Hexamethonium increases the excitability of sympathetic neurons by the blockade of the Ca2+-activated K+ channels

Acetylcholine receptors in rat cardiac neurones

Membrane potential changes produced by acetylcholine (ACh), and their underlying mechanisms, were studied in neurones of isolated cardiac ganglia of the rat by means of intracellular microelectrodes. Five components of membrane potential change could be detected in cardiac neurones following 1-5 s micro-application of ACh: (i) fast depolarization resulting from an activation of nonselective cationic conductance; (ii) slow depolarization associated with a decreased membrane conductance, presumably for potassium ions; slow hyperpolarization which consisted of (iii) early and (iv) late parts resulting from an activation of calcium-sensitive potassium current and from inhibition of steady-state inward current, respectively; and (v) delayed slow hyperpolarization associated with an increased conductance, most likely for potassium ions. Components (i), (iii) and (iv) persisted in the presence of atropine and were inhibited by nicotinic antagonists. Thus they were due to activation of nicotinic ACh receptors. However, the sensitivity of component (i) to ganglion-blocking agents appeared to be rather low: IC50s for inhibiting (i) were 226 +/- 34.2 microM, 31.2 +/- 4.31 microM and 15.3 +/- 3.27 microM for hexamethonium, d-tubocurarine, and trimetaphan, respectively. Components (ii) and (v) were abolished by atropine (1 microM) and mimicked by muscarine (component (ii) also persisted in d-tubocurarine), hence they resulted from activation of muscarinic ACh receptors. It is concluded that cardiac neurones are endowed with both nicotinic and muscarinic ACh receptors. Their activation leads to membrane depolarization and discharges followed by hyperpolarization and inhibition of discharges.

Compound 48/80 blocks transmission and increases the excitability of ganglion neurons

Compound 48/80 (5.0-50 micrograms/ml) significantly and reversibly decreased (1) the amplitude, but not the shape of the compound action potential, (2) the amplitude and duration of the acetylcholine potential and (3) the residual fast excitatory postsynaptic potential recorded from neurons of the 9th and 10th paravertebral ganglia of the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. The excitability of B-type ganglion neurons in the presence of nicotinic and muscarinic receptor antagonists was increased by compound 48/80 without altering the input resistance or membrane potential. In addition, compound 48/80 (10-50 micrograms/ml) significantly decreased the duration of the spike afterhyperpolarization (AHP). The amplitude but not the decay rate of the current underlying the slow component of the spike AHP was decreased by compound 48/80. Compound 48/80 did not, however, alter either the amplitude or the duration of calcium-dependent spikes. Intracellular recordings from dissociated sympathetic neurons also demonstrated a compound 48/80-induced increase in neuronal excitability. These results suggest that compound 48/80 interacts with the nicotinic receptor/channel complex to decrease ganglionic transmission, and also has a direct action to increase neuronal excitability by blocking potassium channels mediating the duration of the spike AHP.

Effects of ryanodine on the spike after-hyperpolarization in sympathetic neurones of the rat superior cervical ganglion

Effects of ryanodine on sympathetic neurones of the rat superior cervical ganglion were investigated by means of intracellular recording. Ryanodine (1 microM) significantly shortened the after-hyperpolarization (AH) following the spike evoked by current injection or pre-ganglionic stimulation without affecting the configuration of the spikes. The shortening of AH caused by ryanodine was dose-dependent at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 microM and was slowly recovered by washing the tissue over 1 h. A partial inhibition of the apamin-sensitive slow component of AH was the maximal effect obtained at 1 microM. Although the input membrane resistance was not changed, ryanodine evoked repetitive discharges at long intervals in response to long depolarizing current pulses applied across the cell membrane. Ryanodine (5 microM) did not depress the Ca-spike but shortened the following AH in a lesser degree than that following the normal spike. Spontaneous small fluctuations of the resting membrane potential were occasionally observed under normal conditions. They were facilitated by caffeine and abolished by ryanodine. Caffeine also enhanced the slow component of the AH but did not affect it in the presence of ryanodine. These results suggest that ryanodine inhibits Ca release from intracellular store sites. The released Ca may contribute to generating the long-lasting AH and to regulating the excitability of rat sympathetic neurones.

