title: L-type Ca2+ channel is involved in the regulation of spontaneous transmitter release at developing neuromuscular synapses.
abstract: Involvement of an L-type Ca2+ channel in the regulation of spontaneous transmitter release was studied in Xenopus nerve-muscle cultures. The frequency of spontaneous synaptic currents, which reflects impulse-independent acetylcholine release from the nerve terminals, showed a marked increase in high-K+ medium or after treatment with a phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate, a drug that activates protein kinase C and depolarizes the presynaptic neuron. The potentiation effect of high K+ and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate requires Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channel in the plasma membrane, since it was significantly reduced by the presence of nifedipine, verapamil or diltiazem and enhanced by Bay K 8644, an L-type Ca2+ channel agonist. It was shown recently that adenosine 5'-triphosphate markedly potentiates the spontaneous acetylcholine release at these synapses through the binding of P2-purinoceptors and the activation of protein kinase C. We found in the present study that potentiation effects of adenosine 5'-triphosphate are inhibited by L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, suggesting that the L-type Ca2+ channel is responsible for the positive regulation of spontaneous acetylcholine secretion by adenosine 5'-triphosphate at the developing neuromuscular synapses. Our data suggest that modulation of the L-type Ca2+ channel in embryonic motor nerve terminals is important for the regulation of spontaneous transmitter release.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacological Institute, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D009543:Nifedipine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium