Choline fluxes in primary nerve cell cultures. Correlation with the endocellular metabolism of choline

The metabolic fate of [3H-methyl]choline in cultured human neuroblastoma cell lines, LA-N-1 and LA-N-2

The conversion of choline in cultures of the human neuroblastoma cell lines, LA-N-1 and LA-N-2 cells, was investigated in order to identify potential precursors in acetylcholine (AcCho) synthesis. LA-N-1, a catecholaminergic and LA-N-2, a cholinergic, cell line were incubated with [3H-methyl]choline (Cho) for varying periods of time up to 72 h. The radioactivity present in lipids and water-soluble metabolites increased linearly up to 24 h in both cell lines. Approximately 20% of the radioactivity associated with the water-soluble metabolites in both control (untreated) and retinoic acid-induced differentiated (RA-treated cells) LA-N-2 cells was present as Cho and AcCho. There was no detectable AcCho in the catecholaminergic cell line, LA-N-1. The untreated and RA-treated LA-N-1 and LA-N-2 cells were labeled for 24 h with [3H-methyl]Cho, followed by a chase in growth medium containing 100 microM unlabeled choline. The distribution of radioactivity in the LA-N-2 cells was 6-10% of AcCho, 84-89% as phosphocholine (PCho), 1-3% as glycerophosphocholine (GroPCho), and 2-4% as Cho. The distribution of radioactivity in the LA-N-1 cells was similar except for the absence of AcCho. The distribution of radioactivity in the culture medium of LA-N-1 cells was 70-80% as Cho, 20-30% as PCho, and 1-3% as GroPCho. In contrast, the radioactivity was equally distributed between Cho (50%) and PCho (50%), with only 1-3% as GroPCho in the medium of LA-N-2 cells.

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

In an attempt to provide the biochemical foundations for a putative cholinergic innervation of small pial vessels and choroid plexus, we have assessed their ability to specifically accumulate choline, synthesize and release acetylcholine (ACh) in response to depolarization. Our results show that both small pial vessels and choroid plexus avidly accumulate choline via a sodium-dependent mechanism which could be inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (IC50 in pial vessels = 47.8 microM). Light microscopic examination of radioautographs from vessels incubated with [3H]choline revealed two distinct sites of accumulation in the vessel wall. One site probably corresponded to nerve terminals and the other was closely associated with the endothelial cells. In small pial vessels, a major proportion (60%-70%) of the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity could be inhibited by 4-naphthylvinylpyridine (4-NVP), a potent inhibitor of neuronal ChAT; and, following either K+ or veratridine depolarization, a Ca2(+)-dependent release of authentic [3H]ACh could be measured. In contrast, the choroid plexus exhibited a rather low ChAT activity which was not inhibited by 4-NVP and no release of ACh could be detected in this tissue following depolarization. Altogether, the results of the present study show that (1) small pial vessels exhibit all the most selective biochemical markers that are characteristic of cholinergic nerves; (2) [3H]choline in pial vessels can be accumulated in non-neuronal elements which probably correspond to the endothelial cells; and (3) the choroid plexus failed to exhibit convincing biochemical markers that would attest in favor of a functional cholinergic innervation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Choline uptake by cerebral capillary endothelial cells in culture

A passage of choline from blood to brain and vice versa has been demonstrated in vivo. Because of the presence of the blood-brain barrier, such passage takes place necessarily through endothelial cells. To get a better understanding of this phenomenon, the choline transport properties of cerebral capillary endothelial cells have been studied in vitro. Bovine endothelial cells in culture were able to incorporate [3H]choline by a carrier-mediated mechanism. Nonlinear regression analysis of the uptake curves suggested the presence of two transport components in cells preincubated in the absence of choline. One component showed a Km of 7.59 +/- 0.8 microM and a maximum capacity of 142.7 +/- 9.4 pmol/2 min/mg of protein, and the other one was not saturable within the concentration range used (1-100 microM). When cells were preincubated in the presence of choline, a single saturable component was observed with a Km of 18.5 +/- 0.6 microM and a maximum capacity of 452.4 +/- 42 pmol/2 min/mg of protein. [3H]Choline uptake by endothelial cells was temperature dependent and was inhibited by the choline analogs hemicholinium-3, deanol, and AF64A. The presence of ouabain or 2,4-dinitrophenol did not affect the [3H]choline transport capacity of endothelial cells. Replacement of sodium by lithium and cell depolarization by potassium partially inhibited choline uptake. When cells had been preincubated without choline, recently transported [3H]choline was readily phosphorylated and incorporated into cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine and phospholipids; however, under steady-state conditions most (63%) accumulated [3H]choline was not metabolized within 1 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Choline acetyltransferase-like activity bound to neuronal plasma membranes

A form of CAT-like activity was found bound present in rat brain synaptosomal membranes which could be recovered in the Triton X-114 phase. The enzyme activity was slightly activated by NaCl, had a pH maximum around 8 and showed a temperature dependence with a Q10 of 2.28. It was inhibited 100% by 10(-6) M naphthyl vinyl pyridinium but not by 10(-5) M diisopropyl phosphofluoridate. The kinetics of this bound form of CAT were similar to the soluble form of the enzyme. The Km was 405 +/- 58 microM for choline and 62 +/- 8 microM for AcCoA. Five isoelectric forms were found with pH's of 4.55, 6.05, 7.05, 7.36, and 8.00 which is in contrast to the three isoelectric forms found of the soluble enzyme in rat brain. The presence of a CAT-like activity in the plasma membrane was confirmed with experiments performed using intact synaptosomes and intact cells in culture. Acetylcholine, synthesized from radioactive AcCoA by intact rat brain synaptosomes, was recovered in the incubation medium and only in the presence of exogenous choline or when the production of choline was stimulated by oleate via the activation of phospholipase D. This was also seen in experiments with intact pheochromocytoma cell cultures (PC 12) which synthesize acetylcholine that was recovered in the incubation medium. Acetylcholine formation in the presence of choline and AcCoA was stimulated in cells that had been grown in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Uptake of ethanolamine in neuronal and glial cell cultures

The uptake of radioactive ethanolamine has been studied in exclusively neuronal and glial cell cultures from dissociated cerebral hemispheres of chick embryos. Both cell types show saturable kinetics; neurons have an apparent Km of 6.7 microM, Vmax 41.4 pmol mg prot.-1 min-1 and glial cells a Km of 119.6 microM, Vmax 3,917 pmol mg prot-1 min-1. The lower affinity of the transport and the 100 fold increase in Vmax observed in glial cells correlated with a more important accumulation of free ethanolamine found in glial cells and with a higher degree of phosphorylation of ethanolamine. The uptake appeared to be temperature and Na+ ions dependent but was not affected by CN- or ouabain. Monomethyl-, dimethylethanolamine and choline were effective in inhibiting the uptake. Little or no effect was observed with serine, methionine, carnitine, alanine or glutamate.

Action of hemicholinium-3 on phospholipid metabolism in Krebs II ascites cells

Incorporation of [Me-14C]choline or/and [2-14C]ethanolamine into phospholipids of Krebs II ascites cells in toto have been tested in the presence of hemicholinium-3. With [Me-14C]choline, labelling of cell pellet, intracellular choline, phosphocholine and total lipid extract is inhibited by hemicholinium-3 in a dose-dependent way between 6.25 X 10(-6) M and 10(-3) M. These effects are caused by a diminution of the choline or/and ethanolamine transport across the cell membrane and by a choline-kinase inhibition. In Krebs cells, choline is taken up by a low affinity Na+ sensitive uptake system (KT = 46 X 10(-6) M) which is competitively inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (KTi = 161 X 10(-6) M). Krebs cells exert a counter-transport (i.e. an exchange of choline across the membrane) against a concentration gradient of 10 mM choline whereas 10 mM hemicholinium-3 has no effect. Choline-kinase is also inhibited (I50 = 57 X 10(-6) M) in Krebs cells in toto and time-course data suggest that choline transport and phosphorylation might be tightly coupled. Specific radioactivities of phosphocholine and choline-glycerophospholipids decrease owing to the effect of the drug on the uptake and phosphorylation system. With 4 X 10(-5) M hemicholinium-3 and [Me-14C]choline as a marker, labelled choline-glycerophospholipids are decreased by 22%. With [2-14C]ethanolamine, labelled ethanolamine-phospholipids are decreased by 26% and choline-glycerophospholipids remain unlabelled. With the two markers, the additional effect produces a 35% decrease. It is concluded that hemicholinium-3 might be able to induce a depression of the intracellular choline and phosphocholine pool which could provoke a serious quantitative deficiency of major phospholipids in Krebs cells.

Synaptosomal phospholipase D potential role in providing choline for acetylcholine synthesis

The phospholipase D of the rat brain synaptic membrane possesses the highest activity of this enzyme of any mammalian tissue examined. The synaptic phospholipase D activity is latent and barely detectable in the absence of 4 mM sodium oleate. Several other fatty acids were either less effective or ineffective as stimulators of activity compared to this monounsaturated fatty acid. The activity was decreased by hemicholinium-3, an inhibitor of choline uptake and slightly activated by neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Incubation of synaptosomes in the presence of sodium oleate and acetyl-coenzyme A resulted in the formation of a product chromatographing with acetylcholine. Acetylcholine formation was nearly undetectable in the absence of sodium oleate or acetyl-coenzyme A. These results implicate synaptosomal phospholipase D in releasing choline from phosphatidylcholine for acetylcholine formation.