[Intracellular regulation of neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors]

Effects of substances affecting intracellular secondary messengers on the membrane currents evoked by ionophoretic application of acetylcholine (ACh currents) and on the excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSC) evoked by single stimuli applied to preganglionic nerve fibres, were studied in neurones of the rat isolated superior cervical ganglion. Forskolin, the protein kinase A activator, and isobutyl-methyxanthine, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, decreased the ACh currents. Neither forskolin nor isobutyl-methylxanthine affected the EPSC amplitude or the EPSC decay time constant. Phorbol ester, the protein kinase C activator, decreased the ACh current but did not affect either EPSC amplitude or the EPSC decay time constant. Thapsigargin, the intracellular calcium releaser, decreased the ACh current and the EPSC amplitude but did not affect the EPSC decay time constant. The data obtained suggest that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of ganglion neurones are not modulated through the pathways involving protein kinase A or protein kinase C. The nAChRs sensitivity to both exogenous and nerve-released acetylcholine is reduced by intracellular calcium without affecting kinetics of their ionic channels.