Depressed excitability and ion currents linked to slow exocytotic fusion pore in chromaffin cells of the SOD1(G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Altered synaptic transmission with excess glutamate release has been implicated in the loss of motoneurons occurring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hyperexcitability or hypoexcitability of motoneurons from mice carrying the ALS mutation SOD1(G93A) (mSOD1) has also been reported. Here we have investigated the excitability, the ion currents, and the kinetics of the exocytotic fusion pore in chromaffin cells from postnatal day 90 to postnatal day 130 mSOD1 mice, when motor deficits are already established. With respect to wild-type (WT), mSOD1 chromaffin cells had a decrease in the following parameters: 95% in spontaneous action potentials, 70% in nicotinic current for acetylcholine (ACh), 35% in Na(+) current, 40% in Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) current, and 53% in voltage-dependent K(+) current. Ca(2+) current was increased by 37%, but the ACh-evoked elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) was unchanged. Single exocytotic spike events triggered by ACh had the following differences (mSOD1 vs. WT): 36% lower rise rate, 60% higher decay time, 51% higher half-width, 13% lower amplitude, and 61% higher quantal size. The expression of the α3-subtype of nicotinic receptors and proteins of the exocytotic machinery was unchanged in the brain and adrenal medulla of mSOD1, with respect to WT mice. A slower fusion pore opening, expansion, and closure are likely linked to the pronounced reduction in cell excitability and in the ion currents driving action potentials in mSOD1, compared with WT chromaffin cells.
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Enrique
E
Calvo-Gallardo
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Ricardo
R
de Pascual
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
José-Carlos
JC
Fernández-Morales
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Juan-Alberto
JA
Arranz-Tagarro
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Marcos
M
Maroto
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Carmen
C
Nanclares
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Luis
L
Gandía
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Antonio M G
AM
de Diego
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;
Juan-Fernando
JF
Padín
Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain; and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain agg@uam.es.
Antonio G
AG
García
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials; D000367:Age Factors; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000187:drug effects; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium; D002395:Catecholamines; D011188:Potassium; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D012964:Sodium; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; C000606291:Sod1 protein, mouse
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; chromaffin cells; exocytosis; fusion pore; ion channel currents