Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 4253676 Published · ppublish English Journal Article

The mechanism of acetylcholine release from parasympathetic nerves.

The Journal of physiology ·Vol. 215 ·No. 3 ·1971-07-00 ·Pages 819-48

Paton WD, Vizi ES, Zar MA

Abstract

1. The output of acetylcholine from the plexus of the guinea-pig ileum longitudinal strip has been used to study the mechanism of acetylcholine release. From the effects of hexamethonium and tetrodotoxin, it was inferred that 60% of the normal resting output is due to propagated activity in the plexus, and 40% to spontaneous release. Tetrodotoxin virtually abolishes the increase in output in response to electrical stimulation.2. Resting acetylcholine output is increased when the bathing medium is changed in the following ways:(a) sodium replacement by sucrose, trometamol or lithium;(b) addition of ouabain or p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PHMB), or withdrawal of potassium;(c) the combination of PHMB and partial sodium replacement;(d) addition of potassium; this increase in output becomes greater in the absence of sodium.3. The resting output is virtually abolished by calcium withdrawal, and is restored by barium substitution for calcium. It is also reduced by raising the magnesium concentration.4. The enhanced resting output in response to sodium withdrawal also occurs in the absence of calcium.5. Cooling to 5 degrees C greatly reduces both the resting output and the output in response to raised potassium concentration or to electrical stimulation.6. The increase in resting output due to potassium excess is slight up to 25 mM [K(+)](o), but increases thereafter with about the fourth power of the potassium concentration; it is resistant to tetrodotoxin.7. Synthesis of acetylcholine by the longitudinal strip is increased when output is enhanced by electrical stimulation, by potassium excess or by addition of barium, so that the acetylcholine content of the strip is maintained approximately normal. Synthesis is reduced, in relation to output, by potassium lack or by treatment with ouabain, and is virtually abolished by sodium withdrawal.8. The theory is discussed that acetylcholine release depends on inhibition of the activity of a (Na(+) + K(+) + Mg(2+))-activated ATPase at the axonal membrane.

MeSH Terms
Acetylcholine/antagonists & inhibitors,metabolism Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism Anesthetics, Local/pharmacology Animals Axons/enzymology Barium/pharmacology Calcium/pharmacology Catecholamines/pharmacology Cell Membrane/enzymology Cold Temperature Depression, Chemical Electric Stimulation Guinea Pigs Hexamethonium Compounds/pharmacology Ileum/innervation,physiology In Vitro Techniques Lithium/pharmacology Magnesium/pharmacology Mercury/pharmacology Morphine/pharmacology Muscle, Smooth/innervation Organometallic Compounds/pharmacology Ouabain/pharmacology Parasympathetic Nervous System/metabolism Potassium/pharmacology Secretory Rate/drug effects Sodium/pharmacology Sucrose/pharmacology Tetrodotoxin/pharmacology Tromethamine/pharmacology
Chemicals
Anesthetics, Local Catecholamines Hexamethonium Compounds Organometallic Compounds Tromethamine Barium Tetrodotoxin Sucrose Ouabain Morphine Lithium Sodium Adenosine Triphosphatases Mercury Magnesium Acetylcholine Potassium Calcium
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Paton W D
Vizi E S
Zar M A
References (50)
50 references, click to expand
  1. Movements of labelled calcium in squid giant axons.
    J Physiol. 1957 Sep 30;138(2):253-81 PMID: 13526124
  2. The pharmacological actions of polymethylene bistrimethyl-ammonium salts.
    Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1949 Dec;4(4):381-400 PMID: 15398551
  3. The effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on inhibitory alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum.
    Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Jun;39(2):398-413 PMID: 5425280
  4. Studies on the Na ion and K ion activated ATP hydrolysing enzyme system. The role of SH groups.
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1963 Jan 18;10:79-84 PMID: 13989106
  5. Calcium dependence of spontaneous acetylcholine release at mammalian motor nerve terminals.
    J Physiol. 1965 Dec;181(3):487-97 PMID: 4956407
  6. The effect of magnesium on the activity of motor nerve endings.
    J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):553-9 PMID: 13175198
  7. After-potentials in mammalian non-myelinated nerve fibres.
    J Physiol. 1958 Dec 30;144(3):442-62 PMID: 13621407
  8. On the permeability of mammalian non-myelinated fibres to sodium and to lithium ions.
    J Physiol. 1963 Jan;165(1):130-40 PMID: 16992134
  9. Acetylcholine release in the cat's superior cervical ganglion.
    J Physiol. 1953 Mar;119(4):439-54 PMID: 13053448
  10. The effects of presynaptic polarization on the spontaneous activity at the mammalian neuromuscular junction.
    J Physiol. 1956 Nov 28;134(2):427-43 PMID: 13398923
  11. THE ROLE OF SODIUM IONS IN THE METABOLISM OF ACETYLCHOLINE.
    Can J Biochem Physiol. 1963 Dec;41:2573-97 PMID: 14099716
  12. The action of potassium on the superior cervical ganglion of the cat.
    J Physiol. 1936 Mar 9;86(3):290-305 PMID: 16994756
  13. The asymmetrical stimulation of a membrane adenosine triphosphatase in relation to active cation transport.
    Biochem J. 1962 Jul;84:110-8 PMID: 14006660
  14. Active transport of cations in giant axons from Sepia and Loligo.
    J Physiol. 1955 Apr 28;128(1):28-60 PMID: 14368574
  15. [On the binding of calcium ions to the Na+-K+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase system of the brain].
    Experientia. 1964 Jan 15;20(1):28-9 PMID: 4221398
  16. Tetrodotoxin and neuromuscular transmission.
    Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1967 Jan 31;167(1006):8-22 PMID: 4382592
  17. Presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release by endogenous and exogenous noradrenaline at high rate of stimulation.
    Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Nov;40(3):554P-555P PMID: 5497816
  18. Sodium-dependent uptake of calcium by crab nerve.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1968 Jan 3;150(1):167-70 PMID: 5642631
  19. Membrane potentials recorded with high-resistance micro-electrodes; and the effects of changes in ionic environment on the electrical and mechanical activity of the smooth muscle of the taenia coli of the guineapig.
    J Physiol. 1958 May 28;141(3):464-88 PMID: 13550254
  20. Spontaneous activity at a mammalian neuromuscular junction in tetrodotoxin.
    Acta Physiol Scand. 1965 Aug;64(4):475-6 PMID: 5853040
  21. Mode of action of morphine-like drugs on autonomic neuro-effectors.
    Nature. 1968 Dec 7;220(5171):1040-2 PMID: 4302754
  22. The quantal components of the mammalian end-plate potential.
    J Physiol. 1956 Sep 27;133(3):571-87 PMID: 13368106
  23. The antagonism between Ca and Na ions on the frog's heart.
    J Physiol. 1958 Oct 31;143(3):486-505 PMID: 13588569
  24. SYNTHESIS AND STORAGE OF ACETYLCHOLINE IN NERVOUS TISSUE.
