title: Reduced ACh release at neuromuscular synapses of heterozygous leaner Ca(v)2.1-mutant mice.
abstract: Episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurological disorder. Patients have CACNA1A gene mutations resulting in truncation or single amino acid changes in the pore-forming subunit of Ca(v)2.1 (P/Q-type) Ca(2+) channels. These neuronal channels mediate synaptic neurotransmitter release. EA2 symptoms are thought to result from disturbed neurotransmission at cerebellar and neuromuscular synapses, caused by loss-of-function of Ca(v)2.1 channels. Heterozygous leaner (Ln/wt) mice, carrying a Cacna1a truncation mutation, as well as heterozygous Ca(v)2.1 null-mutant (KO/wt) mice may model synaptic aspects of EA2. We studied Ca(v)2.1-mediated acetylcholine (ACh) release at their neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) ex vivo. KO/wt mice did not show any ACh release abnormalities, not even at older age. However, Ln/wt mice had approximately 25% reduced spontaneous uniquantal ACh release and approximately 10% reduced nerve-stimulation evoked release, compared with wild-type. EA2 is treated with acetazolamide (AZA), but the pharmacotherapeutic mechanism is unknown. We tested the possibility of a direct influence on (mutant) presynaptic Ca(v)2.1 channel function by studying the acute effect of 50 muM AZA on ACh release at ex vivo NMJs of wild-type, KO/wt, and Ln/wt mice. No changes were found in any of the release parameters. Our results indicate that Ln-mutated Ca(v)2.1 channels at Ln/wt NMJs are either normally inserted in the presynaptic membrane but have reduced function, or that they inhibit wild-type channels by hampering their expression, trafficking, membrane insertion and/or function. In this respect Ln/wt NMJs may model EA2 synapses. Furthermore, AZA does not exert an acute, direct influence on the function of presynaptic (mutant) Ca(v)2.1 channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, NL-2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaja
authors.forename: Rob C G
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Van De Ven
authors.forename: Rune R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Frants
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Arn M J M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Van Den Maagdenberg
authors.forename: Jaap J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Plomp
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000235:genetics*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005838:Genotype; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000086:Acetazolamide; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic