Agatoxin-IVA-sensitive calcium channels mediate the presynaptic and postsynaptic nicotinic activation of cardiac vagal neurons.

Whole cell currents and miniature glutamatergic synaptic events (minis) were recorded in vitro from cardiac vagal neurons in the nucleus ambiguus using the patch-clamp technique. We examined whether voltage-dependent calcium channels were involved in the nicotinic excitation of cardiac vagal neurons. Nicotine evoked an inward current, increase in mini amplitude, and increase in mini frequency in cardiac vagal neurons. These responses were inhibited by the nonselective voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker Cd (100 microM). The P-type voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker agatoxin IVA (100 nM) abolished the nicotine-evoked responses. Nimodipine (2 microM), an antagonist of L-type calcium channels, inhibited the increase in mini amplitude and frequency but did not block the ligand gated inward current. The N- and Q-type voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists conotoxin GVIA (1 microM) and conotoxin MVIIC (5 microM) had no effect. We conclude that the presynaptic and postsynaptic facilitation of glutamatergic neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons by nicotine involves activation of agatoxin-IVA-sensitive and possibly L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. The postsynaptic inward current elicited by nicotine is dependent on activation of agatoxin-IVA-sensitive voltage-dependent calcium channels.