title: Calcium channels coupled to neurotransmitter release at neonatal rat neuromuscular junctions.
abstract: 1. The effects of different calcium channel blockers (omega-agatoxin IVA (omega-Aga IVA), omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx GVIA) and dihydropyridines) were tested on spontaneous and evoked transmitter release at embryonic and newborn rat neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). 2. The nerve-evoked transmitter release quantal content (m) was strongly reduced by the P/Q-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) blocker omega-Aga IVA (100 nM) at newly formed endplates of embryos and 0- to 11-day-old rats, in agreement with the effect of this blocker on transmitter release at mature and reinnervating muscles. 3. omega-CgTx GVIA (1-5 microM), the N-type VDCC blocker, also caused a significant reduction in m at newly formed NMJs early in development (embryos and 0- to 4-day-old rats), while it was ineffective in more mature animals (5- to 11-day-old rats). 4. L-type channel blockers, nitrendipine (1 microM) and nifedipine (1 microM), did not significantly affect neurally evoked release at developing NMJs. However, nifedipine (10 microM) was able to increase m significantly at 0- to 4-day-old rat NMJs. 5. At developing NMJs, K+-evoked transmitter release was dependent on Ca2+ entry through VDCCs of the P/Q-type family (100 nM omega-Aga IVA reduced 70 % of the K+-evoked miniature endplate potential frequency). N- and L-type VDCC blockers did not affect this type of release. 6. We conclude that at rat neuromuscular junctions the presynaptic calcium channel types involved in transmitter release undergo developmental changes during the early postnatal period.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular, Departamento de BiologíaFacultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires (1428), Argentina.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rosato Siri
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Uchitel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000294:innervation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009543:Nifedipine; D009568:Nitrendipine; D010455:Peptides; D013111:Spider Venoms; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA