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Presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of mercuric ions on guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle strip preparation

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Abstract

The toxic effect of mercuric ions on intestinal cholinergic neurotransmission was investigated in vitro. Hg2+ inhibited the evoked release and enhanced the resting release of ACh. Smooth muscle contraction was irreversibly inhibited by Hg2+ in a concentration-dependent manner, and Na2EDTA did not antagonize this effect. We also investigated if Hg2+ enters the nerve terminal through Ca2+-channels, or Na+-channels, or both. The effects of mercuric ions obtained in our study were completely abolished by the combined administration of TTX and Co2+. It is suggested that the site of the action of mercuric ions is intracellular. We concluded that Hg2+ may interfere with cholinergic transmission by blocking [Ca2+]o-dependent release of ACh and by enhancing [Ca2+]o-independent resting release of ACh. The effect of Hg2+ was not only presynaptic since it also inhibited the effect of ACh on smooth muscle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hygiene and Occupational Medicine, Medical and Pharmacological University, str. Marinescu 38, Tirgu Mures, Roinania

    Zoltan Abram

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 67, H-1450, Budapest, Hungary

    Zoltan Abram & Susan Korossy

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  1. Zoltan Abram
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  2. Susan Korossy
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Abram, Z., Korossy, S. Presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of mercuric ions on guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle strip preparation. Neurochem Res 19, 1467–1472 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00968992

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