The influence of concanavalin A on glutamate-induced current fluctuations in locust muscle fibres

Concanavalin A reduces habituation in the tectum of the frog

In the tectum of Rana pipiens, responses to repeated flashes of light to the ipsilateral eye display considerable habituation. We have employed the plant lectin concanavalin A (Con A), which can diminish desensitization of glutamate receptors in vitro, in order to examine whether desensitization of glutamate receptors contributes to this habituation. The ipsilateral eye's projection reaches each tectal lobe indirectly, being relayed from the opposite tectal lobe via the tecto-isthmo-tectal projection. One of the sites along this pathway at which habituation may take place is the retinotectal synapse, where glutamate is a putative transmitter. Pretreatment of one lobe of the tectum with Con A significantly diminished the habituation of responses recorded in the other tectal lobe to light offset, with less of an effect on responses to light onset. These data suggest that OFF habituation may reflect glutamate receptor desensitization at the retinotectal synapse. In contrast, recordings from retinotectal terminals indicate that a primary site of habituation of ON responses is within the retina.

Properties of vertebrate glutamate receptors: calcium mobilization and desensitization

Glutamate is now recognized as a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate CNS, participating in a number of physiological and pathological processes. The importance of glutamate in the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ as well as the relationship between excitatory and toxic properties has made it important to understand factors that regulate the responsivity of glutamate receptors. In recent years considerable insight has been gained about regulatory sites on NMDA receptors, with the recognition that these receptors are modulated by multiple endogenous and exogenous agents. Less is known about the regulation of responses mediated by AMPA, kainate, ACPD or APB receptors. Desensitization represents a potentially powerful means by which glutamate responses may be regulated. Indeed, two agents closely linked to the physiology of NMDA receptors, glycine and Ca2+, appear to modulate different types of desensitization. In the case of glycine, alteration of a rapid form of desensitization may be important in the role of this amino acid as a necessary cofactor for NMDA receptor activation. Additionally, changes in the affinity of the receptor complex for glycine may underlie the use-dependent decline in NMDA responses under certain conditions. Likewise, Ca2+ is a crucial player in the synaptic and toxic effects mediated by NMDA receptors, and is involved in a slower form of desensitization, in effect helping to regulate its own influx into neurons. The site and mechanism of the Ca2+ regulatory effects remain uncertain with evidence supporting both intracellular and ion channel sites of action. A clear role for Ca(2+)-dependent desensitization in the function of NMDA receptors under physiological conditions has not yet been demonstrated. AMPA receptor desensitization has been an area of intense investigation in recent years. The rapidity and degree of this process, coupled with its apparent rapid recovery, has suggested that desensitization is a key mechanism for the short-term regulation of responses mediated by these receptors. Furthermore, rapid desensitization appears to be one factor determining the time course and efficacy of fast excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by AMPA receptors, highlighting the physiological relevance of the process. The molecular mechanisms underlying desensitization remain uncertain. Traditionally, desensitization, like inactivation of voltage-gated channels, has been thought to represent a conformational change in the ion channel complex (Ochoa et al., 1989). However, it is unknown to what extent desensitization, in particular rapid AMPA receptor desensitization, has mechanistic features in common with inactivation. In voltage-gated channels, conformational changes in the channel protein restrict ion flow through the channel (Stuhmer, 1991).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino acid receptors from insect muscle: electrophysiological characterization in Xenopus oocytes following expression by injection of mRNA

Poly(A)+ Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was extracted from leg muscles of the locust Schistocerca gregaria and injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis. After 5-10 days incubation, receptors for L-glutamate, L-quisqualate, DL-ibotenate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were expressed. Agonist-induced currents were dose-dependent, and, in the concentration range 1 microM to 1 mM, generally had peak values of 50 nA. The responses to all agonists, apart from GABA, exhibited desensitization which could not be reversed even by prolonged washing with Ringer. Application of 100 microM GABA to oocytes voltage clamped at -60 mV produced a smooth inward current with a reversal potential of -22 +/- 1 mV, which is consistent with the involvement of chloride ions. At 100 microM, picrotoxin reversibly abolished this current, while 100 microM bicuculline had no effect. L-Glutamate elicited a smooth current with a reversal potential of -52 +/- 3 mV. L-Quisqualate elicited an inward current at -60 mV with a reversal potential of -9 +/- 2 mV; this current occasionally had an oscillatory component. The response to ibotenate comprised a smooth inward current with a reversal potential of -21 +/- 3 mV which was probably mediated by chloride ions.

