title: Lack of excitatory amino acid-induced effects on calcium fluxes measured with 45Ca2+ in rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes.
abstract: Ca2+ uptake was measured in purified rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes (P3 pellets) using 45Ca2+ as a tracer. Ca2+ influx increased in time, and with an increase in external K+ concentration and temperature. The net (external K+-induced, depolarization-dependent) uptake follows a two-component course. The exponential term, due to the opening of voltage-operated calcium channels (VOC), has a rate constant which increases with an increase in the depolarization level (1.04 versus 0.54 nmol/s/mg protein for 50 mM - versus 15 mM [K+]-dependent net influx). The linear term, due to the Na+/Ca2+ exchange system, has a similar rate constant at all depolarization levels (0.16 +/- 0.05 and 0.11 +/- 0.02 nmol/s/mg protein). Excitatory amino acids (glutamate, kainate and n-methyl-d-aspartate-NMDA-) were tested on this preparation at doses ranging between 5 x 10(-5) M and 5 x 10(-3) M and at multiple incubation times, under resting conditions and under two depolarizing conditions (partial depolarization: 15 mM external K+ and maximal depolarization: 50 mM external K+). NMDA was also tested in the absence of Mg2+. No effect was detectable under any of these experimental conditions. Hypotheses to interpret these data are discussed. Further studies on other preparations are needed in order to directly investigate the presynaptic effects of excitatory amino acids.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonato
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jope
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beani
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D005971:Glutamates; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D007608:Kainic Acid; D002118:Calcium