Voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in rat striatal synaptosomes: Role on the [Ca2+](i) responses to membrane depolarization

The fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Indo-1 was used to study the effect of depolarization evoked by KCl or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on the intracellular free calcium concentration responses (Delta[Ca2+](i)) in rat striatal synaptosomes. Depolarization of the synaptosomes with [KCl] > 7.5 mM induced a rapid increase of the [Ca2+](i) followed by a decay towards a plateau. The size of the [Ca2+](i) response varied sigmoidally with the synaptosomal membrane potential, with a transition potential of -27.3 mV. Depolarization with 4-AP evoked a dose-dependent sustained increase of the [Ca2+](i). Nitrendipine, omega-Conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx) and omega-Agatoxin IVA (omega-Aga IVA) were used to evaluate the relative role of L-, N-, P- and possibly Q-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCCs) on the [Ca2+](i) changes evoked by each of the two depolarizing agents. Nitrendipine caused only about 10% inhibition of the effect of either agent on the [Ca2+](i), suggesting that the L-type VSCCs have a modest contribution. The omega-CgTx decreased the response to KCl and PAP by 15 and 30%, respectively, but the latter effect may be partially due to a non-specific effect on Na+ channels. The omega-Aga TVA reduced the response to 4-AP by 26.5%, and this effect was additive to that of omega-CgTx, further suggesting that the striatal nerve terminals possess P- and/or Q-type, in addition to N-type Ca2+ channels. Neomycin (0.35 mM), tentatively used as an antagonist of the P-type channels, had a potent effect, decreasing the response to K+-depolarization and to 4-AP by, respectively, 32.5 and 48.5%. It is suggested that at the concentration used the antibiotic also partially blocks VSCCs which do not belong to the L-, N-, P- or Q-type VSCCs. We conclude that striatal nerve endings are equipped with at least four to five pharmacologically distinct classes of VSCCs, which are sensitive to well known antagonists of the L-, N-, P-, and Q-type VSCCs.