title: Autogenic modulation of mechanoreceptor excitability by glutamate release from synaptic-like vesicles: evidence from the rat muscle spindle primary sensory ending.
abstract: Fifty-nanometre diameter, clear, synaptic-like vesicles (SLVs) are found in primary mechanosensory nerve terminals of vertebrate and invertebrate animals. We have investigated their role in mechanosensory function using the muscle spindle primary endings of rat Ia afferents as a model. Uptake and release of the synaptic vesicle marker FM1-43 indicated that SLVs recycle like synaptic vesicles and do so in a Ca(2+)-sensitive manner. Mechanical stimulation increased SLV recycling, increasing both dye uptake and release. Immunogold/electronmicroscopy showed that, like the central synaptic endings, Ia peripheral endings are enriched with glutamate. Moreover, exogenous glutamate enhanced stretch-induced Ia excitability. Enhanced excitability persisted in the presence of antagonists to the commonest ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (kynurenate, MCPG, CPPG and MAP4). However, excitation by glutamate was abolished by (R,S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), and rather more effectively by (2R,1'-S,2'-R,3'-S)-2-(2'-carboxy-3'-phenylcyclopropyl) glycine (PCCG-13). PCCG-13 also significantly reduced stretch-activated excitability in the absence of exogenous glutamate. These data indicate that SLVs recycle at rest, releasing glutamate, and that mechanical activity increases this process. The blockade with DHPG and PCCG-13 suggests that endogenous glutamate release acts, at least in part, through the recently described phospholipase D-linked metabotropic Glu receptor to maintain the excitability of the sensory endings.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK. g.s.bewick@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Guy S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bewick
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000502:physiology*; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C099854:2-(2'-carboxy-3'-phenylcyclopropyl)glycine; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D003035:Cobalt; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium; D005998:Glycine