Modulation of synapse formation by cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Synapses between neuroblastoma-hybrid cells and myotubes exhibit a high degree of plasticity. Increase of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) levels of the hybrid cells for several days results in the appearance of functional voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, which are required for evoked secretion of acetylcholine. The results show that cyclic AMP regulates synaptogenesis by regulating the expression of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, and suggest that cyclic AMP affects posttranslational modifications of some glycoproteins and cellular levels of certain proteins.