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Opposite actions of muscarinic and nicotinic agents on hippocampal dendritic negative fields recorded in rats.

In rats under urethane anaesthesia, microiontophoretic application of muscarinic or nicotinic agents, in the pyramidal layer of the hippocampus, enhanced the population spike (s) evoked by fimbrial stimulation. In contrast, muscarinic and nicotinic agents had an opposite action on on the dendritic field potentials, they respectively reduced and enhanced the negative fields (field EPSP) recorded in the apical dendrites. These effects were antagonized by muscarinic and nicotinic antagonists, respectively.

Acetylcholine↗

Opposite actions of muscarinic and nicotinic agents on hippocampal dendritic negative fields recorded in rats.

In rats under urethane anaesthesia, microiontophoretic application of muscarinic or nicotinic agents, in the pyramidal layer of the hippocampus, enhanced the population spike (s) evoked by fimbrial stimulation. In contrast, muscarinic and nicotinic agents had an opposite action on on the dendritic field potentials, they respectively reduced and enhanced the negative fields (field EPSP) recorded in the apical dendrites. These effects were antagonized by muscarinic and nicotinic antagonists, respectively.

Acetylcholine↗

Inhibition of autonomic nerve-mediated inotropic responses in guinea pig atrium by bafilomycin A.

Neurosecretory vesicles actively accumulate neurotransmitter by consuming proton motive force generated by vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase). The effects of bafilomycin A, a macrolide antibiotic that inactivates V-ATPase, on nerve stimulation-mediated inotropic responses of the left atrium were studied to explore the role of the enzyme in the cholinergic and adrenergic neurotransmissions. On field stimulation, the contractility of paced atrium exhibited initial atropine-sensitive depression followed by propranolol-sensitive facilitation. Both the negative and positive inotropic effects were abolished by bafilomycin A. The inhibitions were irreversible and followed a similar time course and the inhibitory effects were accelerated by intense nerve stimulation. In contrast, bafilomycin A had no effect on the inotropic responses produced by muscarinic acetylcholine or alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist. Stimulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor also elicited biphasic changes of contractile force, which were depressed by bafilomycin A. Compared with the inhibitory effects on field stimulation, the depressions progressed slowly and incompletely. The results suggest that inhibition of V-ATPase depressed the synaptic transmissions at autonomic nerve-muscle junctions. Furthermore, bafilomycin A preferentially inhibited neurotransmitter release emanating from the immediately releasable pool.

Animals↗

Nicotine administration stimulates the in vivo N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor/nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway in rat hippocampus through glutamate release.

1. The in vivo effects of nicotine on the nitric oxide (NO) synthase/cyclic GMP pathway of the adult rat hippocampus have been investigated by monitoring the levels of extracellular cyclic GMP during microdialysis in conscious unrestrained animals. 2. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nicotine caused elevation of cyclic GMP levels which was prevented by mecamylamine. The effect of nicotine was abolished by local infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) or by the soluble guanylyl cyclase blocker 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4.3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ). 3. Local administration of the NMDA receptor antagonists cis-4-(phosphonomethyl)-2-piperidinecarboxylic acid (CGS19755) and dizocilpine (MK-801) inhibited by about 60% the nicotine-induced elevation of cyclic GMP. Nicotine was able to stimulate cyclic GMP outflow also when administered directly into the hippocampus; the effect was sensitive to mecamylamine, L-NOARG, ODQ or MK-801. 4. Nicotine, either administered i.p. or infused locally, produced augmentation of glutamate and aspartate extracellular levels, whereas the outflows of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine remained unaffected. Following local administration of high concentrations of nicotine, animals displayed symptoms of mild excitation (sniffing, increased motor and exploratory activity) during the first 20-40 min of infusion, followed by wet dog shake episodes; these behavioural effects were prevented by mecamylamine or MK-801, but not by L-NOARG or by ODQ. 5. It is concluded that (a) nicotine stimulates the production of NO and cyclic GMP in the hippocampus; (b) this occurs, at least in part, through release of glutamate/aspartate and activation of NMDA receptors. Modulation of the NMDA receptor/NO synthase/cyclic GMP pathway may be involved in the cognitive activities of nicotine.

Amino Acids↗

Peripheral nerve explants grafted into the vitreous body of the eye promote the regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons severed in the optic nerve.

We have conducted experiments in the adult rat visual system to assess the relative importance of an absence of trophic factors versus the presence of putative growth inhibitory molecules for the failure of regeneration of CNS axons after injury. The experiments comprised three groups of animals in which all optic nerves were crushed intra-orbitally: an optic nerve crush group had a sham implant-operation on the eye; the other two groups had peripheral nerve tissue introduced into the vitreous body; in an acellular peripheral nerve group, a frozen/thawed teased sciatic nerve segment was grafted, and in a cellular peripheral nerve group, a predegenerate teased segment of sciatic nerve was implanted. The rats were left for 20 days and their optic nerves and retinae prepared for immunohistochemical examination of both the reaction to injury of axons and glia in the nerve and also the viability of Schwann cells in the grafts. Anterograde axon tracing with rhodamine-B provided unequivocal qualitative evidence of regeneration in each group, and retrograde HRP tracing gave a measure of the numbers of axons growing across the lesion by counting HRP filled retinal ganglion cells in retinal whole mounts after HRP injection into the optic nerve distal to the lesion. No fibres crossed the lesion in the optic nerve crush group and dense scar tissue was formed in the wound site. GAP-43-positive and rhodamine-B filled axons in the acellular peripheral nerve and cellular peripheral nerve groups traversed the lesion and grew distally. There were greater numbers of regenerating fibres in the cellular peripheral nerve compared to the acellular peripheral nerve group. In the former, 0.6-10% of the retinal ganglion cell population regenerated axons at least 3-4 mm into the distal segment. In both the acellular peripheral nerve and cellular peripheral nerve groups, no basal lamina was deposited in the wound. Thus, although astrocyte processes were stacked around the lesion edge, a glia limitans was not formed. These observations suggest that regenerating fibres may interfere with scarring. Viable Schwann cells were found in the vitreal grafts in the cellular peripheral nerve group only, supporting the proposition that Schwann cell derived trophic molecules secreted into the vitreous stimulated retinal ganglion cell axon growth in the severed optic nerve. The regenerative response of acellular peripheral nerve-transplanted animals was probably promoted by residual amounts of these molecules present in the transplants after freezing and thawing. In the optic nerves of all groups the astrocyte, microglia and macrophage reactions were similar. Moreover, oligodendrocytes and myelin debris were also uniformly distributed throughout all nerves. Our results suggest either that none of the above elements inhibit CNS regeneration after perineuronal neurotrophin delivery, or that the latter, in addition to mobilising and maintaining regeneration, also down regulates the expression of axonal growth cone-located receptors, which normally mediate growth arrest by engaging putative growth inhibitory molecules of the CNS neuropil.

Animals↗

The effects of electrical stimulation on sprouting after partial denervation of guinea-pig sympathetic ganglion cells.

1. The effects of electrical stimulation of presynaptic and post-synaptic cells on sprouting after partial denervation were examined in the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion with intracellular recording. The partial denervation reduced the mean number of preganglionic axons innervating each ganglion cell from about eleven to about two (Maehlen & Njå, 1981). 2. One week after partial denervation alone, the number of residual preganglionic axons innervating each superior cervical ganglion cell was increased by about 30%. This means that the number of ganglion cells contacted by each residual preganglionic axon was increased by the same amount, which represents an early stage of sprouting. 3. Preganglionic stimulation for 1 hr immediately after the partial denervation (with 100 pulses at 20 Hz every 25 sec) increased the rate of sprouting. Thus 1 week after partial denervation and preganglionic stimulation the number of residual preganglionic axons innervating each ganglion cell was increased by about 70%. Preganglionic stimulation had no similar effect on the innervation of normal ganglia. 4. The acceleration of sprouting caused by preganglionic stimulation was abolished by blocking ganglionic transmission with hexamethonium (30--60 mg kg-1 hr-1 I.V.) during the stimulation. 5. Furthermore, the rate of sprouting of residual preganglionic axons was increased by electrical stimulation of the ganglion cells alone. 6. These results show that after partial denervation of the superior cervical ganglion, a period of impulse activity in ganglion cells enhances their subsequent ability to receive innervation from sprouts arising from residual preganglionic axons.

Animals↗

Nicotine withdrawal syndrome: behavioural distress and selective up-regulation of the cyclic AMP pathway in the amygdala.

