title: Extracellular protons differentially potentiate the responses of native AMPA receptor subtypes regulating neurotransmitter release.
abstract: 1. The effects of pH changes on the basal and evoked release of [(3)H]noradrenaline ([(3)H]NA) and [(3)H]5-hydrohytryptamine ([(3)H]5-HT) from hippocampal synaptosomes and of [(3)H]dopamine ([(3)H]DA) and [(3)H]acetylcholine ([(3)H]ACh) from striatal and cortical synaptosomes were investigated in rat brain. 2. Changing pH between 6.4 and 8.0 did not affect the spontaneous release of the four [(3)H]neurotransmitters; alkalinization to pH 8.8 significantly enhanced release. Acidification to pH 6.4 augmented the AMPA-evoked overflows of [(3)H]NA, [(3)H]5-HT and [(3)H]DA, but not that of [(3)H]ACh. In contrast, lowering pH to 6.4 decreased the K(+)-evoked overflows of [(3)H]NA, [(3)H]5-HT, [(3)H]DA and [(3)H]ACh. 3. AMPA released transmitters in a Ca(2+)-dependent, exocytotic manner since its effects, at pH 7.4 or 6.4, were abolished by omitting external Ca(2+) or by depleting vesicular transmitter stores with bafilomycin A1. AMPA did not evoke carrier-mediated release because the uptake blockers nisoxetine, 6-nitroquipazine, GBR12909 and hemicholinium-3 could not inhibit the AMPA-induced release of [(3)H]NA, [(3)H]5-HT, [(3)H]DA and [(3)H]ACh. 4. Extraterminal acidification to pH 6.4 prevented the potentiating effect of cyclothiazide on the AMPA-evoked release of [(3)H]NA, [(3)H]DA and [(3)H]5-HT, whereas the proton-insensitive AMPA-evoked release of [(3)H]ACh, previously found to be cyclothiazide-insensitive at pH 7.4 was cyclothiazide-resistant also at pH 6.4. 5. To conclude, the cyclothiazide-sensitive AMPA receptors mediating release of NA, 5-HT and DA, but not the cyclothiazide-insensitive AMPA receptors mediating the release of ACh, become more responsive when external pH is lowered to pathophysiologically relevant values. The results with cyclothiazide suggest that H(+) ions may prevent desensitization of some AMPA receptor subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy. pittalug@pharmatox.unige.it
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pittaluga
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Segantini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feligioni
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raiteri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011522:Protons; D018091:Receptors, AMPA