Alterations in spontaneous transmitter release by divalent cations after treatment of the neuromuscular junction with beta-bungarotoxin.

1. Spontaneous transmitter release was studied at the frog sartorius neuromuscular junction in the presence of a variety of cations before and after treatment with the specific presynaptic neurotoxin, beta-bungarotoxin (beta-BuTX). 2. Treatment with beta-BuTX produced a maintained increase in spontaneous release, as indicated by the miniature end-plate potential (m.e.p.p.) frequency. It was demonstrated that the m.e.p.p. frequency remained dependent on the extracellular calcium concentration. 3. A 30 mM increase in extracellular sodium chloride produced a reversible increase in frequency only after beta-BuTX treatment, indicating that beta-BuTX had increased the permeability of the presynaptic terminal. 4. Furthermore, several divalent cations other than calcium were shown to either maintain or greatly increase the m.e.p.p. frequency after beta-BuTX treatment (before toxin treatment replacement of calcium by these divalent cations produced only small changes in frequency). The relative effectiveness of the divalent cations tested in increasing spontaneous transmitter release after toxin treatment was Co2+ congruent to Ni2+ greater than Mg2+ greater than Ca2+ congruent to Sr2+ greater than Mn2+. The effect of cobalt, which increased the m.e.p.p. frequency 6.5 times after toxin treatment, was studied in detail.