Release of [14C]quinacrine from peripheral and central nerves

Exocytosis of ATP from astrocyte progenitors modulates spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and cell migration

In the mature central nervous system (CNS) regulated secretion of ATP from astrocytes is thought to play a significant role in cell signaling. Whether such a mechanism is also operative in the developing nervous system and, if so, during which stage of development, has not been investigated. We have tackled this question using cells derived from reconstituted neurospheres, as well as brain explants of embryonic mice. Here, we show that in both models of neural cell development, astrocyte progenitors are competent for the regulated secretion of ATP-containing vesicles. We further document that this secretion is dependent on cytosolic Ca(2+) and the v-SNARE system, and takes place by exocytosis. Interference with ATP secretion alters spontaneous Ca(2+) oscillations and migration of neural progenitors. These data indicate that astrocyte progenitors acquire early in development the competence for regulated secretion of ATP, and that this event is implicated in the regulation of at least two cell functions, which are critical for the proper morphogenesis and functional maturation of the CNS.

Quinacrine staining of marginal cells in the stria vascularis of the guinea-pig cochlea: a possible source of extracellular ATP?

There is accumulating evidence for a purinergic humoral system involved in the control of cochlear function. Evidence of specific P2 purinoceptors on cochlear tissues implies a role for extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the cochlea. To further this hypothesis a study was undertaken to determine if there was any specific source of purine compounds in cochlear tissues. Cochlear tissues (the sensory epithelium and lateral wall) from the guinea pig were incubated with the acridine derivative quinacrine dihydrochloride (5 x 10(-6) M in phosphate-buffered saline for 30 min at room temperature) which fluoresces on binding to high concentrations of ATP. Most cochlear tissues showed a diffuse green fluorescence slightly above the background level. However, a region of the marginal cells of the stria vascularis showed a specific punctate fluorescence. Optical sectioning of these cells by confocal microscopy revealed that the fluorescent structures in these marginal cells was confined to a region up to 10 microns from their endolymphatic surface. Similar cells studied by transmission electron microscopy showed membrane-bound vesicles located in the same region of the cell. These data imply that purine compounds are localized in discrete structures, perhaps vesicles, within the marginal cells which could serve as a source of extracellular ATP in the cochlea.

Quinacrine-induced degeneration of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic autonomic nerves in the rat anococcygeus muscle

The morphological changes induced in the autonomic nerves of the rat anococcygeus muscle after the injection of quinacrine (QC, 100 or 200 mg/kg) were examined by electron microscopy in order to clarify the nature of QC-binding nerves seen at the fluorescence-microscopic level. A correspondence between granular QC fluorescence and many lysosomal dense bodies is observed both in the cytoplasm of muscle cells and in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) axons during the first few days following injection. A number of brilliantly fluorescent fibres is observed 1 week after injection. At the ultrastructural level, these fibres seem to correlate with NANC axons which are crowded with many dense bodies and large granular vesicles. Notably, some lysosomal dense bodies contain many large granular vesicles. The effects of QC injection on the ultrastructure of adrenergic axons have also been observed, but are not so marked as in the NANC axons. The administration of QC did not cause complete degeneration of the NANC nerves, though degenerating axons were sometimes observed. The present data indicate that most, if not all, QC-binding nerves observed at the fluorescence-microscopic level correspond to NANC nerves at the electron-microscopic level. Furthermore, NANC axons appear to contain a considerable amount of ATP concentrated in the large granular vesicles.