title: Multiple potassium conductances at the mammalian motor nerve terminal.
abstract: The possibility that multiple K+ conductances are present in mammalian motor nerve terminals was investigated by measuring the differential effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on transmitter release and on nerve terminal excitability in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphram preparations. Neither 4-AP nor TEA alter the spontaneous frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (fmepp) and therefore evidently do not affect calcium channels directly. Both 4-AP and TEA increased the quantal content of end-plate potentials (epps) evoked by nerve stimulation but the effects were not mutually exclusive; TEA continued to act in the presence of a maximally effective concentration of 4-AP. The increase in transmitter release evoked by focal polarisation of the terminal was not affected by 4-AP, whereas TEA exerted an effect consistent with a reduction in membrane conductance. Similarly, threshold for nerve terminal action potential generation was not affected by 4-AP, but TEA caused a reduction in threshold and alteration of the 'accommodation curve' indicative of a reduction of membrane conductance. Under conditions where one would predict no contribution of calcium K+ conductance, i.e., when release was evoked by Ba2+ in the absence of Ca2+, the different and non-competing effects of TEA and 4-AP were still apparent. It is concluded, therefore, that the motor nerve terminal possesses at least two K+ conductances, not including calcium activated gK, which may be distinguished pharmacologically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Saint
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Quastel
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000187:drug effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D001464:Barium; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D011188:Potassium