Rhythmic membrane potential changes in hamster parasympathetic neurons

Endothelin-1-induced depolarization and hyperpolarization in submandibular ganglion neurons

The effects of endothelin-1 were studied in vitro on neurons in the hamster submandibular ganglion, using the intracellular microelectrode technique. Endothelin (1 microM) caused a depolarization (5.5 +/- 1.2 mV) followed by a hyperpolarization (8.5 +/- 2.8 mV) of the membrane potential. Membrane conductance was increased during the endothelin-induced depolarization and was decreased during the endothelin-induced hyperpolarization. The endothelin-induced depolarization was depressed (mean 43.6%) in a Krebs solution containing zero calcium and high magnesium. The results suggested that the predominant component of the depolarization was mediated by calcium ions. The calcium-insensitive component of depolarization was carried by chloride ions. Endothelin-induced slow rhythmic hyperpolarizations were probably induced by a decrease in chloride ion conductance.

A slow calcium-dependent chloride current in rhythmic hyperpolarization in neurones of the rabbit vesical pelvic ganglia

1. Voltage-clamp recordings were made from neurones of vesical pelvic ganglia isolated from the rabbit urinary bladder. A rhythmic outward current, ISH, which corresponds to the spontaneous hyperpolarization, occurred at fairly constant intervals in fifty-eight of eighty-four neurones superfused with Krebs solution. The peak amplitude of the ISH was 0.5 +/- 0.2 nA (n = 48; mean +/- S.E.M.). 2. The ISH was eliminated in a Krebs solution containing nominally zero calcium and 12 mM-magnesium. Lowering the temperature of the superfusing solution from 36 to 22 degrees C also inhibited the occurrence of the ISH. 3. Bath application of caffeine increased the frequency of ISH. In contrast, ryanodine and procaine reversibly blocked ISH. 4. In thirty-four of fifty-eight neurones, the ISH was composed of two current components, an initial fast ISH with duration of 1-10 s and a slow ISH lasting 15-60 s. In the remaining twenty-four neurones, ISH showed only the fast component. 5. The fast ISH was associated with an increased membrane conductance and the slow ISH was associated with a decreased membrane conductance. The reversal potentials of the fast and the slow ISH were -88 +/- 7 mV (n = 4) and -30 +/- 6 mV (n = 4), respectively. 6. Tetraethylammonium (5 mM) and barium (1 mM) blocked the fast ISH but not the slow ISH. Intracellular caesium injected by ionophoresis through a Cs(+)-filled microelectrode blocked the fast ISH, without affecting the slow ISH. Apamin and (+)-tubocurarine selectively suppressed the fast component of the ISH. 7. Substitution of isethionate (67 mM) for chloride increased the amplitude of the slow ISH and shifted the reversal potential of the slow ISH to +1 +/- 8 mV (n = 5). A slow ISH with amplitude of 0.1-1 nA and was still observed in a low-sodium (26.2 mM) solution. The stilbene derivative, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS), a chloride channel blocker, suppressed the slow ISH. 8. These results suggest that ISH is composed of two distinct calcium-dependent currents, a fast ISH produced by activation of potassium conductance and a slow ISH produced by inactivation of chloride conductance. 9. The after-hyperpolarization (AHP) following the action potential was also composed of apamin-sensitive and insensitive spontaneous hyperpolarizing oscillations. The apamin-insensitive component of IAHP was increased by lowering external chloride activity, while it was depressed by SITS.

Gustatory-salivary reflex: neural activity of sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers innervating the submandibular gland of the hamster

Electrophysiological experiments were performed to clarify the neural control mechanisms subserving gustatory-salivary reflex in anesthetized and decerebrate hamsters. Efferent neural activities of postganglionic sympathetic and preganglionic parasympathetic fibers, innervating the submandibular gland, were recorded when taste stimuli were infused into the oral cavity. Neural activities of primary gustatory afferents were also recorded from the chorda tympani (innervating the anterior part of the tongue) and the glossopharyngeal nerve (innervating the posterior part of the tongue). The parasympathetic fibers showed a low rate of spontaneous discharges (about 0.3 Hz), and responded tonically in an excitatory manner to taste stimulation. The magnitude of parasympathetic activity was highly correlated with the magnitude of gustatory afferent responses of the chorda tympani rather than that of the glossopharyngeal nerve. On the other hand, the sympathetic fibers showed irregular burst discharges (1.5 burst/s), and the rate of burst discharges was increased in response to high concentrations of HCl (0.03 M) or NaCl (1 M) solutions. Deafferentation experiments suggest that the parasympathetic activity is mainly influenced by gustatory information via the chorda tympani, while the sympathetic activity can be evoked by both the chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerve.

Calcium-dependent potassium conductance in neurons of rabbit vesical pelvic ganglia

Intracellular recordings were made from neurons of vesical pelvic (parasympathetic) ganglia (VPG) isolated from the rabbit urinary bladder. Spontaneous hyperpolarizations (SH), occurring at intervals of 30 s to 5 min, could be recorded from 53% of VPG neurons in Krebs solution. The action potential was associated with inward sodium and calcium currents and was followed by fast and slow afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs). The action potential also evoked an additional hyperpolarization which was identical to the SH. The SH and the AHPs were associated with a decrease in the input resistance and reversed their polarity close to the potassium equilibrium potential. Intracellular cesium ions blocked the AHPs and the SH. Superfusing the preparation with a calcium-free solution produced a depolarization associated with an increased input resistance. The outward rectification activated at the resting membrane potential was depressed in the calcium-free solution. The removal of extracellular calcium ions also depressed both the SH and the spike AHPs. Bath-application of caffeine (1-3 mM) increased the frequency of the appearance of the SH. Injection of EGTA into VPG neurons caused a depolarization due to a blockade of the outward rectification. EGTA also depressed the slow AHP and the SH. These results suggest that the neuronal membrane of the rabbit VPG is endowed with a calcium-dependent potassium conductance (gKCa). Apamin (0.3-5 nM) and (+)-tubocurarine (30-300 microM) blocked the slow AHP and the SH without affecting the fast AHP and the resting membrane potential. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 0.3-5 mM) suppressed the fast AHP and the SH without affecting the outward rectification. TEA augmented the slow AHP. Barium ions (0.1-1 mM) depressed the AHPs, the SH and the outward rectification. These pharmacological properties imply that at least 3 kinds of gKCa systems underlie the generation of the outward rectification, the spike AHPs and the SH.

Urinary bladder intramural neurones: an electrophysiological study utilizing a tissue culture preparation

An enzymic dispersion technique was used to free the intramural ganglia from their usual close association with the other components of the urinary bladder wall. The isolated ganglia obtained were viable and could be kept in culture for several weeks. The development of the cultures was monitored by phase-contrast microscopy and their electrophysiological properties were investigated using intracellular recording techniques. Neurones could be visually identified after 2-3 days in culture; cell groups contained from 2-50 neurones. Three types of spontaneous activity were seen: small changes in membrane potential and action potentials, and slow oscillatory conductance changes. These events were not blocked by hexamethonium but were abolished by hyperpolarizing current. Most neurones spiked without adaptation to direct stimulation; in a few cells the train of spikes was damped out. No neurones generated long afterhyperpolarizations. Indirect stimulation produced responses in the ganglia which are consistent with synaptic activity. Summation of inputs was demonstrated. These results provide evidence for local intraganglionic circuits since the ganglia or neurone groups are unequivocally extrinsically denervated. It was concluded that the intramural ganglia have the capacity to integrate preganglionic input and the question of whether or not they might mediate reflex activity is raised.