Effects of nerve stimulation on the metabolism of ribonucleic acid in a molluscan giant neurone

Activity-dependent regulation of the potassium channel subunits Kv1.1 and Kv3.1

Afferent activity, especially in young animals, can have profound influences on postsynaptic neuronal structure, function and metabolic processes. Most studies evaluating activity regulation of cellular components have examined the expression of ubiquitous cellular proteins as opposed to molecules that are specialized in the neurons of interest. Here we consider the regulation of two proteins (voltage-gated potassium channel subunits Kv1.1 and Kv3.1) that auditory brainstem neurons in birds and mammals express at uniquely high levels. Unilateral removal of the avian cochlea leads to rapid and dramatic reduction in the expression of both proteins in the nucleus magnocellularis (NM; a division of the avian cochlear nucleus) neurons as detected by immunocytochemistry. Uniform downregulation of Kv1.1 was reliable by 3 hours after cochlea removal, was sustained through 96 hours, and returned to control levels in the surviving neurons by 2 weeks. The activity-dependent changes in Kv3.1 appear to be bimodal and are more transient, being observed at 3 hours after cochlea removal and recovering to control levels within 24 hours. We also explored the functional properties of Kv1.1 in NM neurons deprived of auditory input for 24 hours by whole-cell recordings. Low-threshold potassium currents in deprived NM neurons were not significantly different from control neurons in their amplitude or sensitivity to dendrotoxin-I, a selective K+ channel antagonist. We conclude that the highly specialized abundant expression of Kv1.1 and 3.1 channel subunits is not permanently regulated by synaptic activity and that changes in overall protein levels do not predict membrane pools.

Uridine uptake pattern in the cerebral cortex of grivet monkey

Assuming that uridine uptake is correlated to RNA synthesis, and thereby to nerve cell function, the distribution of 5-[H3]-uridine-labelled nerve cell nuclei in the cerebral cortex of three hemispheres from two grivet monkeys was examined by microautoradiography. The labelling pattern for 50 cells in layers 2-6 of 10 cortical locations were different in many locations, but in each location they were generally similar. The precentral areas had relatively high labelling, while the motor cortex relatively low, paralleling the bloodflow in these regions. The labelling of layer 4 and 6 was lower than in the other layers of cortex. These measurements provide basic information about the pattern of uridine labelling on the cellular level in primate cortex from animals moving freely in the cage.

Prolonged RNA changes in the Hermissenda eye induced by classical conditioning

The incorporation of 32P into mRNA and the total amount of mRNA were increased 3- to 4-fold in eyes isolated from Hermissenda crassicornis trained to associate light with rotation on a turntable compared with animals trained with equal numbers of light and rotation events presented randomly and with naive animals. Incorporation of 32P into poly(A)- RNA was reduced by as much as 60%. The RNA changes were strongly correlated with the degree of learning and could not be accounted for by changes in [32P]ATP content. The RNA changes were maximal at 24 hr and were still detectable after 4 days, indicating that associative conditioning produces a period of increased DNA transcription that could be an intermediate step in memory consolidation. The RNA changes may in part account for recently observed conditioning-specific changes in the synthesis rates of specific proteins.

Intraocular tetrodotoxin reduces axonal transport and transcellular transfer of adenosine and other nucleosides in the visual system of goldfish

Intraocular injection of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in goldfish, which abolishes physiological activity in the optic axons, decreased by up to about 30% the amount of radioactively labeled adenosine, uridine and guanosine (and their nucleotide derivatives) that was axonally transported in the optic nerve. The amount of labeled nucleoside that reached the optic tectum and became incorporated into RNA in the postsynaptic tectal neurons and glial cells was reduced by up to about 50%. There was no change, however, in the amount of transported nucleoside that became incorporated into RNA in the optic nerve glia. The TTX-induced changes were eliminated when axonal transport was blocked with vincristine, indicating that this change did not involve material moving along the nerve by diffusion. If the TTX injection was delayed until several hours after labeling of the transported materials, the transported labeled nucleoside in the nerve was reduced very little, but the RNA labeling in the tectum was reduced just as much as when TTX was given prior to labeling. This indicates that the labeling of the tectal cells was affected more by the level of activity in the pathway than by the amount of transported nucleoside reaching the optic nerve terminals. It appears likely, therefore, that the process most affected by the decrease in physiological activity is the release of nucleoside from the terminals of the presynaptic neurons or its uptake into postsynaptic tectal neurons and glia. The fact that physiological activity may modify the amount of axonally transported nucleosides made available for metabolism (including RNA synthesis) in postsynaptic neurons may provide an explanation for activity-linked neurotrophic effects.

Dopamine and macromolecule synthesis in rat hippocampus

In hippocampus slices both dopamine and apomorphine lead to an increased incorporation of (3H)-fucose into total proteins, whereas the incorporation of (14C)-leucine was unchanged or decreased, respectively. Noradrenaline did not alter the incorporation of both precursors, whereas haloperidol partially reduced the dopamine induced increase in incorporation of fucose. Thus, an induction process of the observed macromolecular changes involving dopaminoceptive structures of hippocampus can be assumed.

The influence of cholinergic transmitter substances on the incorporation of (14C)-leucine and (3H)-fucose into the total proteins of hippocampus in vivo and in vitro

The incorporation of (14C)-leucine into the total proteins of the hippocampus is inhibited by high concentrations of cholinergic agonists, with nicotinic substances (such as 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazine) being more effective than muscarinic compounds (such as arecoline and pilocarpine). Under these conditions the incorporation of (3H)-fucose is not influenced.

Long-lasting morphological changes in dendritic spines of dentate granular cells following stimulation of the entorhinal area

Stimulation of the perforant path induces a long-lasting increase in the area of dendritic spines, which are sites of termination of the stimulated pathway in the distal third of the dentate molecular layer. No enlarged spines were found in the proximal third of the dentate molecular layer, where the commissural afferents terminate. Following a single tetanic stimulus of 30 sec duration at 30/sec, spines became significantly larger by 15%, 38%, 35% and 23% within poststimulation intervals of 2-6 min, 10-60 min, 4-8 h, and 23 h, respectively. Axon terminals decreased their area by 15% within the 2-6 min interval and the vesicle density was decreased by 19% within the 10-60 min interval. Both changes were reversible and terminals resumed their prestimulation condition at longer intervals (greater than 4 h). The initial enlargement of spines was interpreted as being due to a glutamate-induced increase in the sodium permeability of the spine membrane, whereas for the long-lasting enlargement an increase in protein synthesis was postulated. The long-lasting enlargement of dendritic spines in the dentate molecular layer following a short train of stimuli delivered to the perforant path, supports the postulate which links such a change to the mechanism of long-lasting postactivation potentiation observed in this pathway.

Alteration of protein metabolism in individual, identified neurons from Aplysia

A search for control mechanisms governing protein metabolism in neurons from Aplysia californica has uncovered two examples of altered patterns of newly synthesized proteins: (1) The pattern of newly synthesized proteins in the R2 neuron is altered when protein synthesis occurs at elevated temperatures (22-30 degrees C as compared with 13-15 degrees C). (2) The processing of newly synthesized 12,000 dalton (12k) material to 6-9,000 dalton (6-9k) size in the R15 neuron (Strumwasser, F. and Wilson, D.F. [1976], J. Gen. Physiol., in press) can be blocked by certain ion replacements. If acetate replaces chloride in the incubation medium during the synthesis of 12k material, an early step in the processing, prior to the actual breakdown of 12k material, is blocked. Experiments with RNA-synthesis inhibitors indicate that none of the mRNAs which code for abundantly synthesized protein species in the R2 or R15 neurons have short (less than 4 hr) half-lives. This result has implications for an earlier report of regulation of protein synthesis in the R15 neuron.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the nervous system of Aplysia californica. I. Increased synthesis in response to synaptic stimulation

In the isolated abdominal ganglion of Aplysia, previously incubated in adenine-(3)H, the amount of (3)H-labeled adenosine-3',5' monophosphate (cAMP) doubled after electrical stimulation of nerves at a physiological rate (1/sec). No change was detected after 4 min of stimulation. An increase in cAMP was first seen after 15 min; lengthening the period of stimulation to 1 hr did not increase the extent of the effect. ATP contained 50% of the total radioactivity taken up from adenine-(3)H, cAMP about 0.1%. During stimulation both the total amount and the specific radioactivity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) did not change. Thus, the increased amount of radioactivity found in cAMP after stimulation represented an increase in its rate of synthesis. During stimulation formation of cAMP-(3)H was not altered in nerves or in the cell body of an identified neuron (R2). In addition, no changes were detected in the total amounts of cAMP in the ganglion and in the cell body of R2. It seems likely that the increase was initiated by synaptic activity rather than by action potentials. It was blocked by elevating the concentration of Mg, which also blocks synaptic activity without impairing conduction of impulses. Moreover, impulse activity induced by ouabain and glutamate did not result in increased formation of cAMP.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the nervous system of Aplysia californica. II. Effect of serotonin and dopamine

Serotonin and dopamine, both likely transmitter substances in Aplysia, stimulated formation of adenosine-3',5' monophosphate (cAMP) in ganglia, connectives, and identified nerve cell bodies. This widespread distribution suggests that receptors for the response are localized throughout the nervous system, as is adenyl cyclase. Both synthesis of cAMP-(3)H from precursor previously labeled in incubations with adenine-(3)H and total content of cAMP were stimulated up to 15-fold. The acetylcholine analogue carbachol, glutamate, norepinephrine, and histamine were inactive. Full stimulation occurred within 2-4 min of applying serotonin; the extent of the effect was half maximal at 6micro serotonin. Even in the continued presence of serotonin, the increased cAMP diminished with time. When serotonin was removed, tissue remained refractory for 15-20 min; sensitivity returned after 25 min. Serotonin stimulated cAMP after removal of extracellular Na, K, or Cl and in isotonic sucrose, with all extracellular ions removed. Elevating Mg, which blocked the stimulation of cAMP caused by synaptic activity, did not affect the response to serotonin. Thus the response appeared to be independent of transmitter release and of changes in synaptic potentials and current flow. The role of cAMP in neuronal functioning remains to be determined. Conditions which markedly increased cAMP in neurons, however, did not affect the rate of RNA synthesis, nor did they alter the distribution of phosphorylated adenine or uridine nucleotides.

Polypeptide secretion from the isolated parietovisceral ganglion of Aplysia californica

In vitro studies of the secretory behavior of the parietovisceral ganglion in Aplysia californica were performed. The aim of these studies was to investigate the release of polypeptides in response to depolarizing stimuli, and, in particular, to determine if a specific polypeptide known to induce egg laying in the intact animal is secreted into the bathing medium. During continuous perfusion of a ganglion preincubated in leucine-(3)H the application of either high-potassium medium or a burst of electrical stimuli (via the pleurovisceral connective nerve) evoked a marked increase in the amount of trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-precipitable radioactivity recovered in the perfusate. Enhanced release could be detected within 80 sec of the initial exposure to high potassium; however, incubation of a ganglion in calcium-free media before the application of high-potassium medium abolished the increase of precipitable radioactivity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of perfusate samples revealed a significant change in the polypeptide species washed from the ganglion during high-potassium depolarization. Bioassays confirmed that egg laying is induced when high-potassium medium used to bathe a ganglion is injected into a recipient animal. These and other results permit the conclusion that the bulk of the polypeptide material secreted from the ganglion in response to depolarization is a specific neurohormone produced by two identified cell clusters, the so-called bag cells.

Molecular weight distribution of proteins synthesized in single, identified neurons of Aplysia

Parietovisceral ganglia from Aplysia californica were incubated in medium containing leucine-(3)H. Single, identified nerve cell somas were isolated from the ganglia, and their proteins extracted and separated by electrophoresis on 5% SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The distribution of total or newly synthesized proteins from the single neurons was determined by staining or slicing and liquid scintillation counting of the gels. Experiments showed that: (a) a number of proteins were being synthesized in abundance in the nerve cells; (b) different, identified neurons showed reproducibly different labeling patterns in the gels; (c) cells R2 and R15, which showed different distributions of radioactivity in the gels, had similar staining patterns; and (d) there was significant incorporation into material of high (>75,000) molecular weight in most of the cells.