Mitochondria Support Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ Waves in Cultured Oligodendrocytes

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 271; no. 52; pp. 33493 - 33501
• Main Authors: Simpson, Peter B., Russell, James T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 27.12.1996; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Animals; Antimycin A - analogs & derivatives; Antimycin A - pharmacology; Caffeine - pharmacology; Calcium - metabolism; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone - pharmacology; Cells, Cultured; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate - metabolism; Membrane Potentials; Microscopy, Confocal; Mitochondria - metabolism; Oligodendroglia - metabolism; Rats
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.271.52.33493

We have examined the spatial and temporal nature of Ca2+ signals activated via the phosphoinositide pathway in oligodendrocytes and the cellular specializations underlying oligodendrocyte Ca2+ response characteristics. Cultured cortical oligodendrocytes were incubated with fluo 3 or fura 2, and digital video fluorescence microscopy was used to study the effect of methacholine on [Ca2+]i. Single peaks, oscillations, and steady-state plateau [Ca2+]i elevations were evoked by increasing agonist concentration. The peaks and oscillations were found to be Ca2+ wave fronts, which propagate via distinct amplification regions in the cell where the kinetics of Ca2+ release (amplitude and rate of rise of response) are elevated. Staining with 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolecarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide revealed that mitochondria are found in groups of three or more in oligodendrocyte processes and that the groups are distributed with considerable distance separating them. Cross-correlation analysis showed a high degree of correlation between sites where mitochondria are present and peaks in the amplitude and rate of rise of the Ca2+ response. Intramitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, measured using rhod 2, increased upon treatment with methacholine. Methacholine also evoked a rapid change in mitochondrial membrane potential as measured by the J-aggregate fluorescence of JC-1. Pretreatment with the mitochondrial inhibitors carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (1 μM, 2 min) or antimycin (2 μg/ml, 2 min) altered the methacholine-evoked Ca2+ response in most cells studied, responses being either markedly potentiated or inhibited. The results of this study demonstrate that stimulation of phosphoinositide-coupled muscarinic acetylcholinoceptors activates propagating Ca2+ wave fronts in oligodendrocytes and that the characteristics of these waves are dependent on mitochondrial location and function.