Protein kinase C regulation of dopamine transporter initiated by nicotinic receptor activation in slices of rat prefrontal cortex

Kinase-dependent Regulation of Monoamine Neurotransmitter Transporters

Modulation of neurotransmission by the monoamines dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) is critical for normal nervous system function. Precise temporal and spatial control of this signaling in mediated in large part by the actions of monoamine transporters (DAT, NET, and SERT, respectively). These transporters act to recapture their respective neurotransmitters after release, and disruption of clearance and reuptake has significant effects on physiology and behavior and has been linked to a number of neuropsychiatric disorders. To ensure adequate and dynamic control of these transporters, multiple modes of control have evolved to regulate their activity and trafficking. Central to many of these modes of control are the actions of protein kinases, whose actions can be direct or indirectly mediated by kinase-modulated protein interactions. Here, we summarize the current state of our understanding of how protein kinases regulate monoamine transporters through changes in activity, trafficking, phosphorylation state, and interacting partners. We highlight genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological evidence for kinase-linked control of DAT, NET, and SERT and, where applicable, provide evidence for endogenous activators of these pathways. We hope our discussion can lead to a more nuanced and integrated understanding of how neurotransmitter transporters are controlled and may contribute to disorders that feature perturbed monoamine signaling, with an ultimate goal of developing better therapeutic strategies.

Effects of environmental enrichment on nicotine-induced sensitization and cross-sensitization to d-amphetamine in rats

INTRODUCTION

Research indicates that adolescent nicotine exposure may predispose individuals to use other psychostimulants later in adulthood, offering support for the incentive-sensitization theory of addiction. Preclinical studies testing the incentive-sensitization theory show that repeated nicotine exposure in adolescent rats can lead to an increased sensitivity to the motor stimulant effects of nicotine and other psychostimulants in adulthood. Although previous nicotine exposure can increase sensitivity to stimulant drugs, rats raised in enriched conditions (EC) show, decreased sensitivity to psychostimulant drugs compared to rats raised in isolation conditions (IC).

METHODS

We examined whether nicotine sensitization or cross-sensitization to d-amphetamine induced by adolescent nicotine exposure is altered by exposure to environmental enrichment. Adolescent EC and IC male rats received subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of saline or 0.4mg/kg of nicotine once daily for seven days. Thirty-five days following the last nicotine injection EC and IC animals were challenged with saline, nicotine (0.2 or 0.4mg/kg) or d-amphetamine (0.5 or 1.0mg/kg).

RESULTS

EC rats failed to show nicotine sensitization at either nicotine dose tested while IC rats showed nicotine sensitization following the 0.4mg/kg nicotine dose. EC rats also failed to show nicotine-induced cross-sensitization to the 0.5mg/kg dose of d-amphetamine while IC rats displayed cross-sensitization. However, EC rats did exhibit nicotine-induced cross-sensitization to the 1.0mg/kg dose of d-amphetamine.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that environmental enrichment can alter the ability of adolescent nicotine exposure to induce sensitization and cross-sensitization in adulthood and may be used as a protectant factor against adolescent nicotine exposure.

Nicotine increases dopamine clearance in medial prefrontal cortex in rats raised in an enriched environment

Environmental enrichment results in differential behavioral and neurochemical responsiveness to nicotine. The present study investigates dopamine clearance (CL(DA) ) in striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using in vivo voltammetry in rats raised in enriched (EC) or impoverished conditions (IC) and administered nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) or saline. Baseline CL(DA) in striatum or mPFC was not different between EC and IC. Across repeated DA application, striatal CL(DA) increased in saline-control EC and IC. CL(DA) increased in mPFC in saline-control IC; CL(DA) did not change in saline-control EC. Thus, enrichment differentially alters dynamic responses of the dopamine transporter (DAT) to repeated DA application in mPFC, but not in striatum. In EC, nicotine increased mPFC CL(DA) compared to saline-control, but had no effect on CL(DA) in IC; nicotine had no effect in striatum in EC or IC. Compared to respective saline-controls, nicotine increased dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content in striatum and mPFC in EC, but not in IC. Nicotine also had no effect on DA content in striatum or mPFC in EC or IC. Results indicate that enrichment eliminated the dynamic response of mPFC DAT to repeated DA application in saline-control and augmented the nicotine-induced increase in DAT function in mPFC, but not in striatum.

