Activation of acetylcholine synthesis in cat sympathetic ganglia: dependence on external choline and sodium-pump rate

Protons resolve dual effects of calcium on miniature end-plate potential frequency at frog neuromuscular junctions

Inhibition of transmitter release by protons (H+) was studied at the frog neuromuscular junction at various extracellular concentrations of calcium ([Ca++]o) and potassium ([K+]o) by recording miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) frequency with the intracellular microelectrode. H+ decreased K+ -stimulated MEPP frequency. A double logarithmic graph of MEPP frequency at 7.5 mM K+ vs. [H+]o yielded a straight line with negative slope. At 10 mM K+, there was a parallel shift to the right of the graph. According to the surface charge model, K+ acts solely to depolarize the prejunctional membrane in accordance with the Nernst equation. By decreasing the prejunctional negative surface charge, H+ decreases K+ -stimulated MEPP frequency by decreasing [Ca++]o at the Ca++ channel. An estimated pKa of 4.20 may represent an acidic site at the Ca++ channel associated with Ca++ influx. As [Ca++]o increased above 1 mM for pH 7.40 and 10 mM K+, MEPP frequency decreased, i.e., the inhibitory component of dual effects of Ca++ occurred. At pH 6.40, the inhibitory component was abolished, unmasking the stimulatory effect of Ca++ on MEPP frequency. Reversal of Ca++ action by H+ could not be explained by surface charge theory alone. A double logarithmic graph of MEPP frequency vs. [K+]o at 8.5-10.5 mM was linear with a slope of 4. There were parallel shifts to the right of this graph for changes in pH from 7.40 to 6.90 and in [Ca++]o from 1 to 2.5 mM. These results are explained on the hypothesis that K+ also acts at an acidic prejunctional site to increase Ca++ -dependent quantal transmitter release. This action of K+ was inhibited by H+ and raised Ca++. Based on kinetic theory, the estimated pKa of the acidic prejunctional K+ site was 6.31. Based on free energy calculations, its cation preference was H+ greater than K+ greater than Ca++.

The packing of acetylcholine into quanta at the frog neuromuscular junction is inhibited by increases in intracellular sodium

Pretreatment with hypertonic solutions, insulin, or adrenaline increases the size of quanta at the frog neuromuscular junction, as determined by measurements of miniature end plate potentials or currents (Van der Kloot and Van der Kloot 1985, 1986). The increase in quantal size apparently is due to an increase in acetylcholine (ACh) content of individual quanta. These treatments, therefore, can be used to study the packaging of ACh. Previously, I reported that increases are blocked by an inhibitor of active ACh uptake into vesicles (Van der Kloot 1986b, 1987b). The present study shows that the increases in quantal size were antagonized by inhibiting the Na+-K+ exchange pump with 100 microM ouabain, 10 microM dihydroouabain, or K+-free solutions. The increases in quantal size were also antagonized by 10 microM monensin, a Na+ ionophore, or by 5 microM aconitine, which opens Na+ channels at normal resting potentials. Apparently a rise in intracellular [Na+] inhibits the addition of ACh to quanta. The mechanism by which a rise in intracellular Na+ inhibits ACh packing is unknown, but apparently it is not due to inhibition of choline reuptake into the terminals. Also consistent with the above hypothesis is that the increase in quantal size following depolarization for 2 h in elevated [K+]out was substantially enhanced when tetrodotoxin (TTX) was present, suggesting that in the absence of TTX there is a rise in [Na+]in that antagonizes the incorporation of additional ACh into the quanta.

Ouabain and the membrane transport of amino acids and amines

Evidence is discussed that ouabain has a direct inhibiting effect on the sodium-dependent uptake of amino acids and amines from the extracellular space of the mammalian central nervous system rather than the inhibition being a consequence of raised intracellular sodium levels.