title: Prion protein potentiates acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction.
abstract: Cellular prion protein (PrP(c)), the normal isoform of the pathogenic peptide (PrP(sc)) responsible of the transmissible spongiform encephalopaties (TSEs), is present in many neural tissues, including neuromuscular junctions (NMJ). To analyze if this protein could influence the synaptic transmission, we performed an electrophysiological approach to study the effect of cellular prion protein on a mammalian neuromuscular junction. The loose patch clamp (LPC) technique enables the study of the whole preparation including the pre- and the post-synaptic domains. In a mouse phrenic-diaphragm preparation, nanomolar concentrations of cellular prion protein were able to induce a very striking potentiation of the acetylcholine (ACh) release. The effect was mainly pre-synaptic with an increase of the amplitude of the miniature end-plate currents, probably calcium dependent. Moreover, an apparent facilitation of the synaptic transmission was noted. The results clearly indicate that cellular prion protein may play a key role in the function of the neuromuscular junction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ancona, Italy. lambertore@univpm.it
authors.forename: Lamberto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: Marica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bordicchia
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercanti
authors.forename: Olga Sonia Leon
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barocci
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018621:PrPC Proteins; D000109:Acetylcholine