Voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in rat striatal synaptosomes: role on the [Ca2+]i responses to membrane depolarization

Electrogenic Na+/Ca2+-exchange of nerve and muscle cells

The plasma membrane Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchanger is a bi-directional electrogenic (3Na(+):1Ca(2+)) and voltage-sensitive ion transport mechanism, which is mainly responsible for Ca(2+)-extrusion. The Na(+)-gradient, required for normal mode operation, is created by the Na(+)-pump, which is also electrogenic (3Na(+):2K(+)) and voltage-sensitive. The Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchanger operational modes are very similar to those of the Na(+)-pump, except that the uncoupled flux (Na(+)-influx or -efflux?) is missing. The reversal potential of the exchanger is around -40 mV; therefore, during the upstroke of the AP it is probably transiently activated, leading to Ca(2+)-influx. The Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange is regulated by transported and non-transported external and internal cations, and shows ATP(i)-, pH- and temperature-dependence. The main problem in determining the role of Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange in excitation-secretion/contraction coupling is the lack of specific (mode-selective) blockers. During recent years, evidence has been accumulated for co-localisation of the Na(+)-pump, and the Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchanger and their possible functional interaction in the "restricted" or "fuzzy space." In cardiac failure, the Na(+)-pump is down-regulated, while the exchanger is up-regulated. If the exchanger is working in normal mode (Ca(2+)-extrusion) during most of the cardiac cycle, upregulation of the exchanger may result in SR Ca(2+)-store depletion and further impairment in contractility. If so, a normal mode selective Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange inhibitor would be useful therapy for decompensation, and unlike CGs would not increase internal Na(+). In peripheral sympathetic nerves, pre-synaptic alpha(2)-receptors may regulate not only the VSCCs but possibly the reverse Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange as well.

Therapeutically relevant concentrations of neomycin selectively inhibit P-type Ca2+ channels in rat striatum

The effects of neomycin on voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels (VACCs) were studied by Ca(2+)-dependent K(+)- and veratridine-evoked [3H]dopamine release from rat striatal slices. Neomycin (0.01-1 mM) concentration dependently reduced K(+)-evoked [3H]dopamine release (IC(50) approximately 25 microM), producing approximately 98% inhibition at 1 mM. Contribution of N-, P- and Q-type Ca(2+) channels to this neomycin-sensitive [3H]dopamine release was tested by the combined application of 100 microM neomycin and selective Ca(2+) channel blockers. The effects of neomycin combined with 1 microM of omega-conotoxin GVIA (N-type Ca(2+) channels) or with 100 nM of omega-conotoxin MVIIC (Q-type Ca(2+) channels) were additive, excluding involvement of N- and Q-type Ca(2+) channels. However, the combined effects of neomycin with 30 nM of omega-agatoxin-IVA (P-type Ca(2+) channels) were not additive, suggesting involvement of P-type Ca(2+) channels in neomycin-induced inhibition of [3H]dopamine release. On the other hand, veratridine-evoked [3H]dopamine release was shown to be mediated by Q-type Ca(2+) channels only. In addition, neither the inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase thapsigargin (500 nM) nor the blocker of sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine Ca(2+) channels ryanodine (30 microM) modulate veratridine-evoked [3H]dopamine release, suggesting no contribution of intracellular Ca(2+) stores. Neomycin (up to 100 microM) did not affect veratridine-evoked [3H]dopamine release, suggesting that intracellular Ca(2+) stores are not a prerequisite for the action of neomycin. Lack of inhibitory effect of neomycin is taken as additional indirect evidence for the involvement of P-type Ca(2+) channels. In conclusion, therapeutically relevant concentrations of neomycin preferentially block P-type Ca(2+) channels which regulate dopamine release in rat striatum. This block could be responsible for aminoglycoside-induced toxicity.

Non-specific effects of the MEK inhibitors PD098,059 and U0126 on glutamate release from hippocampal synaptosomes

In order to investigate a role for the extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) on hippocampal neurotransmitter release, we studied the effect of commonly used MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK]/ERK kinase) inhibitors, PD098,059 and U0126, on depolarization-induced glutamate release. PD098,059 inhibited glutamate release from hippocampal synaptosomes stimulated with 15 mM KCl in a concentration-dependent manner. At the same range of concentrations, PD098,059 inhibited basal and KCl-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. U0126, however, did not significantly affect KCl-evoked glutamate release at concentrations shown to inhibit ERK activity. Nonetheless, U0126 unspecifically potentiated depolarization-induced Ca2+-independent glutamate release, which masked a small dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the Ca2+-dependent release. PD098,059 reduced the [Ca2+]i response to KCl by partially inhibiting Ca2+ entry through N- and P-/Q-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, whereas U0126 did not affect depolarization-induced Ca2+ influx. To overcome the unspecific effect of PD098,059 on Ca2+ entry, we studied the effect of both MEK inhibitors on glutamate release stimulated by a Ca2+ ionophore. PD098,029 and U0126 showed a small dose-dependent inhibitory effect on ionomycin-induced glutamate release, at concentrations shown to inhibit ionomycin-stimulated ERK phosphorylation. These findings uncover new unspecific actions for both MEK inhibitors and suggest a minor role for ERK in modulating glutamate release in the hippocampus.

Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+))-evoked dopamine release from rat striatal slices: possible roles of voltage-dependent calcium channels and reverse dopamine transport

We examined the properties of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (VDCCs) mediating 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+))-evoked [3H]DA release from rat striatal slices. In some cases, the Ca(2+)-independent efflux of neurotransmitters is mediated by the high-affinity neurotransmitter-uptake systems. To determine whether such a mechanism might be involved in MPP(+)-evoked [3H]DA release. MPP(+) (1,10 and 100 microM) evoked the release of [3H]DA from rat striatal slices in a concentration-dependent manner. In the absence of Ca(2+), MPP(+) (10 and 100 microM)-evoked [3H]DA release was significantly decreased to approximately 50% of control (a physiological concentration of Ca(2+)). In the presence of Ca(2+), nomifensine (0.1,1 and 10 microM) dose-dependently and significantly inhibited the MPP(+)-evoked release of [3H]DA. Nomifensine (1 and 10 microM) also dose-dependently and significantly inhibited the MPP(+)-evoked release of [3H]DA under Ca(2+)-free conditions. MPP(+)-evoked [3H]DA release was partly inhibited by nicardipine (1 and 10 microM), an L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker. On the other hand, the N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker omega-conotoxin-GVIA (omega-CTx-GVIA) (1 and 3 microM) did not affect this release. omega-agatoxin-IVA (omega-Aga-IVA) at low concentrations (0.1 microM), which are sufficient to block P-type Ca(2+) channels alone, also had no effect. On the other hand, MPP(+)-evoked [3H]DA release was significantly decreased by high concentrations of omega-Aga-IVA (0.3 microM) that would inhibit Q-type Ca(2+) channels. In addition, application of the Q-type Ca(2+) channel blocker omega-conotoxin-MVIIC (omega-CTx-MVIIC) (0.3 and 1 microM) also significantly inhibited MPP(+)-evoked [3H]DA release. These results suggest that MPP(+)-evoked [3H]DA release from rat striatal slices is largely mediated by Q-type Ca(2+) channels, and the Ca(2+)-independent component is mediated by reversal of the DA transport system.

Modulation of Ca2+ channels by activation of adenosine A1 receptors in rat striatal glutamatergic nerve terminals

We determined that activation of adenosine A1 receptors in striatal synaptosomes with 100 nM N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) inhibited both the release of endogenous glutamate and the increase of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), due to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) stimulation, by 28 and 19%, respectively. Furthermore, CPA enhanced the inhibition of endogenous glutamate release due to omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-Cgtx GVIA), omega-Cgtx MVIIC or omega-Cgtx GVIA plus omega-Cgtx MVIIC. Similar effects were observed in the [Ca2+]i signal. The inhibitory effects of CPA and omega-Cgtx GVIA were additive, but the effects of CPA and omega-Cgtx MVIIC were only partially additive. These results suggest that P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and other type(s) of Ca2+ channel(s), coupled to glutamate release, are inhibited subsequently to activation of adenosine A1 receptors.