Post-synaptic calcium influx at the giant synapse of the squid during activation by glutamate

Changes in free calcium were monitored in the post-synaptic axon of the giant synapse of the squid, using the calcium indicators aequorin and Arsenazo III. The peak size of the calcium-dependent optical signals recorded from aequorin and Arsenazo III both showed a linear relation with the amount of calcium injected ionophoretically into the axon, but the Arsenazo signal had a slower time course than the aequorin. Ionophoretic application of glutamate to the post-synaptic axon depolarized the axon and caused a rise in intracellular free calcium. Aequorin signals were detected in natural sea water, and their size increased when the calcium concentration in the sea water was raised. Arsenazo signals could be detected only in high-calcium (55 mM) sea water. Intracellular calcium signals were detected also during bath application of several glutamate analogues, including kainate, ibotenate, and aspartate. The peak amplitude of the intracellular calcium signal, monitored with both indicators, increased with increasing ionophoretic glutamate dose, and varied linearly with the integral of the glutamate-induced membrane depolarization. No calcium signals were detected when depolarizations, similar to those produced by glutamate, were induced by current injection in the absence of glutamate. We conclude that glutamate increases the calcium permeability of the post-synaptic membrane, independently of the glutamate-induced depolarization. The glutamate-induced depolarization and the rise in intracellular free calcium increased roughly linearly as the membrane potential was made more negative. Extrapolation of these data indicated that the glutamate depolarization would reduce to zero at about -30 mV, while the calcium signals would be suppressed at about +50 mV.