Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity in central nerve endings. II. Relationship between pharmacological blockade by amiloride analogues and dopamine release from tuberoinfundibular hypothalamic neurons.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role played by the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange system in the modulation of [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) release from tuberoinfundibular hypothalamic (TIDA) neurons. 2',4'-Dimethylbenzamil (DMB) dose-dependently (10-100 microM) inhibited Na(+)-dependent 45Ca2+ efflux from brain synaptosomes. This compound (30-300 microM), as well as alpha-phenylbenzamil amiloride (30-100 microM), another inhibitor of the Na(+)-Ca2+ antiporter, was also able to stimulate basal release of [3H]DA from superfused TIDA neurons. This stimulation was completely prevented by the removal of extracellular Ca2+ ions, in the presence of 1 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. In addition, DMB-induced [3H]DA release was unaffected by the dopamine transport inhibitor nomifensine (10 microM). On the other hand, 5-[N-methyl-N-guanidinocarbonylmethyl]amiloride (MGCMA) (100-300 microM), which lacks inhibitory properties on the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger but behaves as an inhibitor of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter, failed to modify basal [3H]DA release from TIDA neurons. When the Na(+)-Ca2+ antiporter operates as a Ca2+ influx pathway, as occurs upon the removal of extracellular Na+ ions, Na(+)-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake in brain synaptosomes was dose-dependently (10-300 microM) inhibited by DMB, whereas DMB itself was unable to prevent 55 mM K(+)-induced 45Ca2+ uptake, which mainly reflects the activation of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels. In keeping with these results, ouabain (500 microM)-induced [3H]DA release, which depends on the activation of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger due to inhibition of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump, was prevented by superfusion of TIDA neurons with DMB (50 microM). By contrast, MGCMA (100 microM) failed to modify either Na(+)-dependent 45Ca2+ influx or ouabain-induced [3H]DA release. In conclusion, the results of the present study appear to suggest that the pharmacological inhibition of the Na(+)-Ca2+ antiporter by amiloride analogues may affect DA release from central neurons. Opposite effects are observed, depending on the direction of operation of the exchanger. In fact, when the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger operates as a Ca2+ efflux pathway, its pharmacological blockade can produce a stimulation of DA release. In contrast, when this antiporter operates as a Ca2+ influx pathway, as occurs as a consequence of the inhibition of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump by ouabain, its pharmacological blockade can prevent ouabain-induced DA release from TIDA neurons.