title: Block of 45Ca uptake into synaptosomes by methylmercury: Ca++- and Na+-dependence.
abstract: Block of Ca++ influx into isolated nerve terminals by the neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) was studied for its dependence on extracellular Ca++ and Na+. Depolarization-independent entry of 45Ca++ was determined in rat forebrain synaptosomes incubated in 5 mM K+ solution. 45Ca++ uptake was similarly measured after 1 ("fast" phase) or 10 sec ("total") of elevated K+ (41.25 mM)-induced depolarization or after 10 sec of elevated K+-induced depolarization after synaptosomes had been predepolarized for 10 sec in Ca++- and MeHg-free solutions ("slow" phase). In 5 mM K+ solutions, MeHg concentrations of 125 microM and greater significantly reduced synaptosomal 45Ca++ uptake measured during 1 or 10 sec of incubation. In K+-depolarized synaptosomes, the estimated IC50 for block of total, fast and slow 45Ca++ uptake by MeHg is 75 microM; 250 microM MeHg reduced uptake by approximately 90%. The reversibility of block by extracellular Ca++ was tested by increasing the extracellular Ca++ concentration from 0.01 to 1.15 mM. When compared to control, 50 microM MeHg reduced total uptake of 45Ca++ by greater than or equal to 70% and reduced fast uptake by 20 to 60% at all concentrations of extracellular Ca++ tested. At Ca++ concentrations of 0.01 to 0.15 mM, MeHg (50 microM) reduced slow uptake by 75 to 90%, but did not affect slow uptake at higher Ca++ concentrations (greater than or equal to 0.30 mM). When the dependence of block of 45Ca++ uptake on extracellular Na+ was tested, equivalent levels of inhibition were caused by MeHg (25 microM) for fast uptake by synaptosomes in Na+-containing and Na+-free solutions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Atchison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium