Regional localization and developmental profile of acetylcholinesterase-evoked increases in [(3)H]-5-fluororwillardiine binding to AMPA receptors in rat brain.

In addition to its role in hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the synaptically enriched enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been reported to play an important role in the development and remodelling of neural processes and synapses. We have shown previously that AChE causes an increase in binding of the specific AMPA receptor ligand (S)-[(3)H]-5-fluorowillardiine ([(3)H]-FW) to rat brain membranes. In this study we have used quantitative autoradiography to investigate the regional distribution and age-dependence of AChE-evoked increases in the binding of [(3)H]-FW in rat brain. Pretreatment of rat brain sections with AChE caused a marked enhancement of [(3)H]-FW binding to many, but not all, brain areas. The increased [(3)H]-FW binding was blocked by the specific AChE inhibitor BW 284c51. The maximal potentiation of [(3)H]-FW binding occurred at different developmental age-points in different regions with a profile consistent with the peak periods for synaptogenesis in any given region. In addition to its effects on brain sections, AChE also strongly potentiated [(3)H]-FW binding to detergent solubilized AMPA receptors suggesting a direct action on the receptors themselves rather than an indirect effect on the plasma membrane. These findings suggest that modulation of AMPA receptors could provide one molecular mechanism for the previously reported effects of AChE on synapse formation, synaptic plasticity and neurodegeneration.

Acetylcholinesterase potentiates [3H]fluorowillardiine and [3H]AMPA binding to rat cortical membranes.

In addition to its action at cholinergic synapses acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been proposed to modulate neuronal activity by mechanisms unrelated to the hydrolysis of acetylcholine. We have investigated the effects of AChE on the binding of the specific AMPA receptor agonists (S)-[3H]5-fluorowillardiine ([3H]FW) and [3H]AMPA to rat cortical membranes. Pretreatment of membranes with AChE causes a dose-dependent increase in the binding of both radiolabelled agonists with a maximal increase to approximately 60% above control. This increase is completely blocked by the specific AChE inhibitors propidium, physostigmine, DFP and BW 284C51. AChE pretreatment had no effect on [3H]kainate binding. [3H]FW binding to membranes from young (15-day-old) rats is four orders of magnitude more sensitive to AChE modulation than membranes from adult rats (EC50 values of 4x10(-5) and 0.1 unit/ml, respectively) although the total percentage increase in binding is similar. Furthermore, the AChE-induced potentiation of [3H]FW binding is Ca2+ - and temperature-dependent suggesting an enzymatic action for AChE in this system. Saturation binding experiments with [3H]FW to adult membranes reveal high and low affinity binding sites and demonstrate that the main action of AChE is to increase the Bmax of both sites. These findings suggest that modulation of AMPA receptors could provide a molecular mechanism of action for the previously reported effects of AChE in synapse formation, synaptic plasticity and neurodegeneration.

Motor neurone acetylcholinesterase release precedes neurotoxicity caused by systemic administration of excitatory amino acids and strychnine.

We have proposed that neuronal overactivation by either stimulation of excitatory receptors or hypofunction of inhibitory circuits is a cause of excessive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) release, which, in turn, can contribute to ALS/MND pathogenesis. We investigated histochemical and histopathological changes in cell populations of the mouse spinal ventral horn upon in vivo stimulation of glutamate receptors with L-aspartate (ASP, 10-50 mg/kg, intraperitoneal: i.p.), or blockade of glycine receptors with strychnine (STRY, 2 mg/kg, i.p.). ASP in P4-P13 (postnatal age in days) but not in older mice, and STRY irrespective of age, provoked rapid, striking depletions of motor neurone AChE, and appearance of AChE activity in astrocytes. This was followed by recovery of the enzyme in most motor neurones, astrocyte activation and statistically significant changes in: brain macrophage infiltration, loss of interneurones and motor neurones and neuronophagic images including rosettes of glial cells surrounding a central 'ghost-like' motor neurone. Although AChE release preceded the neuropathology found, it is not known if its uptake is a cause of glial activation. However, it has been shown that the enzyme potentiates non-N-metyl-D-aspartate receptors identical to those that mediate astrocyte activation. AChE activity produces protons and choline, possible microglial activators. These are putative routes towards long-lasting neuropathology.

In vivo and in vitro studies of glycine- and glutamate-evoked acetylcholinesterase release from spinal motor neurones: implications for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neurone disease pathogenesis.

To investigate the spinal cellular structures and molecular mechanisms involved in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) release evoked by both glycine (GLY) and glutamate (GLU)--responses that might play a role in chronic neurotoxicity--we analysed AChE histochemistry and histology upon systemic administration of aspartate (ASP), and conducted in vitro experiments in synaptosomes and slices prepared from mouse spinal ventral horns. Upon superfusion and incubation exposure of these preparations to GLY- and GLU-receptor agonists, we assayed both tissue content and release of AChE, butyrylcholinesterase and lactic dehydrogenase. Histochemical reduction of motor neurone (MN) AChE, calcium dependency, decreases in intracellular AChE and the ratio amongst molecular forms released, suggest that both synaptosomal GLY-evoked AChE release (GLY-EAR) and GLU-receptor-elicited AChE release (GEAR) have release sites located at MN presynaptic terminals. These responses exhibited remarkable postnatal regulation. GEAR seems to be mediated through alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid/kainate receptors after the fourth postnatal week and through both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors at earlier stages. Sustained rises of extracellular AChE might link acute excitotoxic injury with several long-lasting pathways leading to chronic neurotoxicity, since AChE molecular properties include: (1) the ability to block cholinergic mechanisms that protect MN against overactivity; (2) activation of ATP-dependent potassium channels; (3) promotion of neurite and axon outgrowth; and possibly (4) stimulation of brain macrophage migration and activation.

Glycine effects on glutamate-receptor elicited acetylcholinesterase release from slices and synaptosomes of the spinal ventral horn.

To study the mechanisms by which glutamate-elicited acetylcholinesterase release (GEAR) might play a part in the pathogenesis of excitotoxically triggered motor neurone disease, and to investigate the interaction of GEAR with spinal glycinergic mechanisms, we measured acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholinergic markers, after stimulating ventral horn slices and synaptosomes from the mouse spinal cord, with both glutamate- and glycine-receptor agonists. Glutamate (GLU), kainate and AMPA, as well as glycine (GLY) evoked dose-related, calcium-dependent liberation of soluble forms of AChE from both slices and synaptosomes. GLY-evoked AChE release showed remarkable age-related postnatal changes. In the immature slice of the ventral horn. GLY potentiated the GEAR response in the presence of strychnine, suggesting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor involvement, and was also able to evoke a strychnine-sensitive AChE release in the absence of exogenous GLU. After the 28th postnatal day, nearly all the AChE secreted was released either after the activation of non-NMDA glutamate receptors or by strychnine-sensitive GLY-evoked AChE release mechanisms. Both GEAR and GLY-evoked AChE release might impair the negative feedback loop which modulates the overactivation of motor neurones, and cause prolonged extracellular rises of soluble AChE. These effects might augment the vulnerability of motor neurones to excitotoxic stress, promote fiber outgrowth, and eventually accelerate the metabolic exhaustion of lower motor neurones. It is possible that the mechanisms described are operative at the spinal cord of ALS/MND patients.

Glutamate-receptor elicited acetylcholinesterase release in mouse spinal cord slice: a model of early excitotoxic injury.

To investigate the mechanisms by which glutamate-induced acetylcholinesterase (AChE) release might play a part in the pathogenesis of excitotoxically triggered motor neurone disease, we measured AChE molecular forms released after glutamate-receptor agonist stimulation of superfused and incubated slices of mouse spinal cord. Kainate and GLU caused a dose-related, calcium-dependent, magnesium-blocked liberation of AChE soluble forms (mainly G4) from both the ventral and dorsal horns, without membrane damage. In the immature slice, glycine potentiated GLU elicited AChE release in the presence of strychnine, suggesting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor involvement. After the 30th postnatal day, nearly all the release was caused by non-NMDA receptor stimulation. The response might interfere with the negative feedback loop which modulates the overactivation of motor neurones, and might render them more vulnerable to excitotoxic stress.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and pregnancy.

We describe the first case of pregnancy in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) reported in Uruguay. The 27-year-old white woman who came to our clinic complaining of general weakness and gait symptoms was diagnosed as being pregnant and met the El Escorial criteria of probable ALS. The advised abortion caused her to abandon medical treatment, which was only resumed after a period of severe deterioration, at 32 weeks of gestation. After several days of serious vital risk, as evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, a normal male baby was born. Four months later, the patient had gradually improved and reached a stable condition, but presented with restrictive ventilatory distress.

Excitotoxicity and cholinergic chemical markers during programmed motor neurone death.

We measured cholinergic markers and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular forms after glutamate receptor stimulation of superfused slices of mouse spinal cord at different developmental ages. AChE globular forms were secreted in a dose-dependent fashion. A period of selective sensitivity to excitotoxic agents was detected by increased acetylcholine (ACh) release and AChE secretion (sAChE) at postnatal day 14. Strychnine-resistant glycine stimulation potentiated glutamate-induced AChE release, suggesting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor involvement.

Fasciculins, enzyme site-directed polypeptides, as motor neurone research tools.

In order to examine the ability of motor neurones to take up fasciculin (FAS) and transport it centrally from muscle terminals to the spinal cord, we injected pure FAS 2, a powerful acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, into mouse gastrocnemius muscle. 21 h later, histochemistry and biochemistry of spinal cord AChE showed an almost complete inhibition of motoneuronal AChE, limited to the spinal cord segmental levels corresponding to the injected muscle. Axon transport of FAS can be exploited to direct peripherally-injected FAS to neurones located in the central nervous system (CNS).

Purified unitary kainate/alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisooxazole-propionate (AMPA) and kainate/AMPA/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors with interchangeable subunits.

We have purified and characterized two vertebrate excitatory amino acid ionotropic receptors from the Xenopus central nervous system. Each is a unitary receptor (i.e., having more than one class of excitatory amino acid agonist specificity within one protein oligomer). The first is a unitary non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptor and the second is a unitary NMDA/non-NMDA receptor. The specific agonist-activated channel activity and pharmacology of each type were recognized by patch-clamping lipid bilayers in which the isolated protein was reconstituted. In the second case, the NMDA and the non-NMDA sites could not be physically separated and exhibited functional interaction. Parallel evidence for this was obtained when poly(A) RNA from Xenopus brain was translated in oocytes: a noncompetitive inhibition of the response to L-kainate is produced by NMDA to a maximum depression of 30% at 1 mM NMDA. Each isolated oligomer contains 42-kDa subunits of the non-NMDA ligand binding type, but the second type has an additional NMDA-receptor-specific 100-kDa subunit. Thus, a subunit-exchange hypothesis can account for the known multiplicity of excitatory amino acid receptor types.

Fasciculins, anticholinesterase toxins from the venom of the green mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps.

Two toxins that are potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase have been isolated from the venom of the green mamba, Dendroaspis angusticeps. The toxins have been called fasciculins since after injection into mice (i.p. 0.5-3 micrograms/g body weight) they cause severe, generalized and long-lasting (5-7 h) fasciculations. Homogenates of diaphragm, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles from mice injected with fasciculins showed a decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity by 45-60% compared to muscles from control animals. Histochemical staining revealed a greatly reduced acetylcholinesterase activity at neuromuscular junctions. Fasciculins have 61 amino acid residues and four disulfides. The molecular weights are 6765 (fasciculin 1) and 6735 (fasciculin 2). The sequences of the two toxins differ probably only at one position by a replacement of Tyr with Asp/Asn. 1 g of venom contained about 40 mg of fasciculins, 2/3 of which was fasciculin 2. A similar inhibitor has also been isolated from D. polylepis (black mamba) venom. The sequence of fasciculin 2 is known. Most of the positive charges are concentrated in a small section of the central part of the molecule, and most of the negative charges are in the C-terminal region. Fasciculins appear to have a pronounced dipole character. Fasciculin binds to the peripheral anionic site, since it can displace propidium, a probe for that site, from acetylcholinesterase. In vitro, in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 2 mM NaH2PO4 (pH 7.4), fasciculin 2 inhibits acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocytes (Ki = 1.1 X 10(-10) M, 37 degrees C), rat muscle (Ki = 1.2 X 10(-10) M, 37 degrees C) and Electrophorus electricus (Ki = 3.0 X 10(-10) M, 22 degrees C).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fasciculin, a powerful anticholinesterase polypeptide from Dendroaspis angusticeps venom.

A powerful inhibition of mammalian acetylcholinesterase was detected in the venom of the snake Dendroaspis angusticeps (green mamba). The substances responsible for such inhibition were isolated and purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and ion exchange chromatography on Bio-Rex 70 and SP Sephadex C-25. These substances were polypeptides and were named, fasciculins. Upon intraperitoneal injection into mice fasciculins elicited severe, generalized, long-lasting muscle fasciculations with complete clinical recovery. In vitro preincubation with fasciculins at concentrations of 0.01 ?g ml(?1) inhibited brain and muscle acetylcholinesterases up to 80%. Histochemical assay for acetylcholinesterase showed an almost complete disappearance of the black-brown precipitate at the neuromuscular end-plate after in vitro incubation with fasciculins. Fasciculins represent a new type of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors provoking muscle fasciculations through a powerful inhibition of enzyme activity at the neuromuscular end-plate, interfering with the normal degradative activity of the acetylcholine molecule. Fasciculins are also powerful inhibitors of brain acetylcholinesterases.

Enzyme histochemistry of the rat hippocampus during experimental status epilepticus.

EEG registered hippocampal status epilepticus (HSE) was provoked in 41 adult albino rats by intraseptal injection of ouabain, and the hippocampus was studied from 1 1/2 to 24 hr with the enzyme histochemical tests for succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), thiaminopyrophosphatase (TPPase), acid phosphatase (AcPase), Mg2+ adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2++ ATPase), and with general and neurohistological stains. In a first group of animals (1 1/2 to 10 hr of HSE), a stage of general increase in enzymatic activity was detected in the pyramidal neurons (SDH, LDH, AcPase, and TPPase). Mg2+ ATPase showed a marked increase in astrocytes. In a second group (more than 10 hr of HSE), SDH was found decreased in the dendritic fields. LDH activity persisted in neuronal bodies, and AcPase and TPPase showed diffuse activity in the cytoplasm of some pyramidal neurons. In a third group (more than 18 hr of HSE), SDH activity was low. No AcPase granules were observed in some pyramidal neurons and TPPase was negative in some areas of pyramidal layer. Mg2+ ATPase reaction showed scare and retracted astroglial processes. These changes were coincident with "cellular ghosts" observed with hematoxylin-eosin techniques of the same samples in the pyramidal field and were interpreted as cellular death, attributed to relative anoxia following neuronal discharge.