Involvement of nicotinic receptors in methamphetamine- and MDMA-induced neurotoxicity: pharmacological implications

During the last years, we have focused on the study of the neurotoxic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (METH) on the central nervous system (CNS) and their pharmacological prevention methods. In the process of this research, we have used a semipurified synaptosomal preparation from striatum of mice or rats as a reliable in vitro model to study reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by these amphetamine derivatives, which is well-correlated with their dopaminergic injury in in vivo models. Using this preparation, we have demonstrated that blockade of alpha7 nicotinic receptors with methyllycaconitine (MLA) prevents ROS production induced by MDMA and METH. Consequently, in vivo, MLA significantly prevents MDMA- and METH-induced neurotoxicity at dopaminergic level (mouse striatum), without affecting hyperthermia induced by these amphetamines. Additionally, when neuroprotection was assayed with memantine (MEM), a dual antagonist of NMDA and alpha7 receptors, an effective neuroprotection was obtained also ahead of serotonergic injury induced by MDMA in rats. MEM also prevents MDMA effect on serotonin transporter functionality and METH effect on dopamine transporter (DAT), suggesting that behavioral effects of these psychostimulants can also be modulated by MEM. Finally, we have demonstrated that MEM prevents the impaired memory function induced by MDMA, and also, using binding studies with radioligands, we have characterized the interaction of these substances with nicotinic receptors. Studies at molecular level showed that both MDMA and METH displaced competitively the binding of radioligands with homomeric alpha7 and heteromeric nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), indicating that they can directly interact with them. In all the cases, MDMA displayed higher affinity than METH and it was higher for heteromeric than for alpha7 subtype. Pre-incubation of differentiated PC12 cells with MDMA or METH induces nAChR upregulation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, as many nicotinic ligands do, supporting their functional interaction with nAChRs. Such interaction expands the pharmacological profile of amphetamines and can account for some of their effects.

Smoking during pregnancy and hyperactivity-inattention in the offspring--comparing results from three Nordic cohorts

BACKGROUND

Prenatal exposure to smoking has been associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a number of epidemiological studies. However, mothers with the ADHD phenotype may 'treat' their problem by smoking and therefore be more likely to smoke even in a society where smoking is not acceptable. This will cause genetic confounding if ADHD has a heritable component, especially in populations with low prevalence rates of smoking since this reason for smoking is expected to be proportionally more frequent in a population with few 'normal' smokers. We compared the association in cohorts with different smoking frequencies.

METHODS

A total of 20 936 women with singleton pregnancies were identified within three population-based pregnancy cohorts in Northern Finland (1985-1986) and in Denmark (1984-1987 and 1989-1991). We collected self-reported data on their pre-pregnancy and pregnancy smoking habits and followed the children to school age where teachers and parents rated hyperactivity and inattention symptoms.

RESULTS

Children, whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, had an increased prevalence of a high hyperactivity-inattention score compared with children of nonsmokers in each of the cohorts after adjustment for confounders but we found no statistical significant difference between the associations across the cohorts.

CONCLUSION

The estimated association was not strongest in the population with the fewest smokers which does not support the hypothesis that the association is entirely due to genetic confounding.

Individual differences in response to novelty predict prefrontal cortex dopamine transporter function and cell surface expression

Previous research has shown that individual differences in response to novelty predict self-administration and the locomotor response to psychostimulant drugs of abuse. The aim of the present study was to determine if individual differences in response to novelty based on inescapable or free-choice novelty tests predict dopamine transporter (DAT) function and trafficking as well as nicotine-induced modulation of DAT. Results show that the maximal velocity (Vmax) of [3H]dopamine uptake into prefrontal cortex (PFC) synaptosomes correlated negatively with the locomotor response to inescapable novelty. In contrast, Vmax correlated positively with novelty place preference in the free-choice novelty test. The divergent correlations between DAT and the two behavioral phenotypes suggest a differential contribution of DAT in these phenotypes, which are known not to be isomorphic. Furthermore, rats categorized as high responders to inescapable novelty had lower Vmax values, which were accompanied by less DAT expression at the cell surface in PFC compared with low responders, suggesting that inherent individual differences in DAT cellular localization may underlie the differential response to novelty. Compared with the saline control, nicotine increased Vmax and cell surface DAT immunoreactivity in PFC from high responders but not from low responders. Similarly, nicotine increased Vmax and cell surface DAT in PFC in rats classified as low in novelty place preference but not in rats classified as high in novelty place preference. Thus, despite the different behavioral phenotypes, the pharmacological effect of nicotine to increase DAT function and cell surface expression was apparent, such that rats with inherently lower DAT function show a greater sensitivity to the neurochemical effect of nicotine.

