title: Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger controls the gain of the Ca(2+) amplifier in the dendrites of amacrine cells.
abstract: We have previously shown that disabling forward-mode Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange in amacrine cells greatly prolongs the depolarization-induced release of transmitter. To investigate the mechanism for this, we imaged [Ca(2+)](i) in segments of dendrites during depolarization. Removal of [Na(+)](o) produced no immediate effect on resting [Ca(2+)](i) but did prolong [Ca(2+)](i) transients induced by brief depolarization in both voltage-clamped and unclamped cells. In some cells, depolarization gave rise to stable patterns of higher and lower [Ca(2+)] over micrometer-length scales that collapsed once [Na(+)](o) was restored. Prolongation of [Ca(2+)](i) transients by removal of [Na(+)](o) is not due to reverse mode operation of Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange but is instead a consequence of Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores over which Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange normally exercises control. Even in normal [Na(+)](o), hotspots for [Ca(2+)] could be seen following depolarization, that are attributable to local Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release. Hotspots were seen to be labile, probably reflecting the state of local stores or their Ca(2+) release channels. When ER stores were emptied of Ca(2+) by thapsigargin, [Ca(2+)] transients in dendrites were greatly reduced and unaffected by the removal of [Na(+)](o) implying that even when Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange is working normally, the majority of the [Ca(2+)](i) increase by depolarization is due to internal release rather than influx across the plasma membrane. Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange has an important role in controlling [Ca(2+)] dynamics in amacrine cell dendrites chiefly by moderating the positive feedback of the Ca(2+) amplifier.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D025042:Amacrine Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2