Influence of integrin-blocking peptide on gadolinium- and hypertonic shrinking-induced neurotransmitter release in rat brain synaptosomes

Polyvalent cations and hypertonic shrinking of presynaptic endings lead to calcium-independent exocytosis in various synapses. In the present study we have investigated the contribution of integrins to this phenomenon. It was found that hypertonic shrinking, polyvalent cations ruthenium red and gadolinium results in dose-dependent calcium-independent neurotransmitter release in rat brain synaptosomes. The exocytotic mechanism of neurotransmitter release induced by 300 mu M gadolinium was additionally verified by the fluorescent dye FM2-10. We found that 200 mu M of RGDS peptide, an inhibitor of integrins, decreased polyvalent gadolinium-induced [H-3]D-aspartate release by 26%. This compound had no effect upon hypertonicity-induced release. The peptide RGES, a negative control for RGDS; genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases; and citrate, an inhibitor of lanthanides-induced aggregation were ineffective in both cases. Therefore, we [H-3]D-aspartate release, but partially mediated that evoked by gadolinium ions.