Electrophysiological characterization of peptidergic neurosecretory terminals.

Electrical activity recorded intracellularly from peptidergic neurosecretory terminal dilatations in the sinus gland of crabs (principally Cardisoma guanhumi and C. carnifex) is described. Recordings were made from the neurohaemal organ in situ on the neural tissue of the isolated eyestalk and from isolated sinus gland-sinus gland nerve preparations. Verification that electrodes penetrated terminals was obtained by dye marking. Resting potentials ranged between -30 and -80mV. Overshooting action potentials of long duration (5-20 ms at 1/2 amplitude) relative to those of non-secretory axons (less than 2ms) were recorded in approximately 70% of stable penetrations. Action potentials occurred spontaneously at slow (less than 0.2s-1) rates in 75% of penetrations. Sequential intra- and extracellular recordings with the same microelectrode, on the same terminal, indicate impulse generation by the terminal itself. Extracellular stimulation of the axon tract evokes an all-or-none action potential at distinct threshold and latency. At rates of stimulation exceeding 5s-1, discrete fluctuations in the form of responses occur. Similar waveforms occur spontaneously and can be evoked by passing current through the electrode. They are interpreted to be electrotonically recorded activity of other parts of a complex axonal terminal arborization. Some, but not all, terminals exhibit impulse broadening (up to three-fold at 1/2 amplitude) during repetitive firing exceeding 1s-1. The same terminals show reduced impulse duration with hyperpolarization and broadened impulses with imposed depolarization. The changes are due to altered repolarization rates. Terminals sustain steady impulse firing at rates (up to 5s-1) linearly related to the imposed depolarizing current. Regenerative potentials, though of reduced rate of rise and amplitude, can be evoked by depolarizing current passed through the electrode during perfusion with salines having 1/2 normal [Na+], or containing tetrodotoxin (10(-6)moll-1). However, these block axonal conduction. Nominally Ca-free saline causes increased spontaneity and depolarization of about 5 mV in half the preparations examined, but reaching 20 mV in the others, with resultant inactivation of regenerative activity. Impulses in low-Ca saline show alterations of the falling phase, it being faster initially and then slower than normal. Thus, while the action potentials of neurosecretory axons are Na dependent, the terminals support regenerative impulses mediated by both Na and Ca.