Distribution of choline acetyltransferase in the nerve cells and nerves of the abdominal ganglia of the king crab, Limulus polyphemus

Biochemical evidence for cholinergic involvement in the Limulus brain

The transport of [3H]choline by the corpora pedunculata of the circumoesophageal ring gland (brain) of Limulus polyphemus was studied. Corpora pedunculata slices were incubated individually in Chao's solution containing 0.01 microM [3H]choline at room temperature (25 +/- 2 degrees C) and readily accumulated the radiolabel from the extracellular environment. The corpora pedunculata uptake of [3H]choline was linear over 60 min. The kinetic analysis indicated the existence of dual uptake systems for choline within the corpora pedunculata, a high affinity choline uptake process (Km = 0.54 microM and Vmax = 0.037 pmoles/mg/min) and a low affinity process (Km = 137 microM and Vmax = 6.3 pmoles/mg/min). The high affinity choline transport system was dependent on sodium ions and was inhibited by micromolar concentrations of hemicholinium-3. The pre-exposure of the corpora pedunculata to Chao's solution containing 90 mM potassium for 15 min resulted in a 24% increase in the velocity of the high affinity choline uptake process (Vmax = 0.046 pmoles/mg/min). The 90 mM potassium Chao's pretreatment stimulated a substantial increase in the synthesis of [3H]acetylcholine by the corpora pedunculata. The results suggest that the high affinity choline uptake process within the Limulus corpora pedunculata is associated with the synthesis of the transmitter acetylcholine, presumably within cholinergic terminals in this tissue.

The pharmacology of Limulus central neurons

1. Intracellular recordings have been made from neurons in the central nervous system of the horse-shoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Neurons possess resting potentials between -40 and -60 mV, with action potentials ranging from 2-3 mV up to 60 mV in amplitude. Neurons also have excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. 2. All the neurons studied are inhibited by GABA and excited by cholinomimetics. The GABA response is chloride mediated and reversibly antagonised by picrotoxinin but not by bicuculline or bicuculline methochloride or methoiodide. The cholinergic response is nicotinic and blocked by pentolinium, hexamethonium, chlorisondamine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine. 3. L-Glutamate can excite some cells, inhibit others and have a biphasic action, inhibition followed by excitation, on other cells. The inhibitory effect is chloride mediated and blocked by picrotoxinin. Ibotenate mimics the action of glutamate both in terms of inhibition and excitation but kainate and quisqualate only mimic the excitatory action of L-glutamate. 4. Dopamine, octopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine excite some neurons while inhibiting others or have a biphasic action. Dopamine and octopamine normally have different effects on the same cell, suggesting they act via different receptors. Octopamine shows stereospecificity for the (-) isomer which is more than 100 times more active than the (+) isomer and octopamine is reversibly antagonised by phentolamine and cyproheptadine. 5. Proctolin has an excitatory action on these neurons and this effect is long lasting and can be potentiated by dibutyl cyclic AMP. 6. The pharmacology of Limulus central neurons is compared to the pharmacology of insect and crustacean central neurons. It is concluded that GABA and acetylcholine are central transmitters throughout the arthropods. It is also probable that L-glutamate and octopamine have a physiological role in the arthropod central nervous system. Proctolin appears to modify neuronal and muscle activity in the arthropods and has a modulatory or transmitter function.