'Slow' K+-stimulated Ca2+ influx is mediated by Na+-Ca2+ exchange: a pharmacological study

K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ influx was measured in rat brain presynaptic nerve terminals that were predepolarized in a K+-rich solution for 15 s prior to addition of 45Ca2+. This 'slow' Ca2+ influx was compared to influx stimulated by Na+ removal, presumably mediated by Na+-Ca2+ exchange. The K+-stimulated Ca2+ influx in predepolarized synaptosomes, and the Na+-removal-dependent Ca2+ influx were both saturating functions of the external Ca2+ concentration; and both were half-saturated at 0.3 mM Ca2+. Both were reduced about 50% by 20 microM Hg2+, 20 microM Cu2+ or 0.45 mM Mn2+. Neither the K+-stimulated nor the Na+-removal-dependent Ca2+ influx was inhibited by 1 microM Cd2+, La3+ or Pb2+, treatments that almost completely inhibited K+-stimulated Ca2+ influx in synaptosomes that were not predepolarized. The relative permeabilities of K+-stimulated Ca2+, Sr2+ or Ba2+ influx in predepolarized synaptosomes (10:3:1) and the corresponding selectivity ratio for Na+-removal-dependent divalent cation uptake (10:2:1) were similar. These results strongly suggest that the K+-stimulated 'slow' Ca2+ influx in predepolarized synaptosomes and the Na+-removal-dependent Ca2+ influx are mediated by a common mechanism, the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.

Measurement of the cytosolic sodium ion concentration in rat brain synaptosomes by a fluorescence method

A method for the measurement of the cytosolic Na+ concentration in intact synaptosomes is described. This method makes use of a pH sensitive dye (BCECF) that can be loaded into the cytosol and a relatively specific ionophore (monensin) that can exchange Na+ for H+ across the synaptosomal membrane. By setting conditions such that there is no electrochemical potential difference for H+ across the membrane (no membrane potential and pHi = pHo), addition of ionophore would induce a H+ flux only if there is a concentration difference for Na+. Thus, when there is no fluorescence change (no cytosolic pH change) extracellular [Na+] equals intrasynaptosomal [Na+]. The intrasynaptosomal [Na+] concentration was determined to be 7 +/- 3 mM (n = 5; mean +/- S.E.). The results obtained with this fluorescence method are compared with estimates obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry. Limitations and applications of the method are discussed.

The regulation of cytosolic pH in isolated presynaptic nerve terminals from rat brain

Cytosolic pH (pHi) was measured in presynaptic nerve terminals isolated from rat brain (synaptosomes) using a fluorescent pH indicator, 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). The synaptosomes were loaded with BCECF by incubation with the membrane-permanent acetoxy-methyl ester derivative of BCECF, which is hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases to the parent compound. pHi was estimated by calibrating the fluorescence signal after permeabilizing the synaptosomal membrane by two different methods. Synaptosomes loaded with 15-90 microM BCECF were estimated to have a pHi of 6.94 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- standard error; n = 54) if the fluorescence signal was calibrated after permeabilizing with digitonin; a similar value was obtained using synaptosomes loaded with 10 times less BCECF (6.9 +/- 0.1; n = 5). When the fluorescence signal was calibrated by permeabilizing the synaptosomal membrane to H+ with gramicidin and nigericin, pHi was estimated to be 7.19 +/- 0.03 (n = 12). With the latter method, pHi = 6.95 +/- 0.09 (n = 14) when the synaptosomes were loaded with 10 times less BCECF. Thus, pHi in synaptosomes was approximately 7.0 and could be more precisely monitored using the digitonin calibration method at higher BCECF concentrations. When synaptosomes were incubated in medium containing 20 mM NH4Cl and then diluted into NH4Cl-free medium, pHi immediately acidified to a level of approximately 6.6. After the acidification, pHi recovered over a period of a few minutes. The buffering capacity of the synaptosomes was estimated to be approximately 50 mM/pH unit. Recovery was substantially slowed by incubation in an Na-free medium, by the addition of amiloride (KI = 3 microM), and by abolition of the Nao/Nai gradient. pHi and its recovery after acidification were not affected by incubation in an HCO3-containing medium; disulfonic stilbene anion transport inhibitors (SITS and DIDS, 1 mM) and replacement of Cl with methylsulfonate did not affect the rate of recovery of pHi. It appears that an Na+/H+ antiporter is the primary regulator of pHi in mammalian brain nerve terminals.

Effects of lowering extracellular and cytosolic pH on calcium fluxes, cytosolic calcium levels, and transmitter release in presynaptic nerve terminals isolated from rat brain

We examined the effects of extracellular and intracellular pH changes on the influx of radioactive 45Ca, the concentration of ionized Ca (pCai) as monitored with the Ca-sensitive fluorescent indicator fura-2, and the efflux of dopamine in presynaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from rat brain corpora striata and preloaded with [3H]dopamine. Cytosolic pH (pHi) was monitored by loading the synaptosomes with the H+-sensitive fluorescent indicator 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) (see Nachshen, D. A., and P. Drapeau, 1988, Journal of General Physiology, 91:289-303). An abrupt decrease of the pH of the external medium, from 7.4 to 5.5, produced a slow decrease of pHi (over a 5-min period) from an initial value of 7.2 to a steady state level of approximately 5.8. When 20 mM acetate was present in acidic media, pHi dropped as fast as could be measured (within 2 s) to a level similar to that reached (more slowly) in the absence of acetate. It was therefore possible to lower pHi over short time periods to different levels depending on whether or not acetate was present upon extracellular acidification. Extracellular acidification to pH 5.5 (in the absence of acetate) had no significant effect on pCai and dopamine release over a 30-s period (pHi = 6.4). Acidification in the presence of acetate lowered pHi to 5.8 without affecting pCai, but dopamine efflux increased approximately 20-fold. This increase in basal dopamine release was also observed in the absence of extracellular Ca. Thus, intraterminal, but not extracellular, acidification could stimulate the efflux of dopamine in a Ca-independent manner. The high Q10 (3.6) of acid-stimulated dopamine efflux in the presence of nomifensine (which blocks the dopamine carrier) was consistent with an activation of vesicular dopamine release by H+. When synaptosomes were both depolarized for 2 s in high-K (77.5 mM) solutions and acidified (in the absence of acetate), there was a parallel block of 45Ca entry and evoked dopamine release (50% block at pH 6.0 with 0.2 mM external Ca). When acetate was included in the acidic media to further reduce pHi, Ca entry remained blocked, but evoked dopamine release was increased. Therefore, extracellular, but not cytosolic, acidification inhibited the release of dopamine by blocking voltage-gated Ca channels. The stimulation by cytosolic acidification of both basal and evoked dopamine release suggests that vesicular release in resting and depolarized synaptosomes was directly activated by cytoplasmic H+.

Co-operative action of calcium ions in dopamine release from rat brain synaptosomes

1. The release of [3H]dopamine from isolated presynaptic nerve terminals (synaptosomes) prepared from rat striata was measured as a function of the external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o). 2. In synaptosomes depolarized by the addition of 50 mM-K+, release of [3H]dopamine increased in a highly non-linear manner with [Ca2+]o. The release could be described as a third power function of [Ca2+]o. 3. Both 45Ca2+ influx and the change in the free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i, measured with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2) that were evoked by depolarization increased in a linear manner with [Ca2+]o. 4. These results suggest that non-linearity in the [Ca2+]o dependence of transmitter release originates in a co-operative relation between [Ca2+]i and exocytosis.

Strontium, barium, and manganese metabolism in isolated presynaptic nerve terminals

To gain insight into the mechanisms by which the divalent cations Sr, Ba, and Mn affect neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve terminals, we examined the sequestration of these cations, in comparison to Ca, by mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial [presumably smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)] organelles and the extrusion of these cations from isolated nerve terminals. Sequestration was studied in synaptosomes made leaky to small ions by treatment with saponin; efflux was examined in intact synaptosomes that were preloaded with the divalent cations by incubation in depolarizing (K rich) media. The selectivity sequence for ATP-dependent mitochondrial uptake that we observed was Mn much greater than Ca greater than Sr much greater than Ba, whereas that for the SER was Ca greater than or equal to Mn greater than Sr much greater than Ba. When synaptosomes that were preloaded with divalent cations were incubated in Na- and Ca-free media, there was little efflux of Ca, Ba, Sr, or Mn. When the incubation was carried out in media containing Na without Ca, there was substantial stimulation of Ca and Sr efflux, but only slight stimulation of Ba or Mn efflux. In Na-free media, the addition of 1 mM Ca promoted the efflux of all four divalent cations, probably via Ca-divalent cation exchange. In summary, the sequestration and extrusion data suggest that, with equal loads, Mn will be buffered to the greatest extent, whereas Ba will be least well buffered. These results may help to explain why Mn has a very long-lasting effect on transmitter release, while the effect of Sr is much briefer.

The regulation of cytosolic calcium in rat brain synaptosomes by sodium-dependent calcium efflux

1. When pinched-off presynaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from rat brain are incubated in a low-Na (24-36 mM) medium, they take up 45Ca in a time-dependent manner. In a medium containing 1 mM-Ca, this Na-dependent 45Ca uptake amounts to approximately 10 nmol/mg protein at 1 min, and to approximately 40 nmol/mg protein at 20 min. The Na-dependent Ca uptake is not reduced when the synaptosomes are loaded with concentrations of quin 2 as high as 2 mM. 2. The increase in 45Ca uptake is paralleled by an increase in the free cytosolic Ca concentration [Ca]i, as monitored with the fluorescent Ca indicators quin 2 or fura 2. [Ca]i increases from the value of approximately 200 to approximately 500 nM within 3-5 min, and thereafter, remains at this elevated level. 3. When synaptosomes that have been loaded with 45Ca (for 1 min, in a low-Na medium) are diluted into an Na-containing medium, there is a rapid efflux of the Ca load. After correcting for Ca that is taken up during the efflux period, calculations show that the total Ca in the synaptosomes returns to the control level within 1 min. Measurements of total chemical Ca parallel the measurements made with radiotracer Ca, and confirm that the Ca loaded into the nerve terminals during a 5 min incubation in a low-Na medium is extruded from the nerve terminals within 1 min in a normal-Na medium. 4. The efflux of Ca from the synaptosomes is paralleled by a drop of [Ca]i to its basal level, also within 1 min. 5. The mitochondrial uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethyloxy-phenyl-hydrazone (FCCP, 1 microM), has no effect on either Na-dependent Ca uptake or efflux in synaptosomes. FCCP causes a slight (100-200 nM) increase in [Ca]i in synaptosomes resuspended in either a Na or a low-Na medium. This indicates that little of the Ca that is taken up by the synaptosomes in a low-Na medium is sequestered by the mitochondria. 6. These results suggest that Na-dependent Ca efflux (probably Na-Ca exchange) plays an important role in allowing nerve terminals to recover rapidly from a Ca load.

Effect of anti-Ig on cytosolic Ca2+ in Daudi lymphoblastoid cells

We examined the response in the free intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) of Daudi (human lymphoblastoid) cells to antibodies against human immunoglobulins (anti-Ig), and the relationship of [Ca2+]i to anti-Ig-induced capping. At 80 microM intracellular quin-2 (a fluorescent probe for [Ca2+]i), anti-Ig (10 micrograms/ml) caused a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i from 100 to 600 nM; the signal returned to baseline with approximately 1 min. At 450 microM intracellular quin-2, [Ca2+]i rose to only approximately 250 microM, and the signal declined gradually, returning to base line after greater than 7 min. In subsequent experiments, the lower concentrations of quin-2 were employed. Plots of the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transients and of the binding of 125I-anti-Ig to Daudi cells versus the concentrations of anti-Ig showed similar saturation kinetics, with half-saturation occurring at 2-3 micrograms/ml. Part of the calcium in the transient is derived from the extracellular medium, and part from the nonmitochondrial intracellular stores. Caffeine (4 mM) and 8-(diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate HCl (0.5 mM) suppressed the release of calcium from internal stores and the entry of calcium from outside the cells, but permitted capping in more than half of the cells. Phorbol esters (1-2 nM) inhibited both capping and the anti-Ig-induced decrease in [Ca2+]i. None of these agents blocked the binding of anti-Ig to the cells. It appears that receptor capping is not dependent on the anti-Ig-induced transient increase in calcium concentration.

Regulation of cytosolic calcium concentration in presynaptic nerve endings isolated from rat brain

The regulation of cytosolic Ca concentration ([Ca]i) was studied with the fluorescent Ca indicator, quin2, in pinched-off presynaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from rat brain. The resting [Ca]i is 0.1-0.2 microM, in solutions containing 1-2 mM-Ca. [Ca]i increases by only 100-150 nM when the external Ca concentration is increased from 0.02 to 2 mM. The mitochondrial inhibitors valinomycin and fluoro-carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (FCCP) increase [Ca]i by 100-200 nM. This increase is not correlated with the resting level of [Ca]i prior to the addition of inhibitors, but it is dependent on the presence of external Ca. It seems likely that the effect of these inhibitors on [Ca]i is a secondary consequence of metabolic inhibition. [Ca]i increases by about 2-fold when the external Na concentration is lowered from 145 to 5 mM, and returns to its initial level when external Na is restored. This recovery occurs also in the presence of FCCP. These results suggest that Na/Ca exchange, but not mitochondrial Ca uptake, plays a role in regulating [Ca]i and in allowing the nerve terminals to recover from Ca loading.

The early time course of potassium-stimulated calcium uptake in presynaptic nerve terminals isolated from rat brain

K-stimulated (voltage-dependent) 45Ca uptake in rat brain synaptosomes was measured at times ranging from 0.1 to 10 s, in experiments that employed a rapid-mixing device to initiate and terminate radiotracer uptake. The rapid mixing did not disrupt the functional integrity of the synaptosomes, as judged by their ability to take up Ca. In solutions containing a low (0.02 mM) concentration of Ca, the rate of K-stimulated Ca uptake measured after 0-0.12 s depolarization was 8 times greater than that measured after 5-10 s of depolarization. The decline in rate of K-stimulated Ca uptake was not due to tracer backflux from the synaptosomes, nor to Ca loading of the nerve terminals, since it also occurred after synaptosomes were depolarized in solutions without Ca. It is suggested that this decline in rate of Ca uptake after depolarization was due to inactivation of voltage-dependent Ca channels in the nerve terminals. This inactivation appeared to be voltage rather than Ca dependent. The extent to which K-stimulated Ca uptake declined after depolarization in high-K solution depended on the K concentration that was used to depolarize the synaptosomes. Whereas pre-incubation in solution with one-half of the Na replaced by K significantly reduced subsequent K-stimulated Ca uptake, pre-incubation in non-depolarizing solution, with one-half of the Na replaced by choline, had no significant effect on subsequent K-stimulated Ca uptake. In solutions containing a high (0.5-2 mM) concentration of Ca, the rate of K-stimulated Ca uptake measured after 0-0.12 s was 40 times greater than that measured after 5-10 s. High Ca accelerated the rate at which K-stimulated Ca uptake declined with prolonged depolarization. The effect was mimicked by high (10 mM) concentrations of Sr, but not of Ba. The accelerated rate of decline observed with high Ca could be either a direct effect of Ca on the Ca channels or, more probably, an indirect effect of Ca loading on the nerve terminals. The apparent efficacy of several Ca-channel blockers (Ni, La and verapamil) in reducing K-stimulated Ca uptake was enhanced when the synaptosomes were depolarized in the presence of inhibitory agents for brief (less than 1 s) intervals before K-stimulated Ca uptake was measured.

