title: Short-term effects of beta-amyloid25-35 peptide aggregates on transmitter release in neuromuscular synapses.
abstract: The beta-amyloid (AB) peptide25-35 contains the functional domain of the AB precursor protein that is both required for neurotrophic effects in normal neural tissues and is involved in the neurotoxic effects in Alzheimer disease. We demonstrated the presence of the amyloid precursor protein/AB peptide in intramuscular axons, presynaptic motor nerve terminals, terminal and myelinating Schwann cells, and the postsynaptic and subsarcolemmal region in the Levator auris longus muscle of adult rats by immunocytochemistry. Using intracellular recording, we investigated possible short-term functional effects of the AB fragment (0.1-10 micromol/L) on acetylcholine release in adult and newborn motor end plates. We found no change in evoked, spontaneous transmitter release or resting membrane potential of the muscle cells. A previous block of the presynaptic muscarinic receptor subtypes and a previous block or stimulation of protein kinase C revealed no masked effect of the peptide on the regulation of transmitter release. The aggregated form of AB peptide25-35, however, interfered acutely with acetylcholine release (quantal content reduction) when synaptic activity was maintained by electric stimulation. The possible relevance of this inhibition of neurotransmission by AB peptide25-35 to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, carrer St. Llorenç, num 21, 43201-Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Manel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santafé
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomàs
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lanuza
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomàs
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000109:Acetylcholine