Enhanced nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated [3H]norepinephrine release from neonatal rat hypothalamus

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-evoked release of norepinephrine (NE) has been demonstrated in a number of brain regions that receive sole noradrenergic innervation from the locus coeruleus (LC). Many of these structures display enhanced nicotine-stimulated NE release in the neonate. We have examined the hypothalamus in order to determine if this region, which receives NE projections from both the LC and medullary catecholaminergic nuclei, also demonstrates maturational changes in nAChR-mediated NE release. Quantification of radiolabeled-NE release from rat hypothalamus slices by a maximally effective dose of nicotine revealed a peak response during the first postnatal week. This was followed by a decrease at postnatal day (P) 14, and a second peak at P21. Thereafter, release was equivalent to that observed at P14. Comparison of the pharmacological properties of nAChRs mediating NE release in neonatal (P7) and mature hypothalamus suggested involvement of different nAChR subtypes at the two ages. Using the selective toxin, DSP-4, nAChR-mediated NE release in the neonatal hypothalamus was shown to be from LC terminals. Our findings demonstrate an early sensitivity of hypothalamic LC terminals to nAChR regulation that may be associated with development of systems controlling critical homeostatic functions such as stress, feeding and cardiovascular regulation.

Methyllycaconitine prevents methamphetamine-induced effects in mouse striatum: involvement of alpha7 nicotinic receptors

In a previous study, we demonstrated that in rat striatal synaptosomes, methamphetamine (METH)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was prevented by methyllycaconitine (MLA), a specific antagonist of alpha7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha7 nAChR). The aim of this study was to test the influence of MLA on acute METH effects and neurotoxicity in mice, using both in vivo and in vitro models. MLA inhibited METH-induced climbing behavior by 50%. Acute effects after 30-min preincubation with 1 microM METH also included a decrease in striatal synaptosome dopamine (DA) uptake, which was prevented by MLA. METH-induced neurotoxicity was assessed in vivo in terms of loss of striatal dopaminergic terminals (73%) and of tyrosine hydroxylase levels (by 90%) at 72 h post-treatment, which was significantly attenuated by MLA. Microglial activation [measured as 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide binding] was also present at 24 h post-treatment and was fully prevented by MLA, tending to confirm its neuroprotective activity. MLA had no effect on METH-induced hyperthermia. Additionally, flow cytometry assays showed that METH-induced ROS generation occurs inside synaptosomes from mouse striatum. This effect implied release of vesicular DA and was calcium-, neuronal nitric-oxide synthase-, and protein kinase C-dependent. MLA and alpha-bungarotoxin, but not dihydro-beta-erythroidine (an antagonist that blocks nAChR-containing beta2 subunits), fully prevented METH-induced ROS production without affecting vesicular DA uptake. The importance of this study lies not only in the neuroprotective effect elicited by the blockade of the alpha7 nicotinic receptors by MLA but also in that it proposes a new mechanism with which to study METH-induced acute and long-term effects.

Free radical production induced by methamphetamine in rat striatal synaptosomes

The pro-oxidative effect of methamphetamine (METH) in dopamine terminals was studied in rat striatal synaptosomes. Flow cytometry analysis showed increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in METH-treated synaptosomes, without reduction in the density of dopamine transporters. In synaptosomes from dopamine (DA)-depleted animals, METH did not induce ROS production. Reserpine, in vitro, completely inhibited METH-induced ROS production. These results point to endogenous DA as the main source of ROS induced by METH. Antioxidants and inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and protein kinase C (PKC) prevented the METH-induced oxidative effect. EGTA and the specific antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA, 50 microM) prevented METH-induced ROS production, thus implicating calcium and alpha7 nicotinic receptors in such effect. Higher concentrations of MLA (>100 microM) showed nonspecific antioxidant effect. Preincubation of synaptosomes with METH (1 microM) for 30 min reduced [(3)H]DA uptake by 0%. The METH effect was attenuated by MLA and EGTA and potentiated by nicotine, indicating that activation of alpha(7) nicotinic receptors and Ca(2+) entry are necessary and take place before DAT inhibition. From these findings, it can be postulated that, in our model, METH induces DA release from synaptic vesicles to the cytosol. Simultaneously, METH activates alpha(7) nicotinic receptors, probably inducing depolarization and an increase in intrasynaptosomal Ca(2+). This would lead to DAT inhibition and NOS and PKC activation, initiating oxidation of cytosolic DA.

Dynamic regulation of the dopamine transporter

In the mammalian central nervous system the dopamine transporter (DAT) is the primary mechanism for clearance of dopamine from the extracellular space. Presynaptic receptors for dopamine and other neurotransmitters (auto-receptors and hetero-receptors) present on dopaminergic neurons are poised to regulate the activity of the dopamine transporter acutely through their actions on intracellular signaling systems. The mechanisms proposed for acute presynaptic regulation of dopamine transport include direct effects of phosphorylation on enzymatic rate, indirect effects through the alteration of the electrical and chemical gradients that drive transport and/or the modulation of transporter number through the trafficking of carriers to and from the cell surface. This review focuses on recent evidence for several distinct mechanisms which dynamically regulate dopamine transporter activity and thus have an important role in shaping the duration and amplitude of dopamine signals in the brain.

Zn2+ modulates currents generated by the dopamine transporter: parallel effects on amphetamine-induced charge transfer and release

The psychostimulant drug amphetamine increases extracellular monamines in the brain acting on neurotransmitter transporters, especially the dopamine transporter. Mediated by this plasmalemmal pump, amphetamine does not only induce release but also charge transfer which might be involved in the release mechanism. To study a potential link between the two phenomena, we used Zn(2+) as an acute regulatory agent which modulates dopamine uptake by a direct interaction with the transporter protein. Charge transfer was investigated in patch-clamp experiments on HEK 293 cells stably expressing the human dopamine transporter, release was studied in superfusion experiments on cells preloaded with the metabolically inert transporter substrate [(3)H]1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. Ten micromoles of Zn(2+) had only minor effects in the absence of amphetamine but stimulated release and inward currents induced by amphetamine depending on the concentration of the psychostimulant: the effect of 0.2 microM was not significantly modulated, whereas the effect of 1 and 10 microM amphetamine was stimulated, and the stimulation by Zn(2+) was significantly stronger at 10 microM than at 1 microM amphetamine. The stimulatory action of Zn(2+) on release and inward current was in contrast to its inhibitory action on dopamine uptake. This supports a release mechanism of amphetamine different from facilitated exchange diffusion but involving ion fluxes through the dopamine transporter.

Effects of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione on nicotinic receptor subunit transcript expression in the rat brain

The nicotinic cholinergic system exerts potent modulatory effects on glutamatergic neurotransmission, an effect mediated in part by increased glutamate release following activation of presynaptic nicotinic cholinergic receptors. Ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists also stimulate release of acetylcholine, suggesting that these neurotransmitter systems reciprocally regulate one another. We investigated an interface between the nicotinic cholinergic and glutamatergic systems by measuring nicotinic receptor subunit transcript expression following administration of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), an antagonist of the AMPA and kainate subtypes of glutamate receptors. Using [(35)S] in situ hybridization, we measured expression of alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 7, beta 2, beta 3, and beta 4 nicotinic receptor subunit transcripts in the rat forebrain. Following 7 days of treatment with vehicle or CNQX (1 mg/kg/day or 10 mg/kg/day), changes in nicotinic receptor subunit transcript expression were restricted to subunits that form heteromeric receptors. We found increased levels of transcripts for alpha 2 and beta 2 nicotinic receptor subunits in the hippocampus, decreased alpha 4 subunit transcripts in the medial habenula and amygdala, and increased beta 2 subunit transcripts in the septum and piriform cortex. We did not detect changes in expression of transcripts for the alpha 7 subunit, which forms homomeric nicotinic receptors. Our findings indicate that expression of nicotinic cholinergic receptor subunit transcripts are regulated in a subunit- and region-specific fashion by CNQX, an antagonist of non-NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors.

