title: ATP potentiates spontaneous transmitter release at developing neuromuscular synapses.
abstract: Extracellular application of ATP, a substance co-stored and co-released with acetylcholine in peripheral nervous systems, potentiates the spontaneous secretion of acetylcholine at developing neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus cell culture, as shown by a marked increase in the frequency of spontaneous synaptic currents recorded in the postsynaptic muscle cell. The effect of ATP is apparently mediated by the activation of cytosolic protein kinases and requires the influx of Ca2+ through the plasma membrane. Since spontaneous acetylcholine release is known to regulate the development of contractile properties of the postsynaptic muscle cell, extracellular ATP may serve as a positive trophic factor at developing neuromuscular synapses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Poo
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011494:Protein Kinases; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium