Lack of involvement of [Ca2+]i in the external Ca(2+)-independent release of acetylcholine evoked by veratridine, ouabain and alpha-latrotoxin: possible role of [Na+]i

Penelope's web: using alpha-latrotoxin to untangle the mysteries of exocytosis

For more than three decades, the venom of the black widow spider and its principal active components, latrotoxins, have been used to induce release of neurotransmitters and hormones and to study the mechanisms of exocytosis. Given the complex nature of alpha--latrotoxin (alpha-LTX) actions, this research has been continuously overshadowed by many enigmas, misconceptions and perpetual changes of the underlying hypotheses. Some of the toxin's mechanisms of action are still not completely understood. Despite all these difficulties, the extensive work of several generations of neurobiologists has brought about a great deal of fascinating insights into pre-synaptic processes and has led to the discovery of several novel proteins and synaptic systems. For example, alpha-LTX studies have contributed to the widespread acceptance of the vesicular theory of transmitter release. Pre-synaptic receptors for alpha-LTX--neurexins, latrophilins and protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma--and their endogenous ligands have now become centrepieces of their own areas of research, with a potential of uncovering new mechanisms of synapse formation and regulation that may have medical implications. However, any future success of alpha-LTX research will require a better understanding of this unusual natural tool and a more precise dissection of its multiple mechanisms.

Alpha-latrotoxin stimulates a novel pathway of Ca2+-dependent synaptic exocytosis independent of the classical synaptic fusion machinery

Alpha-latrotoxin induces neurotransmitter release by stimulating synaptic vesicle exocytosis via two mechanisms: (1) A Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism with neurexins as receptors, in which alpha-latrotoxin acts like a Ca(2+) ionophore, and (2) a Ca(2+)-independent mechanism with CIRL/latrophilins as receptors, in which alpha-latrotoxin directly stimulates the transmitter release machinery. Here, we show that the Ca(2+)-independent release mechanism by alpha-latrotoxin requires the synaptic SNARE-proteins synaptobrevin/VAMP and SNAP-25, and, at least partly, the synaptic active-zone protein Munc13-1. In contrast, the Ca(2+)-dependent release mechanism induced by alpha-latrotoxin does not require any of these components of the classical synaptic release machinery. Nevertheless, this type of exocytotic neurotransmitter release appears to fully operate at synapses, and to stimulate exocytosis of the same synaptic vesicles that participate in physiological action potential-triggered release. Thus, synapses contain two parallel and independent pathways of Ca(2+)-triggered exocytosis, a classical, physiological pathway that operates at the active zone, and a novel reserve pathway that is recruited only when Ca(2+) floods the synaptic terminal.

alpha-Latrotoxin and its receptors

alpha-Latrotoxin (alpha-LTX) from black widow spider venom induces exhaustive release of neurotransmitters from vertebrate nerve terminals and endocrine cells. This 130-kDa protein has been employed for many years as a molecular tool to study exocytosis. However, its action is complex: in neurons, alpha-LTX induces massive secretion both in the presence of extracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(2+) (e)) and in its absence; in endocrine cells, it usually requires Ca(2+) (e). To use this toxin for further dissection of secretory mechanisms, one needs an in-depth understanding of its functions. One such function that explains some alpha-LTX effects is its ability to form cation-permeable channels in artificial lipid bilayers. The mechanism of alpha-LTX pore formation, revealed by cryo-electron microscopy, involves toxin assembly into homotetrameric complexes which harbor a central channel and can insert into lipid membranes. However, in biological membranes, alpha-LTX cannot exert its actions without binding to specific receptors of the plasma membrane. Three proteins with distinct structures have been found to bind alpha-LTX: neurexin Ialpha, latrophilin 1, and receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma. Upon binding a receptor, alpha-LTX forms channels permeable to cations and small molecules; the toxin may also activate the receptor. To distinguish between the pore- and receptor-mediated effects, and to study structure-function relationships in the toxin, alpha-LTX mutants have been used.

Antinociceptive Synergistic Interaction Between Clonidine and Ouabain on Thermal Nociceptive Tests in the Rat

The antinociceptive effect produced by spinal injection of clonidine (an alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist) is mediated by a cholinergic mechanism. We aimed in the current study to evaluate the antinociceptive interaction between intrathecally administered ouabain, an inhibitor of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, and clonidine. We used rats chronically implanted with lumbar intrathecal catheters to examine the ability of intrathecal clonidine and ouabain and the mixtures of clonidine-ouabain to alter tail-flick latency. To characterize the interaction, isobolographic analysis was performed. Intrathecal clonidine (0.5-10 microg) and ouabain (0.1-5 microg) produced significant dose- and time-dependent antinociception in the tail-flick tests. The median effective dose (ED(50)) values for intrathecally administered ouabain and clonidine were 2.3 microg and 4.7 microg, respectively. The experimental point for the ouabain-clonidine combination decreased significantly (P < .05) below the lines of additivity. Isobolographic analysis exhibited a synergistic interaction after the coadministration of ouabain and clonidine. No motor impairment was observed in the animals after intrathecal administration of the combination of ouabain and clonidine or clonidine alone. Intrathecal pretreatment with atropine but not yohimbine blocked the antinociceptive effect of ouabain and attenuated its interaction with spinal clonidine. These results suggest that the synergistic interaction of ouabain and clonidine were probably mediated, at least in part, via an enhancement of cholinergic transmission in the spinal nociceptive processing system.

PERSPECTIVE

Although intrathecal clonidine produces pronounced analgesia, antinociceptive doses of intrathecal clonidine produce several side effects, including hypotension, bradycardia, and sedation. This article presents antinociceptive synergistic interaction between clonidine and ouabain on thermal nociceptive tests in the rat.

Comparative effects of aluminum and ouabain on synaptosomal choline uptake, acetylcholine release and (Na+/K+)ATPase

Closing the gap between adverse health effects of aluminum and its mechanisms of action still represents a huge challenge. Cholinergic dysfunction has been implicated in neuronal injury induced by aluminum. Previously reported data also indicate that in vivo and in vitro exposure to aluminum inhibits the mammalian (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase, an ubiquitous plasma membrane pump. This study was undertaken with the specific aim of determining whether in vitro exposure to AlCl(3) and ouabain, the foremost utilized selective inhibitor of (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase, induce similar functional modifications of cholinergic presynaptic nerve terminals, by comparing their effects on choline uptake, acetylcholine release and (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase activity, on subcellular fractions enriched in synaptic nerve endings isolated from rat brain, cuttlefish optic lobe and torpedo electric organ. Results obtained show that choline uptake by rat synaptosomes was inhibited by submillimolar AlCl(3), whereas the amount of choline taken up by synaptosomes isolated from cuttlefish and torpedo remained unchanged. Conversely, choline uptake was reduced by ouabain to a large extent in all synaptosomal preparations analyzed. In contrast to ouabain, which modified the K(+) depolarization evoked release of acetylcholine by rat, cuttlefish and torpedo synaptosomal fractions, AlCl(3) induced reduction of stimulated acetylcholine release was only observed when rat synaptosomes were challenged. Finally, it was observed that the aluminum effect on cuttlefish and torpedo synaptosomal (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase activity was slight when compared to its inhibitory action on mammalian (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase. In conclusion, inhibition of (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase by AlCl(3) and ouabain jeopardized the high-affinity (Na(+)-dependent, hemicholinium-3 sensitive) uptake of choline and the Ca(2+)-dependent, K(+) depolarization evoked release of acetylcholine by rat, cuttlefish and torpedo synaptosomal fractions. The effects of submillimolar AlCl(3) on choline uptake and acetylcholine release only resembled those of ouabain when rat synaptosomes were assayed. Therefore, important differences were found between the species regarding the cholinotoxic action of aluminum. The variability of (Na(+)/K(+))ATPase sensitivity to aluminum of cholinergic neurons might contribute to their differential susceptibility to this neurotoxic agent.

Insecticidal toxins from black widow spider venom

The biological effects of Latrodectus spider venom are similar in animals from different phyla, but these symptoms are caused by distinct phylum-specific neurotoxins (collectively called latrotoxins) with molecular masses ranging from 110 to 140 kDa. To date, the venom has been found to contain five insecticidal toxins, termed α, β, γ, δ and ε-latroinsectotoxins (LITs). There is also a vertebrate-specific neurotoxin, α-latrotoxin (α-LTX), and one toxin affecting crustaceans, α-latrocrustatoxin (α-LCT). These toxins stimulate massive release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals and act (1) by binding to specific receptors, some of which mediate an exocytotic signal, and (2) by inserting themselves into the membrane and forming ion-permeable pores. Specific receptors for LITs have yet to be identified, but all three classes of vertebrate receptors known to bind α-LTX are also present in insects. All LTXs whose structures have been elucidated (α-LIT, δ-LIT, α-LTX and α-LCT) are highly homologous and have a similar domain architecture, which consists of a unique N-terminal sequence and a large domain composed of 13–22 ankyrin repeats. Three-dimensional (3D) structure analysis, so far done for α-LTX only, has revealed its dimeric nature and an ability to form symmetrical tetramers, a feature probably common to all LTXs. Only tetramers have been observed to insert into membranes and form pores. A preliminary 3D reconstruction of a δ-LIT monomer demonstrates the spatial similarity of this toxin to the monomer of α-LTX.

The multiple actions of black widow spider toxins and their selective use in neurosecretion studies

The black widow spider venom contains several large protein toxins--latrotoxins--that are selectively targeted against different classes of animals: vertebrates, insects, and crustaceans. These toxins are synthesised as large precursors that undergo proteolytic processing and activation in the lumen of the venom gland. The mature latrotoxins demonstrate strong functional structure conservation and contain multiple ankyrin repeats, which mediate toxin oligomerisation. The three-dimensional structure has been determined for alpha-latrotoxin (alphaLTX), a representative venom component toxic to vertebrates. This reconstruction explains the mechanism of alphaLTX pore formation by showing that it forms tetrameric complexes, harbouring a central channel, and that it is able to insert into lipid membranes. All latrotoxins cause massive release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals of respective animals after binding to specific neuronal receptors. A G protein-coupled receptor latrophilin and a single-transmembrane receptor neurexin have been identified as major high-affinity receptors for alphaLTX. Latrotoxins act by several Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent mechanisms based on pore formation and activation of receptors. Mutant recombinant alphaLTX that does not form pores has been used to dissect the multiple actions of this toxin. As a result, important insights have been gained into the receptor signalling and the role of intracellular Ca(2+) stores in the effect of alphaLTX.

Analysis of high intracellular [Na+]-induced release of [3H]noradrenaline in rat hippocampal slices

Our aim was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the high intracellular sodium-induced transmitter release in the CNS through the characterisation of the veratridine-evoked (40 microM) noradrenaline release from rat hippocampal slices. The response to veratridine was completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin (1 microM), indicating that the effect is due to the activation of sodium channels. Omission of Ca2+ from the superfusion fluid inhibited the veratridine-evoked release by 72%, showing that the majority of release results from external Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. The residual Ca2+-independent release was not blocked by the intracellular Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (100 microM) suggesting that intracellular Ca2+ stores are not involved in this component of veratridine effect. The noradrenaline uptake blockers, desipramine (10 microM) and nisoxetine (10 microM), inhibited the external Ca2+-independent release by 50 and 46%, respectively, indicating that the release partly originates from the reversal of transporters (carrier-mediated release). In contrast to uptake blockers, lowering the temperature, another possibility to inhibit transporter function, completely inhibited the effect of veratridine in the absence of Ca2+. Further experiments revealed that low temperature (20 and 12 degrees C) reduces the veratridine-induced increase of intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) in rat cortical synaptosomes (68 and 78% inhibition, respectively). The clinical relevance of our data is that during ischemia a massive release of transmitters occurs mainly due to the elevation of [Na+]i, which contributes to the development of ischemic brain injury. Our results show that low temperature may be a better therapeutic approach to the treatment of ischemia because it has a dual action on this process. Firstly, it inhibits the function of uptake transporters and hence reduces the carrier-mediated outflow of transmitters. Secondly, it inhibits the sodium influx and therefore prevents the unwanted elevation of [Na+]i. Our data also suggest that veratridine stimulation can be a suitable model for ischemic conditions.

Veratridine-evoked release of dopamine from guinea pig isolated cochlea

Dopamine released from the lateral olivocochlear efferent system is thought to inhibit the toxic effect of the extreme glutamate outflow from the inner hair cells during ischemia or acoustic trauma. Using in vitro microvolume superfusion, we have studied the release of [(3)H]dopamine from the lateral olivocochlear efferent bundle of guinea pig in response to accumulation of [Na(+)](i), under condition characteristics of ischemia. Veratridine, that acts only on excitable membranes as a specific activator of voltage-sensitive sodium channels, significantly increased the electrically evoked release of [(3)H]dopamine, which was completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin. Dizocilpine (MK-801), a non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist, and GYKI-52466, a selective non-NMDA-receptor antagonist, had no effect on veratridine-induced [(3)H]dopamine release. Our data provide further evidence that the cochlear release of dopamine is of neural origin and possibly independent on a local effect of glutamate. The veratridine-induced transmitter release in the cochlea will be a very useful method in studying the effect of drugs on ischemic injury.

Tetramerisation of alpha-latrotoxin by divalent cations is responsible for toxin-induced non-vesicular release and contributes to the Ca(2+)-dependent vesicular exocytosis from synaptosomes

A novel procedure of alpha-latrotoxin (alpha LTX) purification has been developed. Pure alpha LTX has been demonstrated to exist as a very stable homodimer. Such dimers further assemble into tetramers, and Ca(2+), Mg(2+) or higher toxin concentrations facilitate this process. However, when the venom is treated with EDTA, purified alpha LTX loses the ability to tetramerise spontaneously; the addition of Mg(2+) or Ca(2+) restores this ability. This suggests that alphaLTX has some intrinsically bound divalent cation(s) that normally support its tetramerisation. Single-particle cryoelectron microscopy and statistical image analysis have shown that: 1) the toxin has a non-compact, branching structure; 2) the alpha LTX dimers are asymmetric; and 3) the tetramers are symmetric and have a 25 A-diameter channel in the centre. Both alpha LTX oligomers bind to the same receptors in synaptosomes and rat brain sections. To study the effects of the dimers and tetramers on norepinephrine release from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes, we used the EDTA-treated and untreated toxin preparations. The number of tetramers present in a preparation correlates with alpha LTX pore formation, suggesting that the tetramers are the pore-forming species of alpha LTX. The toxin actions mediated by the pore include: 1) Ca(2+) entry from the extracellular milieu; and 2) passive efflux of neurotransmitters via the pore that occurs independently of Ca(2+). The Ca(2+)-dependent alpha LTX-stimulated secretion conforms to all criteria of vesicular exocytosis but also depends upon intact intracellular Ca(2+) stores and functional phospholipase C (PLC). The Ca(2+)-dependent effect of the toxin is stronger when dimeric alpha LTX is used, indicating that higher receptor occupancy leads to its stronger activation, which contributes to stimulation of neuroexocytosis. In contrast, the Ca(2+)-independent release measured biochemically represents leakage of neurotransmitters through the toxin pore. These results are discussed in relation to the previously published observations.

Neurotoxins affecting neuroexocytosis

Nerve terminals are specific sites of action of a very large number of toxins produced by many different organisms. The mechanism of action of three groups of presynaptic neurotoxins that interfere directly with the process of neurotransmitter release is reviewed, whereas presynaptic neurotoxins acting on ion channels are not dealt with here. These neurotoxins can be grouped in three large families: 1) the clostridial neurotoxins that act inside nerves and block neurotransmitter release via their metalloproteolytic activity directed specifically on SNARE proteins; 2) the snake presynaptic neurotoxins with phospholipase A(2) activity, whose site of action is still undefined and which induce the release of acethylcholine followed by impairment of synaptic functions; and 3) the excitatory latrotoxin-like neurotoxins that induce a massive release of neurotransmitter at peripheral and central synapses. Their modes of binding, sites of action, and biochemical activities are discussed in relation to the symptoms of the diseases they cause. The use of these toxins in cell biology and neuroscience is considered as well as the therapeutic utilization of the botulinum neurotoxins in human diseases characterized by hyperfunction of cholinergic terminals.

A new conotoxin isolated from Conus consors venom acting selectively on axons and motor nerve terminals through a Na+-dependent mechanism

A novel conotoxin was isolated and characterized from the venom of the fish-hunting marine snail Conus consors. The peptide was identified by screening chromatography fractions of the crude venom that produced a marked contraction and extension of the caudal and dorsal fins in fish, and noticeable spontaneous contractions of isolated frog neuromuscular preparations. The peptide, named CcTX, had 30 amino acids and the following scaffold: X11CCX7CX2CXCX3C. At the frog neuromuscular junction, CcTx at nanomolar concentrations selectively increased nerve terminal excitability so that a single nerve stimulation triggered trains of repetitive or spontaneous synaptic potentials and action potentials. In contrast, CcTx had no noticeable effect on muscle excitability even at concentrations 100 x higher than those that affected motor nerve terminals, as revealed by direct muscle stimulation. In addition, CcTx increased miniature endplate potential (MEPP) frequency in a Ca2+-free medium supplemented with ethylene glycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Blockade of voltage-dependent sodium channels with tetrodotoxin (TTX) either prevented or suppressed the increase of MEPP frequency induced by the toxin. CcTx also produced a TTX-sensitive depolarization of the nodal membrane in single myelinated axons giving rise, in some cases, to repetitive and/or spontaneous action potential discharges. In addition, CcTx increased the nodal volume of myelinated axons, as determined using confocal laser scanning microscopy. This increase was reversed by external hyperosmolar solutions and was prevented by pretreatment of axons with TTX. It is suggested that CcTx, by specifically activating neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels at the resting membrane potential, produced Na+ entry into nerve terminals and axons without directly affecting skeletal muscle fibres. CcTx belongs to a novel family of conotoxins that targets neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels.

Activation of neurotransmitter release in hippocampal nerve terminals during recovery from intracellular acidification

Intracellular pH may be an important variable regulating neurotransmitter release. A number of pathological conditions, such as anoxia and ischemia, are known to influence intracellular pH, causing acidification of brain cells and excitotoxicity. We examined the effect of acidification on quantal glutamate release. Although acidification caused only modest changes in release, recovery from acidification was associated with a very large (60-fold) increase in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in cultured hippocampal neurons. This was accompanied by a block of evoked EPSCs and a rise in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). The rise in mEPSC frequency required extracellular Ca2+, but influx did not occur through voltage-operated channels. Because acidic pH is known to activate the Na+/H+ antiporter, we hypothesized that a resulting Na+ load could drive Ca2+ influx through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger during recovery from acidification. This hypothesis is supported by three observations. First, intracellular Na+ rises during acidification. Second, the elevation in [Ca2+]i and mEPSC frequency during recovery from acidification is prevented by the Na+/H+ antiporter blocker EIPA applied during the acidification step. Third, the rise in free Ca2+ and mEPSC frequency is blocked by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger blocker dimethylbenzamil. We thus propose that during recovery from intracellular acidification a massive activation of neurotransmitter release occurs because the successive activation of the Na+/H+ and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers in nerve terminals leads to an elevation of intracellular calcium. Our results suggest that changes in intracellular pH and especially recovery from acidification have extensive consequences for the release process in nerve terminals. Excessive release of glutamate through the proposed mechanism could be implicated in excitotoxic insults after anoxic or ischemic episodes.

Ca2+-independent insulin exocytosis induced by alpha-latrotoxin requires latrophilin, a G protein-coupled receptor

alpha-Latrotoxin (alpha-LTX) induces exocytosis of small synaptic vesicles (SSVs) in neuronal cells both by a calcium-independent mechanism and by opening cation-permeable pores. Since the basic molecular events regulating exocytosis in neurons and endocrine cells may be similar, we have used the exocytosis of insulin-containing large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) as a model system. In primary pancreatic beta-cells and in the derived cell lines INS-1 and MIN6, alpha-LTX increased insulin release in the absence of extracellular calcium, but the insulin-secreting cell lines HIT-T15 and RINm5F were unresponsive. alpha-LTX did not alter membrane potential or cytosolic calcium, and its stimulatory effect on exocytosis was still observed in pre-permeabilized INS-1 cells kept at 0.1 microM Ca2+. Consequently, pore formation or ion fluxes induced by alpha-LTX could be excluded. The Ca2+-independent alpha-LTX-binding protein, latrophilin, is a novel member of the secretin family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Sensitivity to alpha-LTX correlated with expression of latrophilin, but not with synaptotagmin I or neurexin Ialpha expression. Moreover, transient expression of latrophilin in HIT-T15 cells conferred alpha-LTX-induced exocytosis. Our results indicate that direct stimulation of exocytosis by a GPCR mediates the Ca2+-independent effects of alpha-LTX in the absence of altered ion fluxes. Therefore, direct regulation by receptor-activated heterotrimeric G proteins constitutes an important feature of the endocrine exocytosis of insulin-containing LDCVs and may also apply to SSV exocytosis in neurons.

Sodium-dependent increase in quantal secretion induced by brevetoxin-3 in Ca2+-free medium is associated with depletion of synaptic vesicles and swelling of motor nerve terminals in situ

Brevetoxin-3 at nanomolar concentrations markedly enhanced spontaneous quantal transmitter release from neuromuscular junctions equilibrated in a Ca2+-free EGTA medium. After about 3 h, the sustained increase in miniature endplate potential frequency led to an exhaustion of transmitter release. This increase still occurred after loading the nerve terminals with the Ca2+ chelator bis-(aminophenoxy)ethanetetra-acetate or after pretreatment with various pharmacological agents known to prevent Ca2+ release from intracellular pools, but was completely prevented by the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin. Brevetoxin-3 also increased miniature endplate potential frequency from junctions treated with botulinum type-A toxin, but to a smaller extent than at normal junctions. At normal junctions, brevetoxin-3 exposure for 2 h increased the three-dimensional projected area of living motor nerve terminals in situ by about 74% while at botulinum type-A poisoned junctions a similar toxin exposure caused only a 29% increase. Tetrodotoxin prevented such effects, indicating that they are related to both Na+ entry into the terminals and increased quantal transmitter release. Ultrastructural examination of nerve terminals from junctions exposed for 3 h to brevetoxin-3 revealed profound depletions of clear and large dense core synaptic vesicles and an increase in coated vesicles and axolemma infoldings. These results indicate that brevetoxin-3 impairs the recycling of clear synaptic vesicles and are consistent with our immunofluorescent observations showing that synaptophysin epitopes can be revealed without nerve terminal permeabilization. In contrast, no such changes were detected in nerve terminals poisoned with botulinum type-A toxin which, after 3 h exposure to brevetoxin-3, retained their synaptic vesicles and had a normal appearance. We conclude that tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+ entry into motor nerve terminals induced by brevetoxin-3 triggers external Ca2+-independent asynchronous quantal transmitter release, blocks synaptic vesicle recycling and induces swelling of the terminals. We suggest that an excess of cytoplasmic Na+ per se can activate the asynchronous neurotransmitter release process.

Inhibition of potassium-stimulated dopamine release by the nitric oxide generator isosorbide dinitrate

In PC12 cells, isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) and S-nitrosol-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), both nitric oxide (NO) generators, attenuated K+ (56 mM)-stimulated release of dopamine. The attenuation was not observed with isosorbide, an ISDN analog lacking NO generating capacity. In this model, A23187 (Ca2+ ionophore), Bay K8644 (Ca2+ slow channel agonist) and veratridine (Na+ channel agonist) stimulated dopamine release. Treatment with ISDN enhanced Bay K8644 and veratridine-evoked dopamine release, while ISDN had no significant effect on the A23187 response. Incubation with 8-bromo-cGMP (membrane permeable cGMP analog) had no effect on basal or stimulated dopamine release in these cells, suggesting NO's response was not mediated by cGMP. In additional studies, K+ (56 mM), Bay K8644 and veratridine elevated cytosolic free calcium levels ([Ca2+]i). ISDN reduced K(+)-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i, but enhanced the increases of [Ca2+]i induced by Bay K8644 or veratridine. These results suggest NO interacts with K(+)-induced membrane depolarization (possibly by inhibiting membrane conductance to K+) to attenuate Ca2+ influx and Ca(2+)-mediated dopamine secretion stimulated by K+.

Differential effects of Na+, K(+)-ATPase inhibition by ouabain on acid secretory responses to histamine and bethanechol in the mouse isolated stomach

1. The effect of Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibition by ouabain on gastric acid secretion was studied in the mouse isolated whole stomach preparation. 2. Ouabain caused a transient enhancement of histamine-induced gastric acid secretion followed by an inhibitory phase. On the other hand, ouabain caused a rapid reduction of bethanechol-stimulated acid secretion without an enhancement phase. 3. In dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced acid secretion, ouabain led to a transient increase in acid secretion followed by a fall, as was seen with the histamine stimulation. Ouabain caused a rapid reduction of A23187-induced acid secretion. 4. Ouabain by itself increased basal acid secretion, and thereafter slowly suppressed the acid secretion. 5. Atropine inhibited both the ouabain-induced enhancement of the stimulated gastric acid secretion and the ouabain-induced stimulation of basal acid secretion. 6. The present study showed that Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibition by ouabain caused a phasic enhancement of the stimulated gastric acid secretion through release of endogenous acetylcholine when the secretagogues act via an intracellular cyclic AMP pathway. It also inhibited the stimulated acid secretion irrespective of secretagogues, probably through its inhibitory effect on Na+,K(+)-ATPase in the gastric parietal cell.