Long-duration spike afterhyperpolarizations in neurons from the guinea pig superior cervical ganglion

Intracellular recordings from guinea pig superior cervical ganglia maintained in vitro have revealed a protracted spike afterhyperpolarization in approximately 18% of the principal neurons that is substantially longer (greater than 1 s duration) than those previously reported. This long afterhyperpolarization is distinct from shorter duration afterpotentials in these cells because it can be selectively and reversibly blocked by cooling and by bath applied histamine. Cellular excitability is increased when the long-duration afterhyperpolarization is abolished and thus it deserves consideration as a site for modulation of synaptic transmission through the superior cervical ganglion.

Pharmacological and physiological properties of the after-hyperpolarization current of bullfrog ganglion neurones

1. The slowly decaying, calcium-dependent after-hyperpolarization (a.h.p.) that follows action potentials in bullfrog ganglion B cells has previously been shown to be generated by a potassium current called IAHP. We have recorded IAHP using a switched, single-electrode hybrid clamp where current-clamp mode was changed to voltage-clamp mode immediately after repolarization of a spike or the last spike of a train. 2. Reduction of extracellular calcium reduced the decay time of IAHP following a single spike. At all levels of extracellular calcium tested (0.5-4 mM), the decay time of IAHP was longer following a train of action potentials than following a single action potential. Thus, the time course of IAHP evoked by action potentials is a function of the calcium load induced by the action potentials. Conversely, agents that reduce the amount of IAHP activated without affecting its rate of decay, probably do not affect calcium influx. 3. Muscarine (2 or 10 microM) inhibits IAHP following an action potential by at most 30% and has no effect on decay rate of IAHP. These results suggest that muscarine has little or no effect on either calcium influx or sequestration. Decay of the a.h.p. is accelerated by muscarine but this effect is due to an increased leak conductance. 4. Charybdotoxin (CTX) between 4 and 20 nM, prolongs action potential duration in a manner consistent with blockade of the voltage- and calcium-dependent potassium current (Ic) involved in spike repolarization in these cells. This action is consistent with its reported action on analogous channels in other systems. However, CTX also reduces IAHP. Thus, in bullfrog ganglion neurones, two distinct calcium-dependent potassium currents exhibit a comparable sensitivity to CTX. This cannot be due to a decreased influx of calcium because the decay rate of IAHP following an action potential is unchanged. The action of CTX was observed with both crude and purified preparations of CTX. 5. Apamin (25 nM) and (+)-tubocurarine (concentration giving 50% of maximal inhibition = 20 microM) block IAHP without affecting action potential duration. The action of (+)-tubocurarine is more readily reversible than apamin. Approximately 20% of IAHP is resistant to blockade by either apamin or (+)-tubocurarine. 6. Muscarine was used to block the M-current (IM) selectively and (+)-tubocurarine was used to inhibit IAHP selectively. Both currents were shown to contribute to spike frequency adaptation. Inhibition of both IM and IAHP has a synergistic action to increase repetitive firing.

Blockade of Ca-activated K conductance by apamin in rat sympathetic neurones

Effects of apamin on rat sympathetic neurones were investigated by means of intracellular and extracellular recording. Apamin (50 nM) significantly shortened the after-hyperpolarization (AH) following the spike evoked by current injection and slightly decreased its peak amplitude without affecting the time course of the spike. The AH following the synaptically-evoked spike was also blocked by apamin. This effect was dose- and time-dependent (ID50 estimated by extracellular recording approximately 15 nM, 20 min after application) and poorly reversible. Transmission of a single volley was not affected by 50 nM apamin. Though a long depolarizing current caused one or two spikes in the cell, greater repetitive firing was observed in the presence of apamin. Spontaneous repetitive firing, however, was not observed except for anodal-break spikes. Resting potential and input membrane resistance were essentially unchanged by apamin. The maximum rate of rise of the Ca spike was not decreased by 50 nM apamin but the duration of the spike was lengthened by 60%. The AH following the Ca spike was also blocked by apamin. These results suggest that apamin suppressed the slow AH without any inhibition of the Ca flux into the cell and is useful as a blocker of GK(Ca) in the rat sympathetic neurone.