Nicotine addiction is a major public health issue. The use of laboratory animal models is a crucial tool in research aiming at understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of nicotine dependence and at proposing new therapies. In rodents, cessation of nicotine exposure or administration of the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine induces a nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Antagonist-precipitated withdrawal from other abused drugs such as opiates or cannabinoids has been associated with region-specific modifications of the activity of the cyclic AMP pathway. Here we show that mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal in the rat is characterized by an increase in thigmotaxis (time spent in the periphery of an open field) that may be indicative of behavioural distress and can be associated with a selective up-regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity in the amygdala, a region implicated in the regulation of negative affect in response to aversive stimuli, including withdrawal. Adenylyl cyclase activity that is increased during precipitated nicotine withdrawal is stimulated by calcium/calmodulin, as is also the case for opioid and cannabinoid abstinence. This suggests that directly or indirectly mediated increases in the activity of the cyclic AMP pathway could constitute a possible common molecular mechanism underlying neuroadaptive changes following abstinence from different abused drugs.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Vasostatins, N-terminal products of chromogranin A, are released from the stimulated calf spleen in vitro.

Vasostatins are the N-terminal chromogranin A peptides 7 approximately 22 kDa. They have been shown to be present in several endocrine tissues and exhibit vasoinhibitory activity in vitro. In a first series of experiments, we investigated the presence and subcellular localization of vasostatins in the bovine splenic nerve. Experimental results, obtained using gradient centrifugation, showed that noradrenaline was enriched 25-fold in the large dense core vesicle fraction, compared with the original homogenate. In the latter fraction, the 7 and 18 kDa peptides were observed following immunodetection with antiserum to chromogranin A1-40 and laser densitometric scanning revealed these two fragments as the major N-terminal fragments. Subsequently, we examined the release of the 7 and 18 kDa peptides from perfused calf spleen during veratridine (20 microM) or 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (20 microM) stimulation. In the prestimulation samples, we were not able to detect these peptides, however, following stimulation, the 7 and 18 kDa chromogranin A fragments became apparent. The vasostatin-immunoreactivity, in both bovine chromaffin granule lysate and calf spleen perfusate, elutes at the same retention time on reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The present study demonstrated that vasostatins are present in the large dense core vesicles of sympathetic axons and are released from the nerve terminals in response to stimulation. The release of vasostatins from sympathetic nerves in the spleen suggest an in vivo function for N-terminal chromogranin A products of neuronal origin.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

Acetylcholine stimulates alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release from frog pituitary melanotrophs through activation of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.

The release of alpha MSH from the pars intermedia of amphibians is regulated by multiple factors, including classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. In this study we have examined the possible involvement of acetylcholine (ACh) in the regulation of alpha MSH secretion from the pars intermedia of the frog (Rana ridibunda) using the perifusion technique. When intact neurointermediate lobes (NIL) were exposed to graded doses of ACh (3 X 10(-7) to 3 X 10(-4) M), a dose-dependent stimulation of alpha MSH release was observed. Repeated administration of ACh (10(-4) M) induced reproducible responses of NIL without any desensitization phenomenon. ACh was also capable of stimulating alpha MSH release from dispersed intermediate lobe cells, indicating that the neurotransmitter exerts its effect by acting directly on frog melanotrophs. Using the monoclonal antibody M-35 against calf muscarinic receptors we have visualized, by the immunofluorescence technique, the presence of muscarinic receptor-like immunoreactivity in the frog pars intermedia. The stimulatory action of ACh was mimicked by both nicotine and muscarine (10(-5) M each). Nicotine-induced stimulation of alpha MSH release was partially abolished by alpha-bungarotoxin (10(-6) M) and hexamethonium (10(-4) M). The stimulatory effect of muscarine was suppressed by atropine and the M1-muscarinic antagonist pirenzepine (10(-5) M), but not by the M2-muscarinic antagonist gallamine. We have investigated the effect of ACh during administration of specific nicotinic and muscarinic antagonists. While hexomethonium or atropine could block only part of the stimulatory effect of ACh, concomitant administration of these antagonists totally abolished the response of NIL to ACh. Finally, the stimulatory effect of ACh was not impaired during prolonged administration of the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. These data show that ACh stimulates in vitro alpha MSH secretion by frog NIL. Our results also indicate that amphibian pars intermedia cells possess two types of cholinergic receptors, an M1-muscarinic receptor sensitive to pirenzepine and nicotinic receptors sensitive to hexamethonium and alpha-bungarotoxin.

Acetylcholine↗

Optical monitoring of the neural activity evoked by mechanical stimulation in the earthworm nervous system with a fluorescent dye, FM1-43.

In the central nervous system of the earthworm, sensory and motor neurons have direct synapses on three giant fibers. To determine the locations of synapses and neural network activated by mechanical stimuli, we optically monitored the activity-dependent staining in the earthworm ventral nerve cord with a styryl dye, N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4- (4-(dibutylamino)styryl)pyridinium dibromide (FM1-43), and a confocal laser scanning microscope. When scratch stimulus was applied to the body wall of the earthworm, bright fluorescent spots with 3-10 microns in diameter localized only in the stimulated segmental ganglion of the ventral nerve cord. The fluorescent intensity of these spots decreased during dye-free high K+ saline incubation. These results suggest that FM1-43 is useful for activity-dependent staining of invertebrate neurons and their synaptic regions as well as vertebrate nervous system.

Animals↗

Nicotinic- and muscarinic-evoked release of canine adrenal catecholamines and peptides.

The tissue content and overflow of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (Epi), dopamine (DA), Met-enkephalin (Met-Enk), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) from isolated, retrogradely perfused dog adrenal glands were studied. Under resting conditions, approximately 25% of the overflow of autocoids from the glands was Ca2+ dependent; the cholinergic antagonists hexamethonium and atropine had no effects on basal efflux. Stimulation with the nicotinic agonist 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP; 3 or 50 microM) or with the muscarinic agonist pilocarpine (50 microM or 1 mM) evoked releases of autocoids. These releases were blocked or dramatically reduced by appropriate antagonists or by the removal of Ca2+ from the perfusate. Expressed as percentages of tissue stores, the rank order of overflow of autocoids was E approximately DA much greater than NE during resting conditions, DA much greater than E approximately NE during stimulation with 50 microM DMPP, and DA greater than Epi greater than NE during stimulation with 1 mM pilocarpine. These data are consistent with different mechanisms of release for the catecholamines, perhaps from different cell populations. The data support corelease of peptides and catecholamines, although clear pairing of autocoids could not be confirmed.

Adrenal Glands↗

Stimulation by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide of muscarinic receptor-mediated catecholamine secretion from isolated guinea pig adrenal medullary cells.

The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on catecholamine (CA) secretion by isolated guinea pig adrenal medullary cells were studied. VIP (1 microM) alone induced only a slight secretion of CA, but it stimulated ACh-induced CA secretion. At concentrations of 0.01-1 microM, it stimulated muscarine-induced CA secretion, but not nicotine-induced CA secretion. It did not affect high K+ or Ca2+ ionophore-induced CA secretion. The stimulatory effect of VIP on muscarine-induced CA secretion was observed at muscarine concentrations of 2 200 microM and was detectable after 2 min incubation.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Interrelationship between colonic muscularis mucosae activity and changes in transmucosal potential difference.

This in vitro study investigated the relationship between rabbit colonic muscularis mucosae motor activity and changes in transmucosal potential difference. Spontaneous muscle contractions and potential difference oscillations occurred independently and were not neurally driven. ACh and histamine directly stimulated the muscularis mucosae, but their mucosal effects were largely indirect, suggesting that muscularis mucosae contractions promote epithelial secretion. 1,1-Dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium iodide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide induced large potential difference changes but small muscularis mucosae contractions, demonstrating mucosal secretion without significant muscle activity. Lowered intraluminal pH directly stimulated the muscle, whereas a bile salt-lipid mixture evoked TTX- and atropine-sensitive increases in its contractile activity. Increased intraluminal pressure and hypertonic luminal perfusion did not elicit muscularis mucosae excitation. Thus under basal conditions muscle and mucosal activities are independent, but evoked muscularis mucosae contractions can stimulate epithelial secretion. In response to specific luminal stimuli, muscularis mucosae motor activity is increased via the activation of cholinergic nerves. These data suggest that muscularis mucosae and mucosal functions are physiologically linked and that their activities can be coordinated by multiple mechanisms.

Acetylcholine↗

Neurogenic vasodilatation produced by fenoldopam in the rat hindquarters vascular bed.

1 The effects of local administration of the selective DA1-receptor agonist fenoldopam into the isolated autoperfused rat hindquarters were studied in order to investigate the site of action of fenoldopam in this vascular bed. 2 Bolus injections of fenoldopam produced reductions in perfusion pressure in the preconstricted, constant flow perfused rat hindquarters vascular bed. 3 The vasodilator effect of fenoldopam was abolished by sectioning of the lumbar sympathetic nerves and by pretreatment with the ganglion-blocker hexamethonium or the alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists phentolamine and prazosin. At the same concentration, local infusion of fenoldopam had no effect on vasoconstrictor responses to locally administered noradrenaline and phenylephrine. 4 The vasodilator effect of fenoldopam was antagonized by the non-selective dopamine receptor antagonist RS-sulpiride and by the selective DA1-receptor antagonist SCH 23390, but not by the selective DA2-receptor antagonist domperidone. 5 These results provide no evidence for the presence of postsynaptic DA1-receptors in the rat hindquarters vascular bed; they show that fenoldopam induces neurogenic vasodilatation in this vascular bed, probably via stimulation of ganglionic DA1-receptors.

Animals↗

Nicotine: from molecular mechanisms to behaviour.

The addictive potential of nicotine is clearly recognized by the tenacity of tobacco smoking for most users, and has prompted extensive psychopharmacological studies in animals. In parallel, the interaction of nicotine with the many subtypes of its eponymous receptor has been the focus of molecular and cellular investigations. More recently, a convergence of these approaches has been stimulated by the generation of transgenic animals, which facilitates analysis of the impact of molecular changes on behaviour. Nicotine, like other addictive drugs including psychomotor stimulants, promotes dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. This transmitter system has been a major focus of both neurochemical and behavioural investigations, although recently the pre-eminence of this system in nicotine dependence has been challenged. Complexities in the brain circuitry (including the subdivisions of the nucleus accumbens) and differences between behavioural models help to rationalise the current controversy.

Animals↗

Human pendrin expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes mediates chloride/formate exchange.

Pendred syndrome, characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss and goiter, is one of the most common forms of syndromic deafness. The gene causing Pendred syndrome (PDS) encodes a protein designated pendrin, which is expressed in the thyroid, kidney, and fetal cochlea. Pendrin functions as an iodide and chloride transporter, but its role in the development of hearing loss and goiter is unknown. In this study, we examined the mechanism of pendrin-mediated anion transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Unlabeled formate added to the uptake medium inhibited pendrin-mediated (36)Cl uptake in X. laevis oocytes. In addition, the uptake of [(14)C]formate was stimulated in oocytes injected with PDS cRNA compared with water-injected controls. These results indicate that formate is a substrate for pendrin. Furthermore, chloride stimulated the efflux of [(14)C]formate and formate stimulated the efflux of (36)Cl in oocytes expressing pendrin, results consistent with pendrin-mediated chloride/formate exchange. These data demonstrate that pendrin is functionally similar to the renal chloride/formate exchanger, which serves as an important mechanism of chloride transport in the proximal tubule. A similar process could participate in the development of ion gradients within the inner ear.

Animals↗

[The neuronal electrical responses of the superior cervical ganglion in the rabbit to nociceptive skin stimulation].

The patterns of tonic activity in the neurons of rabbit superior cervical ganglion at rest and during noxious stimulation of the skin were studied using intracellular recording. According to reflex changes in the activity patterns, all neurons studied were classified into three groups. Cardiac rhythmicity is more pronounced in the neurons of the second type than in those of the first type. The magnitude of the cardiac rhythmicity in both types of neurons was reduced after noxious stimulation of the skin. In the third type of neurons the cardiac rhythmicity was absent. In some neurons slow excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials appeared resulting from skin stimulation.

Animals↗

Temperature modulates taste responsiveness and stimulates gustatory neurons in the rat geniculate ganglion.

In humans, temperature influences taste intensity and quality perception, and thermal stimulation itself may elicit taste sensations. However, peripheral coding mechanisms of taste have generally been examined independently of the influence of temperature. In anesthetized rats, we characterized the single-cell responses of geniculate ganglion neurons to 0.5 M sucrose, 0.1 M NaCl, 0.01 M citric acid, and 0.02 M quinine hydrochloride at a steady, baseline temperature (adapted) of 10, 25, and 40 degrees C; gradual cooling and warming (1 degrees C/s change in water temperature >5 s) from an adapted tongue temperature of 25 degrees C; gradual cooling from an adapted temperature of 40 degrees C; and gradual warming from an adapted temperature of 10 degrees C. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the taste responses at 25 degrees C divided 50 neurons into two major categories of narrowly tuned (Sucrose-specialists, NaCl-specialists) and broadly tuned (NaCl-generalists(I), NaCl- generalists(II), Acid-generalists, and QHCl-generalists) groups. NaCl specialists were excited by cooling from 25 to 10 degrees C and inhibited by warming from 10 to 25 degrees C. Acid-generalists were excited by cooling from 40 to 25 degrees C but not from 25 to 10 degrees C. In general, the taste responses of broadly tuned neurons decreased systematically to all stimuli with decreasing adapted temperatures. The response selectivity of Sucrose-specialists for sucrose and NaCl-specialists for NaCl was unaffected by adapted temperature. However, Sucrose-specialists were unresponsive to sucrose at 10 degrees C, whereas NaCl-specialists responded equally to NaCl at all adapted temperatures. In conclusion, we have shown that temperature modulates taste responsiveness and is itself a stimulus for activation in specific types of peripheral gustatory neurons.

Action Potentials↗