Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 50439 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

On the role of mitochondria in transmitter release from motor nerve terminals.

The Journal of physiology ·Vol. 248 ·No. 2 ·1975-06-00 ·Pages 285-306

Alnaes E, Rahamimoff R

Abstract

1. The changes in transmitter release produced by mitochondrial inhibitors has been studied at the frog neuromuscular junction using conventional electrophysiological techniques for stimulation and intracellular recording. 2. Inhibitors of the electron transport chain and inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation produce an increase in the frequency of appearance of the miniature end-plate potentials. This increase in frequency is observed also in calcium-free media. Mitochondrial inhibitors also augment the amount of transmitter liberated by a nerve impulse. 3. Ruthenium red, which is an inhibitor of calcium uptake by mitochondria, increases the spontaneous transmitter release but decreases the quantal content. The latter effect of Ruthenium red is antagonized by calcium. 4. The mitochondrial content of the motor nerve terminals is, on the average, 6.59%. 5. The experimental results are explained on the hypothesis that spontaneous release of transmitter reflects the resting level of intracellular free calcium and the evoked release reflects the sum of the resting calcium and the calcium brought in by the action potential. The mitochondria play a role in transmitter release by participating in the regulation of the intracellular free Ca.

MeSH Terms
Action Potentials Animals Calcium/metabolism Dicumarol/pharmacology Electrophysiology Guanidines/pharmacology In Vitro Techniques Mitochondria/drug effects,metabolism,physiology Motor Neurons/physiology Neuromuscular Junction/drug effects,physiology Rana pipiens Ruthenium/pharmacology Synaptic Transmission/drug effects
Chemicals
Guanidines Dicumarol Ruthenium Calcium
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Alnaes E
Rahamimoff R
References (56)
56 references, click to expand
  1. Presynaptic failure of neuromuscular propagation in rats.
    J Physiol. 1959 Dec;149:1-22 PMID: 14412088
  2. The effect of guanidine on neuromuscular transmission.
    J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1960 Mar;128:273-82 PMID: 14429382
  3. Hyperpolarization of mammalian motor nerve terminals.
    J Physiol. 1962 Aug;163:115-37 PMID: 14449605
  4. An analysis of the end-plate potential recorded with an intracellular electrode.
    J Physiol. 1951 Nov 28;115(3):320-70 PMID: 14898516
  5. The effect of calcium ions on the motor end-plate potentials.
    J Physiol. 1952 Apr;116(4):507-15 PMID: 14946716
  6. Spontaneous subthreshold activity at motor nerve endings.
    J Physiol. 1952 May;117(1):109-28 PMID: 14946732
  7. THE RESPONSE OF THE MYASTHENIC STATE TO GUANIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE.
    Science. 1938 Apr 15;87(2259):348-50 PMID: 17743742
  8. Sensitivity of calcium efflux from squid axons to changes in membrane potential.
    J Gen Physiol. 1975 Feb;65(2):135-52 PMID: 1117279
  9. Ruthenium red and violet. I. Chemistry, purification, methods of use for electron microscopy and mechanism of action.
    Anat Rec. 1971 Nov;171(3):347-68 PMID: 4108333
  10. Ruthenium red and violet. II. Fine structural localization in animal tissues.
    Anat Rec. 1971 Nov;171(3):369-415 PMID: 4108334
  11. Association of calcium with membranes of squid giant axon: ultrastructure and microprobe analysis.
    J Cell Biol. 1974 Apr;61(1):156-65 PMID: 4132064
  12. Calcium influx in active Aplysia neurones detected by injected aequorin.
    Nat New Biol. 1973 Mar 28;242(117):113-5 PMID: 4145281
  13. Transmitter release induced by injection of calcium ions into nerve terminals.
    Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1973 Jul 3;183(1073):421-5 PMID: 4147099
  14. Specific inhibition of mitochondrial Ca++ transport by ruthenium red.
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1971 Jan 22;42(2):298-305 PMID: 4250976
  15. The effect of ruthenium red on Ca 2+ transport and respiration in rat liver mitochondria.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1972 Jan 21;256(1):43-54 PMID: 4257941
  16. Calcium transport in mitochondria.
    Adv Cytopharmacol. 1971 May;1:209-27 PMID: 4271024
  17. A dual effect of calcium ions on neuromuscular facilitation.
    J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(2):471-80 PMID: 4296698
  18. The role of calcium in neuromuscular facilitation.
    J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(2):481-92 PMID: 4296699
  19. On the mechanism by which calcium and magnesium affect the release of transmitter by nerve impulses.
    J Physiol. 1968 May;196(1):75-86 PMID: 4297537
  20. Tetrodotoxin-resistant electric activity in presynaptic terminals.
    J Physiol. 1969 Aug;203(2):459-87 PMID: 4307710
  21. Ultrastructure and function of growth cones and axons of cultured nerve cells.
    J Cell Biol. 1971 Jun;49(3):614-35 PMID: 4326456
  22. Synapse formation between dissociated nerve and muscle cells in low density cell cultures.
    Dev Biol. 1972 Jun;28(2):407-29 PMID: 4338026
  23. Kinetics of mitochondrial flavoprotein and pyridine nucleotide in perfused heart.
    Am J Physiol. 1972 Jul;223(1):207-18 PMID: 4339003
  24. Synaptic transmission at single glomeruli in the turtle cerebellum.
    Science. 1972 Nov 24;178(4063):881-3 PMID: 4343700
  25. Delayed release of transmitter at the frog neuromuscular junction.
    J Physiol. 1973 Jan;228(1):241-57 PMID: 4346703
  26. Inhibitory action of Ruthenium red on neuromuscular transmission.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1973 Dec;70(12):3613-6 PMID: 4357869
  27. The release of acetylcholine from nerve endings by graded electric pulses.
    Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1967 Jan 31;167(1006):23-38 PMID: 4382589
  28. A study of synaptic transmission in the absence of nerve impulses.
    J Physiol. 1967 Sep;192(2):407-36 PMID: 4383089
  29. Calcium efflux from internally dialyzed squid giant axons.
    J Gen Physiol. 1973 Nov;62(5):575-89 PMID: 4751386
  30. Effects of manganese and other agents on the calcium uptake that follows depolarization of squid axons.
    J Physiol. 1973 Jun;231(3):511-26 PMID: 4783095
  31. Further study on mass receptor potential of carotid body chemosensors.
    J Neurophysiol. 1974 Jan;37(1):156-69 PMID: 4811973
  32. Calcium-containing electron-dense structures in the axons of the squid giant synapse.
    J Cell Biol. 1974 Apr;61(1):146-55 PMID: 4819304
  33. Mitochondria and calcium ion transport.
    Biochem J. 1970 Sep;119(2):129-38 PMID: 4922961
  34. An insoluble Ca 2+ -binding factor from rat liver mitochondria.
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1972 May 26;47(4):814-9 PMID: 5026297
  35. Penetration of ruthenium red into peripheral nerve fibers.
    Anat Rec. 1972 Aug;173(4):375-89 PMID: 5052027
  36. Depolarization and calcium entry in squid giant axons.
    J Physiol. 1971 Nov;218(3):709-55 PMID: 5133953
  37. Effect of guanidine on the neuromuscular block of botulism.
    Neurology. 1969 Nov;19(11):1107-10 PMID: 5388079
  38. The fine structure of the axon and growth cone of the dorsal root neuroblast of the rabbit embryo.
    J Cell Biol. 1970 Jan;44(1):62-79 PMID: 5409464
  39. [Effect of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on the yield of acetylcholine from nerve endings].
    Biofizika. 1970 Jan-Feb;15(1):76-83 PMID: 5457903
  40. Tetanic and post-tetanic rise in frequency of miniature end-plate potentials in low-calcium solutions.
    J Physiol. 1971 Jan;212(1):245-57 PMID: 5545181
  41. Botulism and guanidine.
    N Engl J Med. 1968 Apr 25;278(17):931-3 PMID: 5644559
  42. Ion transport in liver mitochondria. VI. The role of surface binding on aerobic Ca++translocation.
    J Biol Chem. 1968 Oct 10;243(19):5132-8 PMID: 5679984
  43. The influence of calcium on sodium efflux in squid axons.
    J Physiol. 1969 Feb;200(2):431-58 PMID: 5764407
  44. Effects of hypoxia on the monosynaptic reflex pathway in the cat spinal cord.
    J Neurophysiol. 1966 Mar;29(2):315-31 PMID: 5927464
  45. The effects of hypoxia on neuromuscular transmission in a mammalian preparation.
    J Physiol. 1966 Jul;185(1):205-23 PMID: 5965893
  46. Co-operative action a calcium ions in transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction.
    J Physiol. 1967 Nov;193(2):419-32 PMID: 6065887
  47. The effect of magnesium on the activity of motor nerve endings.
    J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):553-9 PMID: 13175198
  48. Quantal components of the end-plate potential.
    J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):560-73 PMID: 13175199
  49. Statistical factors involved in neuromuscular facilitation and depression.
    J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):574-85 PMID: 13175200
  50. A further study of the statistical composition on the end-plate potential.
    J Physiol. 1955 Oct 28;130(1):114-22 PMID: 13278890
  51. The effects of osmotic pressure changes on the spontaneous activity at motor nerve endings.
    J Physiol. 1956 Dec 28;134(3):689-97 PMID: 13398953
  52. On the factors which determine the amplitude of the miniature end-plate potential.
    J Physiol. 1957 Jul 11;137(2):267-78 PMID: 13449877
  53. The nature of the antagonism between calcium and magnesium ions at the neuromuscular junction.
    J Physiol. 1957 Oct 30;138(3):434-44 PMID: 13481883
  54. [Effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol on the neuromuscular transmission].
    Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol. 1957;231(5):419-39 PMID: 13526812
  55. The fine structure of the neuromuscular junction of the frog.
    J Physiol. 1960 Jan;150:134-44 PMID: 13800900
  56. THE EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE FROM MOTOR NERVE TERMINALS.
    Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1965 Feb 16;161:496-503 PMID: 14278410
Article Info
Journal
The Journal of physiology
Abbr.
J Physiol
ISSN
0022-3751
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.1975.sp010974
Published
1975-06-00
Pages
285-306
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0266262
PMCID
PMC1309522
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1975.sp010974 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: product@genelibs.com

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