Glutamate receptor channels in rat DRG neurons: activation by kainate and quisqualate and blockade of desensitization by Con A

Primary afferent C fibers in rat dorsal roots are depolarized by the excitatory amino acids kainate and domoate. Under whole-cell voltage clamp, kainate and domoate increase membrane conductance in a subpopulation of freshly dissociated DRG neurons. In contrast to kainate currents observed in CNS neurons, responses to kainate and domoate in DRG cells desensitize with prolonged agonist exposure. Half-maximal activation is achieved with much lower concentrations of kainate and domoate in sensory neurons than in CNS neurons from cerebral cortex. Rapid applications of glutamate, quisqualate, and AMPA evoke a transient current in DRG neurons and desensitize cells to subsequent applications of kainate or domoate. Brief incubation with the lectin concanavalin A eliminates desensitization to excitatory amino acids; after treatment with concanavalin A, all five agonists gate sustained currents of similar amplitude via the same receptor.

Blockade of desensitization augments quisqualate excitotoxicity in hippocampal neurons

Glutamate neurotoxicity is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. While prolonged activation of either NMDA or non-NMDA receptors causes neuronal damage, NMDA receptors appear to mediate most of the glutamate toxicity. The reasons why NMDA toxicity predominates are uncertain but may relate to more effective neuroprotective mechanisms acting at non-NMDA receptors. To determine whether desensitization is one such mechanism, we studied the effects of the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) on quisqualate currents and toxicity in cultured postnatal rat hippocampal neurons. After WGA treatment, quisqualate currents exhibit little desensitization and a 4- to 8-fold increase in steady-state amplitude. WGA also markedly augments the degree of acute, quisqualate-induced neuronal degeneration. These results suggest that non-NMDA desensitization serves a neuroprotective function in hippocampal neurons.

Concanavalin A selectively reduces desensitization of mammalian neuronal quisqualate receptors

A fast perfusion system was used to apply excitatory amino acids to embryonic hippocampal neurons grown in dissociated culture and voltage clamped in the whole-cell recording configuration. Responses to quisqualic acid and DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA; a potent quisqualate-like agonist) showed rapid desensitization: at 100 microM the peak inward current declined to a plateau response on average 0.2 times the peak response (mean time constant, 30 ms). Responses to L-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid also showed desensitization: at 100 microM, when recorded in Mg-free solution with 0.3 microM glycine, the peak inward current declined to a plateau value 0.5 times the peak, but with a time constant of desensitization (average, 248 ms) one order of magnitude slower than desensitization of responses to quisqualate. Responses to kainate and domoate (agonists at kainic acid receptors) did not show appreciable desensitization. Responses to L-glutamate and 5-Br-willardine (a potent non-NMDA receptor agonist), recorded in glycine-free solution with 1 mM Mg to suppress N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor activity, showed similar rapid desensitization to AMPA and quisqualate, but occurred with less depression of the peak current. The lectin concanavalin A (Con A) reduced desensitization at quisqualate receptors, with no effect on responses to kainate or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid. The effect of Con A developed slowly (average time constant at 2.5 microM, 250 s) but at steady state Con A increased the plateau current evoked by 100 microM quisqualate to 13 times control. Succinyl-Con A produced only a small reduction of desensitization to quisqualate, approximately 10% of that produced by native Con A. Con A did not change the decay time constant of fast excitatory synaptic currents evoked by stimulation of presynaptic neurons, although the peak synaptic current decreased after treatment with lectin. Con A was also without effect on the block of responses to kainate produced by coapplication of quisqualate.

Inhibition of a voltage-dependent Ca current by concanavalin A

Incubation of the hypotrichous ciliate Stylonychia mytilus in fluorescein-labeled concanavalin A (Con A, 0.1-0.5 microgram/ml) produced a strong fluorescence of its membranelles, but comparatively weak fluorescence of the other compound cilia and of the somatic membrane. Compared to untreated cells, the frequency of spontaneous backward movements was reduced in the presence of 0.5 microgram/ml ConA. In electrophysiological experiments Con A altered the excitability of the cell membrane. The two-peak action potential lost its second component which is associated with voltage-dependent Ca channels in the membranelles. The corresponding Ca current (Ca current I) was inhibited by low concentrations of Con A (0.2-0.5 microgram/ml). A second voltage-dependent Ca current (Ca current II) was not affected. Reducing the K outward current by intracellular Cs and/or extracellular tetraethylammonium, or changing the holding potential, did not restore the Con A-sensitive Ca current I. Con A also inhibited this current when Ca was replaced by Ba. The inhibitory effect of Con A on the voltage-dependent Ca current I was prevented by 10-30 mM alpha-methyl-D-mannoside, and the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (20 micrograms/ml) did not affect the Ca currents, indicating that the Con A effect was mediated by binding to specific sugar residues on the excitable membrane. The succinylated dimeric derivative of Con A did not inhibit Ca current I up to concentrations of 5 micrograms/ml. It is concluded that the two voltage-dependent Ca currents in Stylonychia can be chemically isolated due to their different sensitivity to Con A, which appears to bind preferentially to sites near or at the Ca channel in the membranellar membrane.

