The combined effect of Cd and ACh on action potentials of Nitellopsis obtusa cells

• Published in: Central European journal of biology Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 343 - 350
• Main Authors: Kisnieriene, Vilma, Sakalauskas, Vidmantas, Pleskaciauskas, Aleksandras, Yurin, Vladimir, Ruksenas, Osvaldas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2009
• Subjects: Nitellopsis obtusa
• ISSN: 1895-104X; 1644-3635
• DOI: 10.2478/s11535-009-0028-y

Interrelations between the action of acetylcholine (ACh) and cadmium ions (Cd) on bioelectrogenesis of Nitellopsis obtusa cells were investigated. We analyzed repetitively triggered action potentials (AP), their reproducibility, shape and dynamics of membrane potential after AP induction. ACh significantly increased membrane permeability only at high concentrations (1 mM and 5 mM). Repolarisation level of action potential after the first stimulus was much more positive in all cells treated with ACh as compared to the control. Differences of membrane potentials between points just before the first and the second stimuli were 23.4±.0 mV (control); 40.4±5.9 mV (1 mM ACh solution) and 57.7 ± 8.5 mV (5 mM ACh solution). Cd at 20 is a subset of M concentration was examined as a possible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vivo. We found that cadmium strengthens depolarizing effect of acetylcholine after the first stimulus. The highest velocity of AP repolarization was reduced after ACh application and Cdstrengthened this effect. There were no differences in dynamics of membrane potential after repetitively triggered action potentials in ACh or ACh and Cd solutions. This shows that cadmium in small concentration acts as inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase.