Differential contribution of L- and N-type calcium channels on rat hippocampal acetylcholine release

The effect of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine on hippocampal BDNF/Ach levels in rats with experimental cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurs in approximately 10% to 30% of individuals aged 65 or older worldwide. Novel therapeutic agents therefore need to be discovered in addition to traditional medications. Nimodipine appears to possess the potential to reverse cognitive impairment-induced dysfunction in learning and memory through its regulatory effect on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), acetylcholine (Ach), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) pathway in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 380 ± 10 g were used for behavioral and biochemical analyses. These were randomly and equally assigned into one of three groups. Group 1 received saline solution alone via the intraperitoneal (i.p) route, and Group 2 received 1 mg/kg/day i.p. scopolamine once a day for three weeks for induction of learning and memory impairments. In Group 3, 10 mg/kg/day nimodipine was prepared in tap water and administered orally every day for three weeks, followed after 30 min by 1 mg/kg/day scopolamine i.p. Behavior was evaluated using the Morris Water Maze test. BDNF, ACh, and AChE levels were determined using the ELISA test in line with the manufacturer's instructions.

RESULTS

Nimodipine treatment significantly increased the time spent in the target quadrant and the number of entries into the target quadrant compared to the scopolamine group alone. Additionally, BDNF and ACh levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex decreased following 20-day scopolamine administration, while AChE activation increased.

CONCLUSION

Nimodipine exhibited potentially beneficial effects by ameliorating cognitive decline following scopolamine administration in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

CPP and amlodipine alter the decrease in basal acetylcholine and choline release by audiogenic stimulus in hippocampus of ethanol-withdrawn rats in vivo

Effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and Ca2+ channel antagonists on extracellular acetylcholine and choline release in the hippocampus of ethanol-withdrawn rats were investigated by in vivo microdialysis. Ethanol was administered to Wistar rats in a liquid diet for 28 days. Basal acetylcholine and choline levels significantly increased at the 24th hour of ethanol withdrawal syndrome (EWS). Either an NMDA receptor antagonist (+/-)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) or a calcium channel antagonist amlodipine was administered, and 15 min later, an audiogenic stimulus (100 dB, 1 min) was applied to rats. While audiogenic stimulus increased acetylcholine and had no effect on choline release in control rats, it decreased acetylcholine and increased choline release in ethanol-withdrawn rats. CPP (15 mg/kg) and amlodipine (20 mg/kg) reversed the decrement in acetylcholine and increment in choline release in EW rats. Their effects on acetylcholine and choline release were not different from saline in control rats. Therefore, our findings suggest that, (a) because of adaptive changes in EWS, decrease of the acetylcholine release following audiogenic stimulus may play a role in the triggering of seizures, (b) hippocampal glutamatergic pathway may play a role in the audiogenic stimulus induced decrement of acetylcholine release in EWS, (c) inhibition of this pathway by NMDA receptor and calcium channel antagonists may prevent triggering of the seizures.

Presynaptic modulation of K+-evoked [3H]dopamine release in striatal and frontal cortical synaptosomes of normotensive and spontaneous-hypertensive rats

Regional differences in presynaptic [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) release and its modulation by D2 DA-receptors between the frontal cortex and striatum obtained from Wystar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneous-hypertensive rats (SHR) have been evaluated using superfused synaptosomes. Synaptosomal tritium content was significantly lower in the frontal cortex than in the striatum in both SHR and WKY (approximately 45% and 48%, respectively), but no differences in tritium content were obtained between strains. However, the 15 mM K+-evoked [3H]DA overflow was lower in the SHR as compared to WKY rats in both brain regions (striatum approximately 23%, frontal cortex approximately 21). Concentration-response curves for quinpirole (1nM-10 microM)-mediated inhibition of 15mM K+-evoked [3H]DA release showed no differences between SHR and WKY. These results suggest that SHR has less ability to release [3H]DA as compared to WKY rats, but SHR did not show differences in the autoregulation of such release in both the frontal cortex and striatum.

Differential effect of quinpirole and 7-OH-DPAT on the spontaneous [(3)H]-dopamine efflux from rat striatal synaptosomes

The effect of quinpirole and 7-OH-DAPT, two D(2)-like agonists, were examined using superfused rat striatal synaptosomes to study the autoregulation of spontaneous [(3)H]-dopamine ([(3)H]-DA) release. Basal [(3)H]-DA efflux was Ca(2+)-dependent by approximately 45% and was inhibited by cadmium 10 microM by 24%. Quinpirole (1 nM to 3 microM) inhibited spontaneous [(3)H]-DA efflux in a concentration-dependent manner (pEC(50) = 7.56 +/- 0.07 and E(max) = 26 +/- 0.09%) and this effect was competitively antagonized by haloperidol (0.3-1 nM) (apparent pA(2) = 9.61 +/- 0.08). In addition, activation of the D(2) DA autoreceptor by quinpirole only modulates the calcium-dependent component of [(3)H]-DA efflux. Low concentrations of a putative-selective D(3) DA agonist, (+/-)-7-OH-DPAT (0.03-0.1 microM), inhibited spontaneous [(3)H]-DA release by 13% (P < 0.05), but higher drug concentrations (> or =1 microM) increased basal [(3)H]-DA efflux in a concentration-dependent, nonsaturable, but reversible manner. Haloperidol (1-10 nM) reversed the (+/-)-7-OH-DPAT-induced inhibition, but not the increase in [(3)H]-DA outflow. The effect of (+/-)-7-OH-DPAT was mimicked by (+)-7-OH-DPAT. However, another putative D(3) DA agonist, PD 128,907 (1 nM to 3 microM), decreased spontaneous tritium efflux (maximal inhibition of 19 +/- 3.06% at 3 microM, P < 0.01). The effect of 7-OH-DPAT 10 microM was independent of the presence of extracellular Ca(2+), since its effect on basal [(3)H]-DA outflow was not significantly modified in a 200 nM free-Ca(2+) medium. In addition, the 7-OH-DPAT-induced enhancement of basal [(3)H]-DA efflux does not involve depolarization of nerve terminals or the reversal of the DA uptake system, as tetrodotoxin (1 microM) and nomifensine (1microM) did not modify the effect of 7-OH-DPAT 10 microM. The present data indicate that activation of D(2) DA autoreceptor subtype by quinpirole inhibits Ca(2+)-dependent spontaneous [(3)H]-DA efflux. 7-OH-DPAT activates the D(2) DA autoreceptor at low concentrations, whereas its action in releasing [(3)H]-DA effect is not receptor-mediated and could involve other mechanisms other than either conventional vesicular exocytosis or the DA uptake system.

Presynaptic effect of 7-OH-DPAT on evoked [3H]-acetylcholine release in rat striatal synaptosomes

The objective of the present experiments was to study the presynaptic effect of 7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetraline (7-OH-DPAT, a D(2)-like dopamine receptor agonist) on [3H]-acetylcholine ([3H]-ACh) release induced by potassium (15 mM, 25 mM and 60 mM), potassium channel-blockers (4-aminopyridine, 4-AP; tetraethylammonium, TEA and quinine) and veratridine to gain insight into the mechanisms involved in the activation of the D(2) dopamine-receptor subtype located at striatal cholinergic nerve terminals. 7-OH-DPAT (1 microM) inhibited the evoked [3H]-ACh release induced by K(+) 15 mM in a similar percentage than that obtained during basal conditions (30% and 27%, respectively). Nevertheless, in the presence of 25 mM and 60 mM of K(+) the inhibitory effect of 7-OH-DPAT was completely abolished. 4-AP (1-100 microM) and TEA (1 and 5 mM) significantly enhanced [3H]-ACh release, showing 69.32%+/-7.60% (P<0.001) and 52.27%+/-5.64% (P<0.001), respectively, at the highest concentrations tested. In these conditions, 7-OH-DPAT (1 microM) inhibited the release induced by potassium channel-blockers approximately 25-27%. Quinine (0.1-1 microM) did not alter [3H]-ACh release either in the presence or absence of 7-OH-DPAT. Veratridine 10 microM evoked [3H]-ACh release in the presence of a low-calcium medium, but in such conditions 7-OH-DPAT (1 microM) did not modify the neurotransmitter release in the absence or presence of veratridine. Present data indicate that activation of the presynaptic D(2) dopamine receptor inhibits the [3H]-ACh release by increasing K(+) conductance, as high K(+) concentrations abolished the inhibitory control of 7-OH-DPAT on [3H]-ACh release. This effect could be mediated by potassium channels different from those sensitive to 4-AP, TEA and quinine. In addition, the presynaptic D(2) dopamine-receptor activation seems to not involve changes in intracellular Ca(2+).

Role of calcium on the modulation of spontaneous acetylcholine efflux by the D2 dopamine receptor subtype in rat striatal synaptosomes

The role of calcium in the modulation of spontaneous [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) efflux through presynaptic D2 dopamine hetero-receptors was investigated in rat striatal synaptosomes. The kinetic studies of [3H]ACh efflux in the presence or absence of Ca2+ were carried out in nonstimulating conditions. When Ca2+ was omitted from the superfusion medium, a notable and significant (P<0.001) decrease of tritium efflux (39%) was obtained. While [3H]ACh efflux was insensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX) 1 microM, cadmium (10 microM), a nonselective antagonist of calcium channels, significantly reduced the tritium efflux by 24% (P<0.001), while the L-type calcium antagonist, nifedipine, (30 microM) inhibited the tritium efflux by only 10% (P<0.02). 2-(4-Fenylpiperidine)cyclohexanol (vesamicol), an inhibitor of the vesicular [3H]ACh carrier, significantly depressed the spontaneous tritium efflux in the presence of Ca2+ (60%; P<0.001) and in a low-calcium medium (20%; P<0.001). Although 1 microM of 7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetraline (7-OH-DPAT) inhibited spontaneous [3H]ACh efflux in the presence of calcium, this dopaminergic agonist did not modify the neurotransmitter release in either the low-Ca2+ medium or in the presence of vesamicol. These results suggest that the spontaneous [3H]ACh efflux is a process involving a Ca2+-dependent component (39%), sensitive to calcium channel-blockers and vesamicol, in rat striatal synaptosomes. In addition, activation of the D2 dopamine hetero-receptor only modulates the calcium-dependent component of spontaneous [3H]ACh efflux.

Role of neuropeptide-sensitive L-type Ca(2+) channels in histamine release in gastric enterochromaffin-like cells

Peptides release histamine from enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells because of elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) by either receptor-operated or voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (VDCC). To determine whether VDCCs contribute to histamine release stimulated by gastrin or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), the presence of VDCCs and their possible modulation by peptides was investigated in a 48-h cultured rat gastric cell population containing 85% ECL cells. Video imaging of fura 2-loaded cells was used to measure [Ca(2+)](i), and histamine was assayed by RIA. Cells were depolarized by increasing extracellular K(+) concentrations or by 20 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA(+)). Cell depolarization increased transient and steady-state [Ca(2+)](i) and resulted in histamine release, dependent on extracellular Ca(2+). These K(+)- or TEA(+)-dependent effects on histamine release from ECL cells were coupled to activation of parietal cells in intact rabbit gastric glands, and L-type channel blockade by 2 microM nifedipine inhibited 50% of [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and histamine release. N-type channel blockade by 1 microM omega-conotoxin GVIA inhibited 25% of [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and 14% of histamine release. Inhibition was additive. The effects of 20 mM TEA(+) were fully inhibited by 2 microM nifedipine. Both classes of Ca(2+) channels were found in ECL cells, but not in parietal cells, by RT-PCR. Nifedipine reduced PACAP-induced (but not gastrin-stimulated) Ca(2+) entry and histamine release by 40%. Somatostatin, peptide YY (PYY), and galanin dose dependently inhibited L-type Ca(2+) channels via a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway. L-type VDCCs play a role in PACAP but not gastrin stimulation of histamine release from ECL cells, and the channel opening is inhibited by somatostatin, PYY, and galanin by interaction with a G(i) or G(o) protein.

D2 dopamine receptors and modulation of spontaneous acetylcholine (ACh) release from rat striatal synaptosomes

1. The effect of two D3/2 dopamine receptor agonists, LY-171555 (quinpirole) and 7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT) on spontaneous [3H]-acetylcholine ([3H]-ACh) release were investigated in rat striatal synaptosomes. 2. Quinpirole and 7-OH-DPAT inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the basal efflux of [3H]-ACh with similar Emax (maximal inhibitory effect) values (29.95 +/- 2.91% and 33.19 +/- 1.21%, respectively). Significant differences were obtained between the pEC50 (-log of molar concentration) of quinpirole (7.87 +/- 0.12) and 7-OH-DPAT (7.21 +/- 0.17; P < 0.01). 3. Different concentrations (0.3-10 nM) of haloperidol (D2/3 dopamine receptor antagonist) shifted to the right the concentration-response curves elicited by quinpirole and 7-OH-DPAT, without modifications in the Emax. 4. Slopes of a Schild plot obtained with haloperidol in the presence of quinpirole and 7-OH-DPAT were not significantly different from unity (0.85 +/- 0.05 and 1.17 +/- 0.11, respectively) and consequently haloperidol interacted with a homogeneous receptor population. The pKB values of haloperidol obtained from Schild regression were 9.96 +/- 0.15 (in presence of quinpirole) and 9.90 +/- 0.09 (in presence of 7-OH-DPAT). 5. Specific binding of [3H]-YM-09151-2 to membranes of striatal synaptosomes and cells expressing D2 and D3 dopamine receptors was inhibited by haloperidol. Analysis of competition curves revealed the existence of a single population of receptors. There were no differences between the estimated pKi (-log of molar concentration) values for synaptosomes (8.96 +/- 0.02) and cells expressing D2 receptors (8.81 +/- 0.05), but the pKi value from cells expressing D3 dopamine receptors differed significantly (8.48 +/- 0.06; P < 0.01). 6. In conclusion, the data obtained in the present study indicate that quinpirole and 7-OH-DPAT, two D3/2 dopamine receptor agonists, inhibit the spontaneous [3H]-ACh efflux and this effect is competitively antagonized by haloperidol and probably mediated through dopamine D2 receptors.