Modulation of Neuropeptide Release via Voltage-Dependent and -Independent Signaling in Isolated Neurohypophysial Terminals: a Dissertation

This thesis details my examination of several mechanisms for modulation of neuropeptide release via voltage-dependent and voltage-independent intraterminal signaling in isolated neurohypophysial terminals. The first part of this work characterizes depolarization-induced neuropeptide release in the absence of extracellular calcium. The goal of this project was to examine the relationship between depolarization-induced release of intracellular calcium stores and depolarization-secretion coupling of neuropeptides. We demonstrate that depolarization in the absence of extracellular calcium induced by either High K+ or electrical stimulation induces a rise in [Ca2+]i and subsequent neuropeptide release from Hypothalamic Neurohypophysial System (HNS) terminals. A portion of extracellular calcium-independent neuropeptide release is due to intraterminal calcium, but the remaining depolarization-induced release may be due to calcium-independent voltage-dependent (CIVD) release (Zhang and Zhou, 2002; Zhang et al., 2004; Yang et al., 2005). Nevertheless, our results clearly show that extracellular calcium is notnecessary for depolarization-induced neuropeptide secretion from these CNS terminals. In addition, I investigated the role of internal calcium stores in mediating μ-opioid inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Inhibition of VGCCs via μ-opioid agonists has been shown to reduce neuropeptide release in response to High K+ stimulation of isolated terminals (Bicknell et al., 1985b; Russell et al., 1993; van Wimersma Greidanus and van de Heijning, 1993; Munro et al., 1994; Ortiz-Miranda et al., 2003; Russell et al., 2003; Ortiz-Miranda et al., 2005). My findings show μ-opioid inhibition, of VGCC and High K+-mediated rise in [Ca2+]i, are via a voltage-independent diffusible second-messenger targeting release of calcium from ryanodine-sensitive stores, possibly mediated via the cyclic ADP ribose signaling pathway. Furthermore, I detail a different intracellular messenger pathway mediating the κ-opioid inhibition of VGCC and High K+-mediated rise in [Ca2+]ii. In contrast to the μ-opioid inhibition, κ-receptor activation is coupled to a voltage-dependent membrane-delimited pathway. Inhibition of neuropeptide release via both endogenous and exogenous κ-opioid agonists has been extensively studied (Bicknell et al., 1985a; Nordmann et al., 1986a; Wammack and Racke, 1988; Munro et al., 1994; Ingram et al., 1996; Rusin et al., 1997a). My investigation shows that the κ-inhibition of VGCC is voltage-dependent and is furthermore, relieved within the context of a physiological burst of action potentials (APs). This physiologically-evoked, activity-dependent modulation of VGCC and subsequent release, represents an important mechanism for short-term synaptic plasticity at the level of the terminals. Given the ubiquitous nature of voltage-dependent G-protein signaling in the CNS, our results may prove important in understanding modulatory effects of specific bursting patterns throughout the CNS. In the last 30 years the neurohypophysial system has proven to be an excellent system to study the complexities of depolarization-secretion coupling (DSC). There have been many advances in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved and their physiological implications. The current work focuses on two important features of DSC; voltage and calcium. Although in many ways these two are intrinsically linked through VGCC activation, we have found that in isolated HNS terminals that is not always the case. We have further found that when voltage and calcium influx are linked during DSC, modulation by opioids may or may not be linked to activity-dependent relief depending on the opioid receptor activated. This finding has important implications in neuropeptide release during patterned stimulation in vivo. As I will discuss further, many factors play into the complexities of the regulatory mechanisms involving release. As investigations into this remarkable field continue, I hope to have contributed a valuable piece to the puzzle

mu-Opioid inhibition of Ca2+ currents and secretion in isolated terminals of the neurohypophysis occurs via ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ stores

mu-Opioid agonists have no effect on calcium currents (I(Ca)) in neurohypophysial terminals when recorded using the classic whole-cell patch-clamp configuration. However, mu-opioid receptor (MOR)-mediated inhibition of I(Ca) is reliably demonstrated using the perforated-patch configuration. This suggests that the MOR-signaling pathway is sensitive to intraterminal dialysis and is therefore mediated by a readily diffusible second messenger. Using the perforated patch-clamp technique and ratio-calcium-imaging methods, we describe a diffusible second messenger pathway stimulated by the MOR that inhibits voltage-gated calcium channels in isolated terminals from the rat neurohypophysis (NH). Our results show a rise in basal intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) in response to application of [D-Ala(2)-N-Me-Phe(4),Gly5-ol]-Enkephalin (DAMGO), a MOR agonist, that is blocked by D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTOP), a MOR antagonist. Buffering DAMGO-induced changes in [Ca(2+)]i with BAPTA-AM completely blocked the inhibition of both I(Ca) and high-K(+)-induced rises in [Ca(2+)]i due to MOR activation, but had no effect on kappa-opioid receptor (KOR)-mediated inhibition. Given the presence of ryanodine-sensitive stores in isolated terminals, we tested 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (8Br-cADPr), a competitive inhibitor of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPr) signaling that partially relieves DAMGO inhibition of I(Ca) and completely relieves MOR-mediated inhibition of high-K(+)-induced and DAMGO-induced rises in [Ca(2+)]i. Furthermore, antagonist concentrations of ryanodine completely blocked MOR-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i and inhibition of I(Ca) and high-K(+)-induced rises in [Ca(2+)]i while not affecting KOR-mediated inhibition. Antagonist concentrations of ryanodine also blocked MOR-mediated inhibition of electrically-evoked increases in capacitance. These results strongly suggest that a key diffusible second messenger mediating the MOR-signaling pathway in NH terminals is [Ca(2+)]i released by cADPr from ryanodine-sensitive stores

The relationship between duration of initial alcohol exposure and persistence of molecular tolerance is markedly nonlinear

The neuronal calcium- and voltage-activated BK potassium channel is modulated by ethanol, and plays a role in behavioral tolerance in vertebrates and invertebrates. We examine the influence of temporal parameters of alcohol exposure on the characteristics of BK molecular tolerance in the ventral striatum, an important component of brain reward circuitry. BK channels in striatal neurons of C57BL/6J mice exhibited molecular tolerance whose duration was a function of exposure time. After 6 h exposure to 20 mm (0.09 mg%) ethanol, alcohol sensitivity was suppressed beyond 24 h after withdrawal, while after a 1 or 3 h exposure, sensitivity had significantly recovered after 4 h. This temporally controlled transition to persistent molecular tolerance parallels changes in BK channel isoform profile. After withdrawal from 6 h, but not 3 h alcohol exposure, mRNA levels of the alcohol-insensitive STREX (stress axis-regulated exon) splice variant were increased. Moreover, the biophysical properties of BK channels during withdrawal from 6 h exposure were altered, and match the properties of STREX channels exogenously expressed in HEK 293 cells. Our results suggest a temporally triggered shift in BK isoform identity. Once activated, the transition does not require the continued presence of alcohol. We next determined whether the results obtained using cultured striatal neurons could be observed in acutely dissociated striatal neurons, after alcohol administration in the living mouse. The results were in remarkable agreement with the striatal culture data, showing persistent molecular tolerance after injections producing 6 h of intoxication, but not after injections producing only 3 h of intoxication

Ca2+ syntillas, miniature Ca2+ release events in terminals of hypothalamic neurons, are increased in frequency by depolarization in the absence of Ca2+ influx

Localized, brief Ca2+ transients (Ca2+ syntillas) caused by release from intracellular stores were found in isolated nerve terminals from magnocellular hypothalamic neurons and examined quantitatively using a signal mass approach to Ca2+ imaging. Ca2+ syntillas (scintilla, L., spark, from a synaptic structure, a nerve terminal) are caused by release of approximately 250,000 Ca ions on average by a Ca2+ flux lasting on the order of tens of milliseconds and occur spontaneously at a membrane potential of -80 mV. Syntillas are unaffected by removal of extracellular Ca2+, are mediated by ryanodine receptors (RyRs) and are increased in frequency, in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, by physiological levels of depolarization. This represents the first direct demonstration of mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores in neurons by depolarization without Ca2+ influx. The regulation of syntillas by depolarization provides a new link between neuronal activity and cytosolic [Ca2+] in nerve terminals

Voltage-dependent kappa-opioid modulation of action potential waveform-elicited calcium currents in neurohypophysial terminals

Release of neurotransmitter is activated by the influx of calcium. Inhibition of Ca(2+) channels results in less calcium influx into the terminals and presumably a reduction in transmitter release. In the neurohypophysis (NH), Ca(2+) channel kinetics, and the associated Ca(2+) influx, is primarily controlled by membrane voltage and can be modulated, in a voltage-dependent manner, by G-protein subunits interacting with voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). In this series of experiments we test whether the kappa- and micro-opioid inhibition of Ca(2+) currents in NH terminals is voltage-dependent. Voltage-dependent relief of G-protein inhibition of VGCC can be achieved with either a depolarizing square pre-pulse or by action potential waveforms. Both protocols were tested in the presence and absence of opioid agonists targeting the kappa- and micro-receptors in neurohypophysial terminals. The kappa-opioid VGCC inhibition is relieved by such pre-pulses, suggesting that this receptor is involved in a voltage-dependent membrane delimited pathway. In contrast, micro-opioid inhibition of VGCC is not relieved by such pre-pulses, indicating a voltage-independent diffusible second-messenger signaling pathway. Furthermore, relief of kappa-opioid inhibition during a physiologic action potential (AP) burst stimulation indicates the possibility of activity-dependent modulation in vivo. Differences in the facilitation of Ca(2+) channels due to specific G-protein modulation during a burst of APs may contribute to the fine-tuning of Ca(2+)-dependent neuropeptide release in other CNS terminals, as well

ATP elicits inward currents in isolated vasopressinergic neurohypophysial terminals via P2X2 and P2X3 receptors

Effects of extracellular adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) on ionic currents were investigated using the perforated-patch whole-cell recording technique on isolated terminals of the Hypothalamic Neurohypophysial System (HNS). ATP induced a current response in 70% of these isolated terminals. This inwardly-rectifying, inactivating current had an apparent reversal near 0 mV and was dose-dependent on ATP with an EC50=9.6+/-1.0 microM. In addition, current amplitudes measured at maximal ATP concentrations and optimum holding potentials had a current density of 70.8 pA pF(-1) and were greatly inhibited by suramin and PPADS. Different purinergic receptor agonists were tested, with the following efficacy: ATP \u3e or = 2-methylthioATP \u3e ATP-gamma-S \u3e Bz-Bz-ATP \u3e alpha,beta-methylene-ATP \u3e beta,gamma-methylene-ATP. However, UTP and ADP were ineffective. These data suggest the involvement of a P2X purinergic receptor in the ATP-induced responses. Immunocytochemical labeling in vasopressinergic terminals indicates the existence of P2X(2,3,4, and 7), but not P2X6 receptors. Additionally, P2X(2 and 3) were not found in terminals which labeled for oxytocin. In summary, the EC50, decay, inactivation, and pharmacology indicate that a functional mixture of P2X(2 and 3) homomeric receptors mediate the majority of the ATP responses in vasopressinergic HNS terminals. We speculate that the characteristics of these types of receptors reflect the function of co-released ATP in the terminal compartment of these and other CNS neurons

Differential modulation of N-type calcium channels by micro-opioid receptors in oxytocinergic versus vasopressinergic neurohypophysial terminals

Opioids modulate the electrical activity of magnocellular neurons (MCN) and inhibit neuropeptide release at their terminals in the neurohypophysis. We have previously shown that micro-opioid receptor (MOR) activation induces a stronger inhibition of oxytocin (OT) than vasopressin (AVP) release from isolated MCN terminals. This higher sensitivity of OT release is due, at least in part, to the selective targeting of R-type calcium channels. We now describe the underlying basis for AVP\u27s weaker inhibition by MOR activation and provide a more complete explanation of the complicated effects on neuropeptide release. We found that N-type calcium channels in AVP terminals are differentially modulated by MOR; enhanced at lower concentrations but increasingly inhibited at higher concentrations of agonists. On the other hand, N-type calcium channels in OT terminals were always inhibited. The response pattern in co-labeled terminals was analogous to that observed in AVP-containing terminals. Changes in intracellular calcium concentration and neuropeptide release corroborated these results as they showed a similar pattern of enhancement and inhibition in AVP terminals contrasting with solely inhibitory responses in OT terminals to MOR agonists. We established that fast translocation of Ca(2+) channels to the plasma membrane was not mediating current increments and thus, changes in channel kinetic properties are most likely involved. Finally, we reveal a distinct Ca-channel beta-subunit expression between each type of nerve endings that could explain some of the differences in responses to MOR activation. These results help advance our understanding of the complex modulatory mechanisms utilized by MORs in regulating presynaptic neuropeptide release