Abstract
Activation of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) triggers catecholamine release from adrenal chromaffin cells and release of neurotransmitters in neuron-to-neuron and neuromuscular junctions, including those on smooth muscle cells. Calcium ions play the role of the main intracellular messenger, which mediates these processes. In our study, we explored the properties of Ca2+ signaling triggered by activation of AChR by analyzing the characteristics of Ca2+ transients induced by selective activation of nicotinic (nAChR) and muscarinic (mAChR) cholinoreceptors using Fura-2 fluorescent measurements in experiments on rat chromaffin cells. Two populations of chromaffin cells, which in a different manner responded to AChR stimulation, were classified. We found that the mean frequency of quantum release induced by ACh is considerably higher than that during hyperpotassium cell depolarization. Comparative analysis of single secretory events showed that, in the case of stimulation by ACh, single secretory spikes demonstrate faster kinetic characteristics than those induced by depolarization. Statistical analysis of the integral magnitude (area) of single secretory spikes evoked by both types of stimulation showed no significant difference despite amplitude and kinetic dissimilarities between such secretory events. Mathematical modeling of the dynamics of the exocytotic processes led to the conclusion that the reason for the specific kinetic characteristics of single secretory responses may be different diameters of the secretory pores formed during fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
R. D. Burgoyne, “Control of exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells, ” Biochim.Biophys.Acta, 1071, 174–202 (1991).
E. Neher and G. J. Augustine, “Calcium gradients and buffers in bovine chromaffin cells, ” J.Physiol., 450, 273–301 (1992).
W. Almers, A. K. Lee, Y. Shoji-Kasai, et al., “Final steps in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells, ” Adv.Second Messenger Phosphoprotein Res., 29, 97–107 (1994).
E. A. Lukyanetz, “Intracellular events during depolarization-induced exocytosis in chromaffin cells, ” in: Calcium Signalling, M. Morad and P. Kostyuk (eds.), IOS Press, Amsterdam (2001), pp. 174–182.
T. R. Cheek, A. J. O'Sullivan, R. B. Moreton, et al., “Spatial localization of the stimulus-induced rise in cytosolic Ca2+ in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Distinct nicotinic and muscarinic patterns, ” FEBS Lett., 247, 429–434 (1989).
K. Yamagami, S. Nishimura, and M. Sorimachi, “Internal Ca2+ mobilization by muscarinic stimulation increases secretion from adrenal chromaffin cells only in the presence of Ca2+ influx, ” J.Neurochem., 57, 1681–1689 (1991).
P. Kostyuk, Plasticity in Nerve Cell Function, Clarendon Press, Oxford (1998).
E. A. Lukyanetz and E. Neher, “Different types of calcium channels and secretion from bovine chromaffin cells, ” Eur. J.Neurosci., 11, 2865–2873(1999).
Z. Zhou and E. Neher, “Calcium permeability of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, ” Pflügers Arch., 425, 511–517(1993).
Z. W. Zhang, J. S. Coggan, and D. K. Berg, “Synaptic currents generated by neuronal acetylcholine receptors sensitive to alpha-bungarotoxin, ” Neuron, 17, 1231–1240 (1996).
A. B. Harkins and A. P. Fox, “Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors augments calcium channel-mediated exocytosis in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, ” J.Gen.Physiol., 111, 257–269(1998).
P. Mollard, E. P. Seward, and M. C. Nowycky, “Activation of nicotinic receptors triggers exocytosis from bovine chromaffin cells in the absence of membrane depolarization, ” Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 92, 3065–3069(1995).
L. H. Honore, “A light microscopic method for the differentiation of noradrenaline-and adrenaline-producing cells of the rat adrenal medulla, ” J.Histochem.Cytochem., 19, 483–486(1971).
O. L. Zaika, O. M. Pochiniuk, and E. A. Luk'ianets, “Electrochemical studies of induced secretion of catecholamines from individual vesicles of rat chromaffin cells, ” Ukr.Biokhim.Zh., 73, 69–72(2001).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kostyuk, P.G., Pochynyuk, O.M., Zaika, O.L. et al. Roles of Nicotinic and Muscarinic Receptors in Calcium Signaling and Transmitter Release. Neurophysiology 35, 201–207 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NEPH.0000008780.07514.79
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NEPH.0000008780.07514.79