The effect of calcium ions on the glutamate response and its desensitization in crayfish muscle fibres

The responses of crayfish muscle fibres to bath application or long ionophoresis of L-glutamate were studied in normal and low Ca2+ solutions. The smaller responses recorded in low Ca2+ solutions have characteristics suggesting a faster desensitization. Desensitization and recovery have complex kinetics. Desensitization is faster and recovery slower when external Ca2+ concentration is reduced. Both components of the recovery phase, which can be fitted by the sum of two exponentials, are affected by the external Ca2+ concentration. Recovery can be accelerated by external Ca2+ ionophoresis onto desensitized glutamate receptors. Responses to brief glutamate pulses of low intensity are not affected by Ca2+ reduction. For higher intensities, signs of desensitization are detectable early in the rising phase of the response. Concanavalin A (Con A) blocks both desensitization and Ca2+ dependence with similar time courses. Whether or not the preparation has been treated with Con A, the slowly rising responses recorded in isotonic Ca2+ do not show signs of desensitization. Con A causes a partial blockade of the glutamate response. The Ca2+ dependence of the glutamate response can be explained by the Ca2+ dependence of the desensitization process, the cation acting at ectocellular sites of the muscle membrane.

The piperidine analogues prevent desensitization of glutamate receptors on crustacean muscle

The effect of the four cis piperidine decarboxylate analogues on glutamate receptor desensitization was investigated. Intracellular recordings of the depolarization in response to ionophoretic application of L-glutamate were made from the opener muscle of the Hermit crab (Eupagurus bernhardus). Following bath application of any of the piperidine dicarboxylates (1 h) the decline in the amplitude of successive glutamate potentials in response to a train of ionophoretic pulses was prevented. This result indicated that the piperidine dicarboxylates inhibited the development of glutamate receptor desensitization. This effect was reversed on washing. During a prolonged ionophoretic glutamate application (5 s) the depolarization declined due to the onset of desensitization. This decline in the potential no longer occurred after exposure to a piperidine dicarboxylate analogue (30-60 min). Similarly, after application of the piperidine dicarboxylates the shape of the bath-applied glutamate potential was transformed from a rapid depolarization followed by repolarization to a maintained depolarization. These effects of the piperidine dicarboxylates are consistent with a loss of glutamate receptor desensitization.

The pharmacology of the piperidine dicarboxylates on the crustacean neuromuscular junction

The effects of the four cis-piperidine dicarboxylate analogues (PDAs) on the neuromuscular junction of the hermit crab (Eupagurus bernhardus) were examined. Intracellular recordings of evoked excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) and the membrane potential were made. All four analogues were active as agonists and depolarized the fibre membrane. The dose-response curves for the 2,3 and 2,6-piperidine dicarboxylates were similar to that for L-glutamate but were one tenth as potent. The dose-response curves for the 2,4 and 2,5-piperidine dicarboxylates had shallower gradients and lower maxima indicating lower potencies. The piperidine dicarboxylates non-competitively antagonized and glutamate-induced potential and reversibly attenuated the amplitude of the junction potential, with no change in membrane input resistance. The decrease in amplitude of the glutamate-induced potentials produced by a train of ionophoretic pulses was reversibly blocked by incubation with any of the dicarboxylates. The results indicate that the piperidine dicarboxylates prevent the development of receptor desensitization. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Trimethaphan as a glutamate inhibitor at the crayfish neuromuscular junction

At the crayfish neuromuscular junction trimethaphan reduced the amplitude of both the glutamate-induced synaptic current and the excitatory junctional current in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations greater than 5 microM. These effects were dependent on membrane potential. Trimethaphan did not affect the inhibitory junctional potential and the input resistance of the opener muscle. The dose-response curves for inhibition of glutamate responses by trimethaphan suggest that trimethaphan is not a competitive glutamate antagonist. A quantum analysis of extracellularly recorded excitatory junctional potentials showed that trimethaphan decreased both quantum content and average unit size. Trimethaphan also prolonged the glutamate currents evoked by both short and prolonged ionophoretic currents, but the decay of nerve-evoked synaptic currents was accelerated by the drug. Three explanations worthy of consideration to explain the action of trimethaphan are the responses of extra-junctional receptors, the sudden release and short actions of the neurotransmitter in contrast with the progressive application and long exposure of exogenous agonists to receptors, and discrimination of glutamate and excitatory transmitter in the crayfish neuromuscular junction. The second of these possibilities is mainly discussed at length.

Excitatory postsynaptic channels operated by quisqualate in crayfish muscle

Small crayfish muscle fibers were voltage clamped and membrane current noise elicited by bath application of quisqualate, a compound structurally related to the excitatory transmitter glutamate, was measured. It was found that quisqualate activates the same excitatory postsynaptic receptors as glutamate but its affinity for these receptors is about one hundred times larger. Noise analysis revealed that the high potency of quisqualate was attributable in part to an increased apparent mean channel open time, tau noise (quisqualate), which was about ten times larger than on activation by glutamate. The channel conductance gamma(quisqualate), however, was about three times smaller than gamma(glutamate). At T = 8 C and E = -60 mV, tau noise (quisqualate) = 9.3 +/- 1.8 ms and gamma(quisqualate) = 9.7 +/- 1.1 pS resulted. tau noise (quisqualate) decreased with hyperpolarization but it was much less voltage dependent than tau noise (glutamate): tau noise (quisqualate) = 6.0 ms . exp (E/362 mV). Both gamma(quisqualate) and alpha = tau noise (quisqualate) increased with temperature (Q10 approximately 1.6). This temperature dependence was characterized by the temperature independent activation energies E gamma = 29.1 +/- 1.7 kJ/mol and E alpha = 33.9 +/- 1.3 kJ/mol. Concanavalin A which blocks desensitization of the quisqualate/glutamate receptors did not influence tau noise (quisqualate) significantly.

Effects of concanavalin A on glutamate operated postsynaptic channels in crayfish muscle

Small crayfish muscle fibres were voltage clamped, and synaptic current noise induced by bath application of glutamate was measured. Desensitization of the glutamate receptors was blocked by preincubating the fibres with 0.3-1.0 mumol/l concanavalin A (Con A) for at least 30 min. The power density spectra of the glutamate current noise could be fitted by single component Lorentz curves. The lectin Con A did not influence significantly the conductance gamma of the glutamate channels but increased their mean open time, tau noise. The respective mean values found at T = 8 degrees C and E = -60 mV were gamma = 23.5 +/- 7.0 pS and tau noise = 1.5 +/- 0.2 ms. Both the conductance gamma and the closing rate alpha = tau -1 noise increased with temperature (Q10 approximately 1.9). This temperature dependence was characterized by the activation energies E gamma = 35.2 +/- 7.1 kJ/mol and E alpha = 46.9 +/- 2.1 kJ/mol. The potential dependence of tau noise was almost completely abolished by Con A.

Trophism between C-type axon terminals and thoracic motoneurones in the cat

1. Quantitative ultrastructural examinations of axon terminals synapsing with normal alpha-motoneurones in segment T9 of cat spinal cord provided estimates of their numbers, sizes and synaptic structure. One synapse, the C type, derived from short-axon propriospinal segmental interneurones, was studied in detail.2. The numbers, sizes and post-synaptic structure of normal C-type synapses at T9 were compared with similar estimates from material provided by cats subjected to partial central deafferentation by double spinal hemisection at T5 and T10 between 7 days and 2 years previously.3. The proportion of C-type synapses present progessively increased from 1% in normal cats to 8.8% 200 days following hemisection, and had still attained a level of 3.1% by 2 years; these increases imply that the absolute number of C-type synapses underwent increase.4. Mean sizes of C-type synapses increased from 4.0 mum (normal) to 5.8 mum (200 days) and retained their enlarged sizes up to 2 years (5.9 mum). Furthermore, while 84% of C-type synapses were under 6 mum in length in normal motoneurones, 48% were over 6 mum long 200 days post-operatively.5. The unique post-synaptic structure of C-type synapses also proliferated following partial central deafferentation of the motoneurones. The elongated cistern, increased numbers and individual lengths of lamellae of the associated underlying rough endoplasmic reticulum indicated a trophic interaction between the presynaptic C terminal and its post-synaptic motoneurone.6. Counts of ribosomes ;bound' to lamellae of the subsynaptic rough endoplasmic reticulum, and of the lamellae-associated polyribosomes interposed between individual lamellae for normal and 200 day post-operative C-type synapses indicated an over-all post-operative increase in capacity for local subsynaptic protein synthesis topographically directed towards this type of axon terminal.7. The observed greater increase in frequency of ribosomes ;bound' to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, together with an over-all proliferation of this structure, specificially indicated an increased capacity for synthesis of protein for utilization in sites remote from those of synthesis (e.g. a trans-synaptic passage of protein).8. A hypothesis is advanced on the basis of the above results relating both pre- and post-synaptic changes in structure to an increased functional activation of the segmental short-axon propriospinal interneurones forming the C-type synapses, as a compensatory response to partial central deafferentation of spinal motoneurones.

