerebral circulation by cholinergic neurons.

Neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms in the choroid plexus-cerebrospinal fluid system

The CSF is often regarded as merely a mechanical support for the brain, as well as an unspecific sink for waste products from the CNS. New methodology in receptor autoradiography, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology has revealed the presence of many different neuroendocrine substances or their corresponding receptors in the main CSF-forming structure, the choroid plexus. Both older research on the sympathetic nerves and recent studies of peptide neurotransmitters in the choroid plexus support a neurogenic regulation of choroid plexus CSF production and other transport functions. Among the endocrine substances present in blood and CSF, 5-HT, ANP, vasopressin and the IGFs have high receptor concentrations in the choroid plexus and have been shown to influence choroid plexus function. Finally, the choroid plexus produces the growth factor IGF-II and a number of transport proteins, most importantly transthyretin, that might regulate hormone transport from blood to brain. These studies suggest that the choroid plexus-CSF system could constitute an important pathway for neuroendocrine signalling in the brain, although clearcut evidence for such a role is still largely lacking.

Periendothelial acetylcholine synthesis and release in bovine cerebral cortex capillaries

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity is present in isolated cerebral capillaries, where it has been considered to be a marker for perivascular cholinergic nerve terminals. However, ChAT-like immunoreactivity has been visualized in endothelial cells. This finding raised the possibility that at least part of the biochemically detected ChAT has a nonneuronal origin. To evaluate the relative contribution of endothelial cells and nerve fibers to the total acetylcholine (ACh)-synthesizing capacity of cerebral capillaries, ChAT activity and ACh release were measured in capillaries and in purified endothelial cells isolated from bovine cerebral cortex. Isolated capillaries showed ChAT activity, which was inhibited by 2-benzoylethyl trimethylammonium to the same extent as cerebral ChAT. When preincubated with [3H]choline, these capillaries presented a calcium-dependent enhancement in tritium release upon electrical field stimulation. Purified endothelial cells had minor ChAT activity and lacked the ability to release tritium in response to electrical stimulation, although the endothelial markers alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, and 1,1'-dioctadecyl-1,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-iodocarbocyanide perchlorate-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake were fully preserved. These data indicate that, within isolated cerebral capillaries, ACh is synthesized and released by a periendothelial structure. The fact that ACh release is provoked by electrical stimulation and by a calcium-dependent mechanism strongly suggests that cerebrovascular ACh has a neuronal origin.

Selective age-related changes in neuronal markers and smooth muscle reactivity in cerebrovascular beds of Fischer 344 rats

Choline accumulation, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activities were measured simultaneously in various cerebrovascular beds and brain areas from Fischer 344 rats aged 4.5 and 22 months. A slight (25%) but not significant decrease in choline accumulation was observed concomitantly with a significant increase (187%, p less than 0.05) in ChAT activity in the major cerebral arteries of the 22-month-old rats. In small cortical pial vessels and selected brain regions, cholinergic and GABAergic biochemical markers remain unaltered in aged rats. The vasomotor reactivity of the basilar artery was investigated in rats of 4.5, 12, 22 and 30 months of age. In the 22-month-old rats, maximal responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (-25%, no significant) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (-30%, p less than 0.05 by ANOVA) were less intense as compared to other age-groups despite preserved contractile responses to dopamine, uridine triphosphate or a depolarizing concentration of K+. Relaxations induced by histamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, adenosine and somatostatin were strictly comparable among the different age-groups. The sensitivity of the basilar artery to all vasoactive agents failed to demonstrate any correlation with age. Our study suggests that cerebrovascular cholinergic and GABAergic markers undergo minor and selective changes with increasing age. Further, basilar artery vasomotor functions appeared relatively spared by the aging process despite age-related selective decreases in contractile responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha.