title: Iberiotoxin-induced block of Ca2+-activated K+ channels induces dihydropyridine sensitivity of ACh release from mammalian motor nerve terminals.
abstract: The role which Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (K(Ca)) channels play in regulating acetylcholine (ACh) release was examined at mouse motor nerve terminals. In particular, the ability of the antagonist iberiotoxin to recruit normally silent L-type Ca(2+) channels to participate in nerve-evoked release was examined using conventional intracellular electrophysiological techniques. Incubation of cut hemidiaphragm preparations with 10 microM nimodipine, a dihydropyridine L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonist, had no significant effect on quantal content of end-plate potentials. Nevertheless, 1 microM S-(-)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-[trifluoromethyl]phenyl)-3-pyridine carboxylic acid methyl ester (Bay K 8644) enhanced quantal content to 134.7 +/- 3.5% of control. Iberiotoxin (150 nM) increased quantal content to 177.5 +/- 9.9% of control, whereas iberiotoxin plus nimodipine increased quantal content to only 145.7 +/- 10.4% of control. Coapplication of 1 microM Bay K 8644 with iberiotoxin did not significantly increase quantal content further than did treatment with iberiotoxin alone. The effects of iberiotoxin and nimodipine alone or in combination on the miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) frequency following KCl-induced depolarization were examined using uncut hemidiaphragm preparations. Nimodipine alone had no effect on MEPP frequency from preparations incubated in physiological saline containing 5 to 20 mM KCl. Moreover, iberiotoxin alone or combined with nimodipine also had no effect on MEPP frequency in physiological salines containing 5 to 15 mM KCl. At 20 mM KCl, however, iberiotoxin significantly increased MEPP frequency to 125.6% of iberiotoxin-free values; combined treatment with nimodipine and iberiotoxin prevented this increase in MEPP frequency. Thus, loss of functional K(Ca) channels unmasks normally silent L-type Ca(2+) channels to participate in ACh release from motor nerve terminals, particularly under conditions of intense nerve terminal depolarization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, B-331 Life Sciences Bldg., East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Flink
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Atchison
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000187:drug effects*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D010455:Peptides; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D009553:Nimodipine; C064719:iberiotoxin; D000109:Acetylcholine