Release of gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid from synaptosomes: effect of external cations and of ouabain.

In the present study we have investigated the effect of cations and ouabain on Ca(2+)-independent and Ca(2+)-dependent release of gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) from sheep brain synaptosomes. The presence of Na+ in the external medium is essential for the Ca(2+)-independent release induced by K+ or ouabain. Thus, in the absence of Ca2+, ouabain or K+ causes the release of [3H]GABA provided that Na+ is present in the external medium. Under K(+)-depolarizing conditions, in a Na+ medium, either ouabain or Ca2+ further increases the [3H]GABA release induced by depolarization, but their effects are not additive. The presence of external Na+ is not required for the Ca(2+)-dependent release of [3H]GABA due to K+ depolarization, and this release, which occurs in a choline medium, is not modified by ouabain. Under these conditions (choline medium) K(+)-depolarization dependent release is absolutely dependent on external Ca2+, which suggests that this release of [3H]GABA occurs only by exocytosis, without the carrier-mediated efflux which normally co-exists with exocytosis due to K(+)-depolarization in a Na+ medium. It is likely that the release induced by ouabain or K+ involves the membrane carrier which responds to changes in membrane potential.