    Can J Biochem Physiol. 1963 Dec;41:2555-71 PMID: 14099715
  25. The inhibitory action of noradrenaline and adrenaline on acetylcholine output by guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle strip.
    Br J Pharmacol. 1969 Jan;35(1):10-28 PMID: 4302725
  26. Interaction between sodium and calcium ions in the process of transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction.
    J Physiol. 1968 Sep;198(1):203-18 PMID: 16992314
  27. The influence of some cations on an adenosine triphosphatase from peripheral nerves.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1957 Feb;23(2):394-401 PMID: 13412736
  28. THE CHANGES IN RESPONSE AND IN IONIC CONTENT OF SMOOTH MUSCLE PRODUCED BY ACETYLCHOLINE ACTON AND BY CALCIUM DEFICIENCY.
    Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1965 Apr;24:437-48 PMID: 14320857
  29. Uptake of calcium by subcellular fractions isolated from ouabain-treated cerebral tissues.
    J Neurochem. 1969 Dec;16(12):1553-63 PMID: 4985357
  30. The effect of sodium ions on neuromuscular transmission.
    J Physiol. 1952 Sep;118(1):73-87 PMID: 13000691
  31. Functional and histological studies of the vagus nerve and its branches to the heart, lungs and abdominal viscera in the cat.
    J Physiol. 1957 Jan 23;135(1):182-205 PMID: 13398974
  32. The origin of acetylcholine released from guinea-pig intestine and longitudinal muscle strips.
    J Physiol. 1968 Jan;194(1):13-33 PMID: 4295753
  33. Studies on sodium-potassium-activated adenosinetriphosphatase. IV. Correlation with cation transport sensitive to cardiac glycosides.
    Arch Biochem Biophys. 1962 Sep;98:413-9 PMID: 13871107
  34. The mechanism of catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla and the role of calcium in stimulus-secretion coupling.
    J Physiol. 1963 Jul;167(2):288-310 PMID: 16992152
  35. Effects of ganglion-blocking substances on the small intestine.
    J Physiol. 1951 May;113(4):483-505 PMID: 14851253
  36. The effect of calcium and magnesium on the spontaneous release of transmitter from mammalian motor nerve endings.
    J Physiol. 1961 Dec;159:507-17 PMID: 14449608
  37. The stimulant effect of barium on the release of acetylcholine from the superior cervical ganglion.
    J Physiol. 1961 May;156:515-22 PMID: 13724073
  38. ENZYMATIC BASIS FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORT OF NA+ AND K+ ACROSS CELL MEMBRANE.
    Physiol Rev. 1965 Jul;45:596-617 PMID: 14337569
  39. Adenosinetriphosphatase activity and the active movements of alkali metal ions.
    J Physiol. 1961 Apr;156:274-93 PMID: 13725019
  40. TETRODOTOXIN BLOCKAGE OF SODIUM CONDUCTANCE INCREASE IN LOBSTER GIANT AXONS.
    J Gen Physiol. 1964 May;47:965-74 PMID: 14155438
  41. The action of calcium on the electrical properties of squid axons.
    J Physiol. 1957 Jul 11;137(2):218-44 PMID: 13449874
  42. THE MEASUREMENT OF SYNAPTIC DELAY, AND THE TIME COURSE OF ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE AT THE NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION.
    Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1965 Feb 16;161:483-95 PMID: 14278409
  43. Active transport and passive fluxes of K, Na, and Li in mammalian non-myelinated nerve fibres.
    Pflugers Arch. 1969;306(3):262-80 PMID: 5813442
  44. The ionic content of mammalian non-myelinated nerve fibres and its alteration as a result of electrical activity.
    J Physiol. 1968 May;196(1):223-36 PMID: 5659847
  45. THE ORIGIN OF THE ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASED SPONTANEOUSLY FROM THE GUINEA-PIG ISOLATED ILEUM.
    Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1963 Dec;21:555-68 PMID: 14110755
  46. The influence of internal sodium on the behaviour of motor nerve endings.
    Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1968 Jul 9;170(1021):401-21 PMID: 4385586
  47. Calcium and synaptic transmission in a sympathetic ganglion.
    J Physiol. 1940 Jan 15;97(3):408-16 PMID: 16995173
  48. Acetylcholine release at parasympathetic synapses.
    Acta Physiol Scand. 1950 Feb 20;20(1):13-32 PMID: 15413504
  49. The influence of calcium on sodium efflux in squid axons.
    J Physiol. 1969 Feb;200(2):431-58 PMID: 5764407
  50. SODIUM, POTASSIUM-REQUIRING ADENOSINETRIPHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY. I. PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1964 Sep 18;89:520-31 PMID: 14209334
Article Info
Journal
The Journal of physiology
Abbr.
J Physiol
ISSN
0022-3751
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009500
Published
1971-07-00
Pages
819-48
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0266262
PMCID
PMC1331916
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009500 PMC Full Text View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2