The cellular specificity of lectin binding in the kidney. II. A light microscopical study in the rabbit

In order to estimate the usefulness of lectins in the study of the functional segmentation of the nephron, the sites of binding of four lectins were identified in the rabbit kidney. Lectin-peroxidase conjugates were applied to unfixed cryostat sections. The bound conjugates were stained with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine for light microscopical observation. Each lectin has a specific binding pattern along the nephron. The patterns generally fit in with the segmentation of the nephron established by conventional histology. However, in the proximal tubule and in the thick ascending limb the lectin binding suggests functional transitions in histologically homogeneous tubular portions. In contrast to the other cell types of the connecting tubule and of the collecting duct the intercalated cells bind two lectins at their luminal membrane. Segmental differences in the lectin affinity of the basement membrane suggest that this structure has not only mechanical functions. The binding of lectins to luminal membranes in some segments indicate the possibility to use lectins for the separation of particular cell types and for modification of the transport properties of their membranes.

Concanavalin A blocks the Ca2+ -dependence of crayfish muscle fiber responses to glutamate

(1) The response of crayfish muscle fibers to bath-applied glutamate is strongly inhibited when the Ca concentration of the physiological solution is reduced. Other divalent cations cannot substitute for Ca. The trivalent impermeant cation La can at low concentration replace Ca. Moreover, decreasing the Ca concentration in the presence of La potentiates the glutamate response. (2) The time course of responses to ionophoretically applied glutamate suggests a faster desensitization in low Ca solutions. The lectin concanavalin A, which blocks desensitization, also eliminates the decrease of the glutamate response in low Ca solutions. (3) The above results are compared to available data concerning Ca-dependence, desensitization and effects of concanavalin A.

Single glutamate-activated channels recorded from locust muscle fibres with perfused patch-clamp electrodes

1. Glutamate-activated single channels have been examined with conventional and internally perfused patch-clamp electrodes applied to the extrajunctional membrane of locust muscle fibres which were usually treated with concanavalin A to reduce desensitization. Channels opened by glutamate and other agonists have been compared.2. Recording patches were selected where there appeared to be only one active channel under the pipette. The conductance for single glutamate-activated channels was 150 pS and was not markedly dependent on clamp potential. The lifetimes of the channels were usually exponentially distributed with a mean of tau(glutamate) = 2.3 +/- 0.12 msec, T = 23 degrees C, V(m) = -60 mV.3. Channels opened by fluoroglutamate had a mean lifetime of tau(fluoroglutamate) = 1.4 +/- 0.1 msec; channels opened by quisqualate had a mean lifetime of tau(quisqualate) = 6.4 +/- 1.0 msec. The conductances of channels opened by fluoroglutamate, quisqualate and glutamate were not significantly different.4. The behaviour of individual receptor-channel complexes has been examined at various concentrations of glutamate. Drug solutions were applied through an internal perfusion pipette which allowed exchange of the solution in the patch-electrode tip within 10 sec. The distribution of channel closed times could be fitted with a single exponential. Channel lifetime was not markedly dependent on glutamate concentration (30-600 mum) whereas the channel closed time decreased with increasing glutamate concentration.5. The reciprocal of channel closed time vs. glutamate concentration had a slope value of 1.85 on logarithmic co-ordinates. The approximately second power dependence of net forward reaction rate on glutamate concentration suggests that at least two glutamate molecules activate a single receptor-channel complex.6. The apparent dissociation constant for the glutamate-receptor complex is large, being about 300-500 muM. If the receptors have an equally low affinity for neurally released transmitter, then only a small amount of the transmitter packet is expected to bind to receptors. Quisqualate and glutamate have similar receptor affinities whereas receptor affinity for fluoroglutamate is smaller.