Calcium-activated release of nitric oxide potentiates excitatory synaptic potentials in immature rat sympathetic preganglionic neurons

1. Whole cell patch recordings were made from sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs), the majority of which contain brain nitric oxide synthase (bNOS), in transverse spinal cord slices of 12- to 16-day-old rats. 2. Repetitive discharge of SPNs induced by a train of depolarizing current pulses (40 Hz, 10 s) was followed by a long-lasting increase (140 +/- 22%, mean +/- SD) of the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked by stimulation of lateral funiculus in 50 of 75 SPNs. 3. In slices pretreated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, N-G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMA; 100 mu M) or N-W-nitro-L-arginine (L-NARG; 30 mu M) or with bovine hemoglobin (100 mu M), repetitive discharge of SPNs was not followed by a significant increase of EPSPs. 4. Superfusing the slices with L-arginine (L-Arg, 300 mu M) but not D-Arg reversibly increased the EPSPs by an average of 140 +/- 19%. 5. Inclusion of the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA, 1 mM) in the patch electrodes resulted in no significant increase of EPSPs after repetitive discharge in all cells studied. 6. It is concluded that during repetitive discharge of SPNs, Ca2+ influx via voltage-gated channels activates bNOS, resulting in a release of nitric oxide and potentiation of EPSPs.