Selectivity of the Ca binding site in synaptosome Ca channels. Inhibition of Ca influx by multivalent metal cations

K-stimulated (voltage-dependent) influx of 45Ca was measured in synaptosomes (isolated presynaptic nerve terminals) from rat brain. Influx was terminated at 1 s with a rapid-filtration technique, so that most of the Ca uptake was mediated by inactivating ("fast") Ca channels (Nachshen, D. A., and Blaustein, M. P., 1980, J. Gen. Physiol., 76:709-728). This influx was blocked by multivalent cations with half-inhibition constants (K1) that clustered in three distinct groups: (a) K1 greater than 1 mM (Mg2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+); (b) K1 = 30-100 microM (Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Hg2+); (c) K1 less than 1 micro M (Cd2+, Y3+, La3+ and the trivalent lanthanides, and Pb2+). Most of these ions had very little effect on synaptosome steady state membrane potential, which was monitored with a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye, or on the voltage dependence of Ca influx, which was assessed by measuring voltage-dependent Ca uptake at two levels of depolarization. The blockers inhibited Ca influx by competing with Ca for the channel site that is involved in the transport of divalent cations. Onset of fast channel inhibition by Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, La, Hg, and Pb was rapid, occurring within 1 s; inhibition was similar after 1 s or 30 min of exposure to these ions. The inhibition produced by Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, La, and Pb could be substantially reversed within 1 s by removing the inhibitory cation. The relative efficacies of the lanthanides as fast channel blockers were compared; there was a decrease in inhibitory potency with decreasing ionic radius. A model of the Ca channel binding site is considered, in which inhibitory polyvalent cation selectivity is determined primarily by coulombic interactions between the binding site and the different cations. The site is envisaged as consisting of two anions (radius 1 A) with a separation of 2 A between them. Small cations are unable to bind effectively to both anions. The selectivity sequences predicted for the alkaline earth cations, lanthanides, and transition metals are in substantial agreement with the selectivity sequences observed for inhibition of the fast Ca channel.

Manganese fluxes and manganese-dependent neurotransmitter release in presynaptic nerve endings isolated from rat brain

The uptake and efflux of 54Mn and 45Ca, and the release of dopamine (DA) were measured in pinched-off presynaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from rat brain. The uptake of Mn and Ca was increased when forebrain or striatal synaptosomes were incubated in a depolarizing, K-rich solution. The time courses of K-stimulated Mn and Ca entry were similar: there was initially a high rate of ion accumulation, lasting 1-3 s, that gradually levelled off. The initial uptake of Mn, like that of Ca, was greatly diminished by a 10 s pre-incubation in K-rich solution prior to the addition of radiotracer. Several Ca channel blockers, including Ni (0.03 mM), Sr (2.0 mM), Co (0.04 mM), Ba (1.5 mM) and La (0.2 mM), suppressed the K-stimulated uptake of Mn and of Ca to a similar extent. The K-stimulated uptake of Mn increased as a function of the external Mn concentration, and saturated at high external concentrations of Mn. These high concentrations of Mn also blocked the K-stimulated uptake of Ca. There was a decreased efflux of Ca, but not of Mn, from the synaptosomes when the external Na concentration was reduced. The Na-dependent efflux of Ca was diminished by external Mn, but was unaffected when the synaptosomes were loaded with Mn. The rate of [3H]DA release from striatal synaptosomes was less than 0.001 s-1 in non-depolarizing, low-K solutions, in the absence or presence of Mn and Ca (1 mM). The rate of release was also unchanged in depolarizing, K-rich solutions in the absence of these divalent cations. The addition of 1 mM-Mn to a K-rich solution increased the rate of DA release by about 40%, and the time course of release was linear for at least 30 s. The addition of 1 mM-Ca increased the rate of release nearly 100-fold during the first second, and thereafter the rate of release rapidly declined. Ni (1 mM) and, to a lesser extent, Mg (10 mM) reduced the rate of K-stimulated DA release that is dependent on either Mn or Ca. The pattern of inhibition of DA release resembled the pattern of inhibition of K-stimulated uptake of Mn and Ca. The addition of Mn to K-rich solutions stimulated the release of the neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid, but not acetylcholine, from striatal synaptosomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Influx of calcium, strontium, and barium in presynaptic nerve endings

Depolarization-induced (potassium-stimulated) influx of 45Ca, 85Sr, and 133Ba was measured in synaptosomes prepared from rat brain. There are two phases of divalent cation entry, "fast" and "slow;" each phase is mediated by channels with distinctive characteristics. The fast channels inactivate (within 1 s) and are blocked by low concentrations (less than 1 micro M) of La. The slow channels do not inactivate (within 10 s), and are blocked by high concentrations (greater than 50 micro M) of La. Divalent cation influx through both channels saturates with increasing concentrations of permeant divalent cation; in addition, each permeant divalent cation species competitively blocks the influx of other permeant species. These results are consistent with the presence of "binding sites" for divalent cations in the fast and slow channels. The Ca:Sr:Ba permeability ratio, determined by measuring the influx of all three species in triple-label experiments, was 6:3:2 for the fast channel and 6:3:1 for the slow channel. A simple model for ion selectivity, based on the presence of a binding site in the channel, could account well for slow and, to some extent, for fast, channel selectivity data.

A buffering model for calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release

A simple model is proposed, whereby a single buffering system for intracellular calcium accounts for the steep external Ca dependence of neurotransmitter release during depolarization of the presynaptic nerve terminal. Ca entry and buffering in the nerve terminal are assumed to be saturable; release is assumed to be proportional to intracellular Ca. The novel feature of this model is that it explains the apparent cooperative relationship between transmitter release and extracellular calcium, without invoking cooperative Ca binding.

pH dependence of the acetylcholine receptor channel: a species variation

The effects of pH changes on the miniature endplate current (mepc) and on endplate current fluctuations (acetylcholine [ACh] noise) were examined at the neuromuscular junction in vitro in two species of frogs. In Rana pipiens the relationship between the decay time constant of the mepc (tau') and pH had a symmetrical bell shape; the value of tau' being largest at pH 7 and decreasing at more acid or more alkaline pH. In acid pH the mepc amplitude (A) decreased relative to its value at pH 7, and in alkaline pH A increased. In Rana ridibunda a narrower and asymmetric bell-shaped dependence of tau' on pH, having a maximum of pH 5.5, was found. The mepc amplitude was again reduced in acid pH but had a peak at pH 5.5. Also, its value at pH 9 was larger than at pH 7. These results were obtained with a number of different buffers and were not found to be sensitive to the nature of the buffer chosen. By performing ACh-noise analysis we found that in Rana pipiens at acid pH (5.5-5.0), the single channel conductance (gamma) and the single channel open time (tau) were significantly reduced relative to their value at pH 7. However, in Rana ridibunda at acid pH (5.4) gamma was unchanged and tau was markedly increased relative to their values at pH 7. The results can be explained quantitatively by electrostatic interaction between two fixed and titratable ionic groups and a mobile charge in the receptor molecule. The model fits the data for groups having pKs approximately 4.8 and approximately 9.8 for Rana pipiens and approximately 4.6 and approximately 6.3 for Rana ridibunda. The groups can be tentatively identified as amino acid residues; glutamic or aspartic and lysine or tyrosine for Rana pipiens; glutamic or aspartic and histidine for Rana ridibunda. The difference in the fitted values of the other model parameters for these two species can be attributed to differences in the spatial configuration of the charged groups.

Some properties of potassium-stimulated calcium influx in presynaptic nerve endings

Potassium-stimulated 45Ca entry into rat brain synaptosomes was measured at times ranging from 1 to 60 s. The K-rich solutions were used to depolarize the synaptosomes. Backflux of 45Ca from the synaptosomes was negligible during the first 10-20 s of incubation. An initial ("fast") phase of K-stimulated Ca entry, lasting from 1 to 2 s was observed. This phase was inhibited by low concentrations of La (KI approximately equal to 0.3 microM). It was also abolished ("inactivated") by incubating the synaptosomes in depolarizing solutions (containing veratridine, gramicidin, or elevated [K]o) before the addition of 45Ca. An additional long lasting ("slow") phase of K-stimulated Ca entry was also detected. This "slow" Ca entry was much less sensitive to La (KI > 100 microM) and was not affected by depolarizing the synaptosomes before the addition of 45Ca. The rate of influx during the fast phase was about four times the rate of Ca influx during the slow phase. Neither the fast nor slow phase of Ca entry was sensitive to tetrodotoxin (10 microM), a potent blocker of Na channels, but both phases were inhibited by Ni, Mn, Mg, and other agents that block Ca channels. The data are consistent with the presence of two distinct populations of voltage-regulated, divalent cation-selective pathways for Ca entry in presynaptic brain nerve endings.

Regulation of nerve terminal calcium channel selectivity by a weak acid site

The effects of low pH, and of alkaline earth cations, were examined on calcium uptake by pinched-off nerve terminals (synaptosomes). This uptake appears to be mediated by voltage-sensitive Ca channels (J. Physiol. 247:617, 1975). Ca uptake was measured in low (5 mM) or high (77 mM) potassium media. The extra uptake promoted by depolarizing (K-rich) media was almost maximal at pH 7.5, and decreased as the pH was lowered. Data relating depolarization-induced 45Ca uptake to pH fit a titration curve with a pKa approximately 6. Experiments in which Ca concentration and pH were both varied indicated that Ca2+ and H+ compete for a common binding site. Inhibition of depolarization-induced 45Ca uptake by the alkaline earth cations was studied to determine the apparent binding sequence for these cations in the Ca channels: Ca greater than Sr greater than Ba greater than Mg. This sequence resembles that observed for block of Ca channels in other preparations. The apparent binding sequence of the alkaline earth cations and the apparent pKa (approximately 6) of the Ca-binding site indicate that the Ca channel is a "high field strength" system. Protonation of a Ca channel binding site could explain the inhibitory effect of low pH on Ca-dependent neurotransmitter release (cf. Del Castillo et al., J. Cell. Comp. Physiol. 59:35, 1962).

Reexamination of carbodiimide as a possible affinity label for the acetylcholine receptor at the frog neuromuscular junction

The effects of water-soluble carbodiimide were examined at the frog neuromuscular junction. Acetylcholine sensitivity was measured using a fluid electrode technique and intracellular recording of miniature end-plate potentials. The carbodiimide blocked synaptic sensitivity by a reversible, curare-like action. Irreversible blockade was also observed, probably due to covalent binding. The conditions of reaction and irreversibility suggest that several different residues may be attacked. The inability of cholinergic antagonists to protect the receptor from attack indicates that nonspecific sites, and not the acetylcholine binding site, are involved.

The interaction of pH and divalent cations at the neuromuscular junction

1. 1. The effects of acidic pH on transmitter release were studied at the frog neuromuscular junction, using intracellular recording techniques. 2. Acid pH reduced the amplitude of the end-plate potentials (e.p.p.s) and accelerated the frequency of the miniature e.p.p.s(m.e.p.p.s). 3. At pH 6-0 the m.e.p.p. frequency was on the average 2-5 times greater than at pH 7-4. This multiplication was independent of the divalent ion concentration of the medium over a large range. 4. Reduction of the e.p.p. amplitude at low pH was the result of a decrease in m, the number of quanta of transmitter liberated by the nerve impulse. 5. The effect of low pH on m was blocked by high concentrations of Mg2+ and by lower concentrations of Mn2+ ions. This occlusion was found even when the total concentration of divalents in the bathing solution was kept constant. 6. These results indicated that H+ and Mn2+ ions bind to an acidic site which regulates Ca-mediated release of acetylcholine (ACh). The acid dissociation constant (KH) was determined using both a kinetic and a surface charge model. The pKa of the site calculated from the kinetic model was 5-7, while a pKa of 3-6 was obtained from the surface charge model. 7. It is suggested that protonation of the acidic site mentioned above reduces evoked transmitter release by blocking the influx of Ca into the nerve terminal following the nerve action potential.