title: Effects of acetylcholine on a slow voltage-activated non-selective cation current mediated by non-nicotinic receptors on isolated Ascaris muscle bags.
abstract: Isolated muscle bags from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum were prepared by collagenase treatment and dissection. Single bags were mounted in a V-shaped plastic pipette for voltage clamp application and intra- and extracellular perfusion. With 'physiological' intra- and extracellular solutions, depolarizing voltage steps from near the normal resting membrane potential, -40 mV, produced in leak-corrected currents, a slowly activating outward current at potentials more positive than -20mV. At the end of the depolarizing pulse there was a slow inward tail current with a reversal potential near -20mV. Hyperpolarizing voltage steps produced an outward current relaxation and an outward tail current with the same reversal potential. The observations can be explained by the presence in the bag of a non-selective cation channel current, Ibcat, that activates spontaneously at the holding potential; depolarization increases opening of the channel and hyperpolarization decreases opening. Bath-applied acetylcholine in concentrations greater than 10(-7) M produced an increase in the amplitude of Ibcat. The effect of acetylcholine was not antagonized or prevented by 100 microM tubocurarine, suggesting the presence of a non-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Atropine (100 microM) had no detectable influence on the effect of acetylcholine but the FMRFamide peptide, PF1, in concentrations > 1 microM, reduced the amplitude of Ibcat. Ibcat was maintained when Cs+ was used to replace intra- and extracellular cations, showing that the channels were permeable to Cs+. It is concluded that the bag membrane possesses a slow voltage-activated non-selective cation channel current, Ibcat. The effect of acetylcholine in the presence of nicotinic antagonist indicates the presence of non-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the bag membrane. The effect of PF1 indicated the presence of PF1 receptors on the bag membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Summerhall, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valkanov
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002586:Cesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019835:FMRFamide; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D007473:Ion Channels; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D002586:Cesium; D001464:Barium; D019835:FMRFamide; D000109:Acetylcholine