Evidence for the uptake of neuronally derived choline by glial cells in the leech central nervous system.

1. With ion-sensitive microelectrodes based on the Corning exchanger 477317, the accumulation of an unidentified interfering substance was monitored in leech neuropile glial cells but not in neurons after a 10-fold increase in extracellular K+ concentration. Evidence is presented which shows that this substance may be choline. 2. The accumulation of interfering ions was not observed in Ca2(+)-free saline and was substantially reduced in the presence of eserine (a blocker of acetylcholinesterase). 3. In neuropile (and also packet) glial cells, extracellularly applied choline (10(-4) M) caused a steady increase in ion signal. This increase was not affected by removal of extracellular calcium, by hemicholinium-3 (a blocker of high-affinity choline uptake) or eserine. Shortly after the removal of choline from the saline the increase in ion signal stopped and the ion signal then decreased slowly to its original level. 4. Extracellular acetylcholine (10(-4) M) caused a similar increase in intracellular ion signal of neuropile glial cells to that caused by choline. This increase was blocked by eserine. 5. Extracellular choline caused a comparatively small increase in ion signal of Retzius neurones which was blocked by hemicholinium-3. In pressure neurones, choline or hemicholinium-3 had no effect on intracellular ion signal. 6. Autoradiographic analysis of [3H]choline uptake showed that most of the choline was taken up by glial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Small but significant amounts of choline were taken up by neurones and connective tissue. 7. It is concluded that the neuropile and packet glial cells possess an effective choline uptake system which is activated by exogenous choline but also by choline that stems from enzymatic inactivation of acetylcholine released by neurones.