title: Effect of depolarizing agents on the Ca(2+)-independent and Ca(2+)-dependent release of [3H]GABA from sheep brain synaptosomes.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of several depolarizing agents on both the membrane potential and on the release of [3H] gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from sheep brain cortex synaptosomes. We examined the effects of KCl, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), veratridine, ouabain and tetraphenylphosphonium cation (TPP+) on Ca(2+)-independent (carrier-mediated) and Ca(2+)-dependent (exocytotic) release. We found that, in the absence of Ca2+, KCl at 40 mM releases 7.57 +/- 0.65%, veratridine at 50 microM releases 45.85 +/- 2.48%, ouabain at 1 mM releases 8.62 +/- 0.93% and TPP+ at 1 mM releases 4.09 +/- 0.37% of the total accumulated neurotransmitter, provided that the external medium contains Na+. These are about the maximal values of release obtained with each depolarizing agent in a Na+ medium and in the absence of Ca2+. Replacing external Na+ with choline blocks the release observed in the presence of the depolarizing agents in the absence of Ca2+, and this divalent ion can increase [3H]GABA release only for K+ or 4-AP. Synaptosomal depolarization requires Na+ except for K+ depolarization. Furthermore, although Ca2+ stimulates the release of [3H]GABA due to K+ depolarization (13.56 +/- 0.44%) or due to 4-AP (4.26 +/- 0.51%), it inhibits the release due to the other depolarizing agents. The amount of [3H]GABA released by 4-AP in Na+ medium (4.26 +/- 0.51%) is similar to that induced by KCl in the presence of Ca2+ in the absence of Na+ (3.39 +/- 0.29%) which represents only exocytotic release. This suggests that the Ca(2+)-dependent exocytotic release of [3H]GABA can be specifically induced by 4-AP in a Na+ medium, or by KCl in the absence of Na+, as reported by us earlier. The observation that Ca2+ inhibits the Ca(2+)-independent release is of interest because it suggests that Ca2+ may modulate the release of cytoplasmic GABA probably by inhibiting the carrier-mediated release of GABA. It is of interest as to whether Ca2+ regulation depends on intracellular Ca2+.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Zoologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D014701:Veratridine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009861:Onium Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010042:Ouabain; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D014701:Veratridine; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D002118:Calcium; C013289:tetraphenylphosphonium