Acetylcholine attenuates synaptic GABA release to supraoptic neurons through presynaptic nicotinic receptors

Both inhibitory GABAergic and excitatory glutamatergic inputs to supraoptic nucleus (SON) neurons can influence the release of vasopressin and oxytocin. Acetylcholine is known to excite SON neurons and to increase vasopressin release. The functional significance of cholinergic receptors, located at the presynaptic nerve terminals, in the regulation of the excitability of SON neurons is not fully known. In this study, we determined the role of presynaptic cholinergic receptors in regulation of the inhibitory GABAergic inputs to the SON neurons. The magnocellular neurons in the rat hypothalamic slice were identified microscopically, and the spontaneous miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) were recorded using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. The mIPSCs were abolished by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline (10 microM). Acetylcholine (100 microM) significantly reduced the frequency of mIPSCs of SON neurons from 3.59+/-0.36 to 1.62+/-0.20 Hz (n=37), but did not alter the amplitude and the decay time constant of mIPSCs. Furthermore, the nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (10 microM, n=13), eliminated the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine on mIPSCs of SON neurons. The muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine (100 microM), did not alter significantly the effect of acetylcholine on mIPSCs in most of the 17 SON neurons studied. These results suggest that the excitatory effect of acetylcholine on the SON neurons is mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of presynaptic GABA release. Activation of presynaptic nicotinic receptors located in the GABAergic terminals plays a major role in the cholinergic regulation of the inhibitory GABAergic input to SON neurons.