Nicotinic receptor-mediated regulation of the dopamine transporter in rat prefrontocortical slices following chronic in vivo administration of nicotine

Low levels of dopaminergic activity in prefrontal cortex are thought to contribute to negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms are associated with the prefrontocortical area of the brain. Schizophrenic patients have a high rate of smoking, which by subjective as well as objective measures produces a cognitive benefit. We have previously shown that agonists at nicotinic receptors containing alpha4 and beta2 subunits can enhance amphetamine-stimulated [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) release via the dopamine transporter (DAT) from slices of rat prefrontal cortex. This effect is selective for prefrontal cortex; the enhancement does not occur in striatum or nucleus accumbens. The enhancement is dependent upon activation of protein kinase C (PKC). In the current study, we show that the enhancement of amphetamine-stimulated [3H]DA release is maintained after 10 days of chronic nicotine treatment, delivered subcutaneously twice daily. There are no significant changes in the ability of prefrontocortical brain slices to take up [3H]DA in tissue prepared from nicotine-treated vs. saline-treated rats. Nicotinic receptors mediating enhancement of amphetamine-stimulated [3H]DA release are at least partially localized to nerve terminals, as an enhancement in release is also observed in synaptosomal preparations. Finally, the sensitivity of the nicotine enhancement in release to the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine is also seen in synaptosomal preparations, suggesting that the signaling mechanism activated through alpha4beta2 receptors is intact.

The effect of phosphorylation on amphetamine-mediated outward transport

Amphetamine elicits its locomotor-activating and drug-reinforcing effects by releasing the catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine into the synapse. Amphetamine is a substrate of the plasmalemmal transporters for both dopamine and norepinephrine. As such, it binds to the transporters in conjunction with Na+ and Cl-, facilitating a conformational change leading the transporter to face inward. The subsequent binding of intracellular catecholamine results in an outward transport and release of the catecholamine into the synapse. Both inward and outward transport through the catecholamine transporters are regulated by protein kinases, particularly protein kinase C, but the effect of the enzyme on the two processes appears to be asymmetric. The purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence showing that protein kinase C activation facilitates outward transport through the catecholamine plasmalemmal transporters which may mediate amphetamine action in intact tissue.

Rapid regulation of dopamine transporter function by substrates, blockers and presynaptic receptor ligands

The extracellular actions of dopamine are terminated primarily through its binding to dopamine transporters and translocation back into dopamine neurons. The transporter thereby serves as an optimal target to regulate dopamine neurotransmission. Although acute pharmacological blockade of dopamine transporters is known to reversibly inhibit transporter function by preventing the binding of its endogenous substrate dopamine, it recently has become clear that dopamine transporter substrates, such as amphetamines, and blockers, such as cocaine, also have the ability to rapidly and persistently regulate transporter function after their direct pharmacological effect has subsided. Presynaptic receptor ligands can also regulate dopamine transporter function. This has been investigated most extensively for dopamine D2 receptors, but there is also evidence for regulation by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) GABAB receptors, metabotropic glutamate, nicotinic acetylcholine, serotonin, sigma2- and kappa-opioid receptors. The focus of this review is the rapid, typically reversible, regulation of dopamine transporter velocity by substrates, blockers and presynaptic receptor ligands. The research discussed here suggests that a common mechanism through which these different classes of compounds regulate transporter activity is by altering the cell surface expression of dopamine transporters.

Two distinct calcium-sensitive and -insensitive PKC up- and down-regulate an alpha-bungarotoxin-resistant nAChR1 in insect neurosecretory cells (DUM neurons)

While there is mounting knowledge about the structure and diversity of insect neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, less attention has been directed towards their intracellular regulation by calcium-mediated activation or inhibition of protein phosphorylation. The main goal of this work was to delineate the chain of molecular events that lead to the up- and down-regulation by two protein kinase Cs of an insect neuronal alpha-bungarotoxin-resistant nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (called nAChR1). The native nicotinic acetylcholine receptor intracellular regulation was studied on dissociated adult dorsal unpaired median neurons isolated from the terminal abdominal ganglion of the cockroach Periplaneta americana using whole-cell patch-clamp technique and calcium imaging. We report that under 0.5 micro malpha-bungarotoxin treatment, the inward current produced by pressure ejection application of nicotine onto the cell body was differentially sensitive to specific protein kinase C activators and inhibitors. The phorbol ester PMA produced a calcium-dependent increase in current amplitude blocked by chelerythrine. By contrast, the diacylglycerol analogue 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol produced a calcium-independent reduction of the nicotinic response, reversed by rottlerin and chelerythrine. This indicated that two protein kinase C isozymes ('classical' and 'novel' protein kinase C, named PKC1 and PKC2, respectively) up- and down-regulated nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function. PMA and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol effects were mimicked by pirenzepine-sensitive M1 muscarinic receptor subtype coupled to phospholipase C second messenger pathway. Low concentration of muscarine elevated internal calcium levels, which thereby activated PKC1. By contrast, a high concentration of muscarine strongly increased [Ca 2+]i, which induced inhibition of PKC1. This effect was reversed by FK506, suggesting the implication of PP2B which unmasked PKC2 activity mediating down-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Birth insult interacts with stress at adulthood to alter dopaminergic function in animal models: possible implications for schizophrenia and other disorders

Altered subcortical dopaminergic activity is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of several disorders including schizophrenia, substance abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Epidemiological studies have implicated perinatal insults, particularly obstetric complications involving fetal or neonatal hypoxia, as etiological risk factors for schizophrenia. This suggests the possibility that perinatal hypoxia might have lasting effects on dopaminergic function. In animal models, dopaminergic systems appears to be particularly vulnerable to a wide range of perinatal insults, resulting in persistent alterations in function of mesolimbic and mesostriatal pathways. This review summarizes recent work characterizing long-term changes in dopaminergic function and biochemistry in models of Caesarean section (C-section) birth and of C-section birth with added global anoxia in the rat and guinea pig. C-section birth and C-section with anoxia appear to be two distinct hypoxic birth insults, with somewhat differing patterns of lasting effects on dopamine systems. In addition, birth insult alters the manner in which dopaminergic function is regulated by stress at adulthood. The possible relevance of these finding to effects of human birth procedures is discussed.

Sigma(2)-receptor regulation of dopamine transporter via activation of protein kinase C

The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying sigma(2)-receptor activation and signal transduction is crucial to the understanding of sigma(2)-receptor function. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated sigma(2)-receptor-mediated regulation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) as measured by amphetamine-stimulated release of [(3)H]dopamine (DA) from both rat striatal slices and PC12 cells. The regulation of the DAT in the PC12 cell model was dependent upon activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II. We have now studied the second messenger systems involved in sigma(2)-receptor-mediated regulation of amphetamine-stimulated [(3)H]DA release in rat striatal slices, including Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II, protein kinase C, and sources of calcium required for the enhancement of release produced by sigma(2)-receptor activation. The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II inhibitors 1-[N,O-bis-(5-isoquionolinesulfonyl)]-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl-4-phenylpiperazine and N-[2-[[[3-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2-propenyl]methylamino]methyl]phenyl]-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4'-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide phosphate did not significantly affect the (+)-pentazocine-mediated enhancement of amphetamine-stimulated [(3)H]DA release. However, we found that an inhibitor of protein kinase C, 3-[1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione, blocks the (+)-pentazocine-mediated enhancement in rat striatal slices. The protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, but not the inactive isophorbol 4 alpha,9 alpha,12 alpha,13 alpha,20-pentahydroxytiglia-1,6-dien-3-one, enhanced the amphetamine-stimulated [(3)H]DA release comparable to the enhancement seen by (+)-pentazocine alone. Additionally, the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel inhibitor nitrendipine or prior treatment with thapsigargin, but not the N-type voltage-dependent calcium channel omega-conotoxin MVIIA, attenuated the (+)-pentazocine-mediated enhancement. Together, these data suggest that activation of sigma(2)-receptors results in the regulation of DAT activity via a calcium- and protein kinase C-dependent signaling mechanism.

Function and regulation of monoamine transporters: focus on the norepinephrine transporter

Presynaptic norepinephrine transporters (NETs) mediate the rapid clearance of norepinephrine from synaptic spaces. NET is a member of the Na+ and Cl- -coupled neurotransmitter transporter gene family, which also includes the serotonin and dopamine transporters. Recent studies reveal that these transporter molecules might be a dynamic component of synaptic plasticity, rather than a constitutive determinant of neurotransmitter levels in synaptic spaces. Recognition that cellular signaling molecules and transporter ligands, including cocaine, amphetamines, and antidepressants, can modify transporter intrinsic activity, trafficking, phosphorylation, and protein levels suggests opportunities for revealing unknown mechanisms of drug action. Control of these properties of transporter function may allow for the development of new strategies to modulate monoaminergic neurotransmission and identify regulatory pathways that may be compromised in psychiatric, neurologic, and neurodegenerative disorders.