Abstract
ABSTRACT Extracellular ATP appears to have a widespread role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in mammals (Gordon, 1986; Burnstock, 1990), but little is known about any similar functions in invertebrates. During studies of the effects of cyclic nucleotides on electrically excitable salivary cells of the leech, we found that cyclic GMP produced a rapid (less than 1min) reduction of spike duration, suggesting an extracellular effect (Wuttke and Berry, 1991). We now show that micromolar concentrations of ATP (and higher doses of other nucleotides) also reduce spike duration, and that this is caused by depression of a specific voltage-dependent Ca2+ conductance. Selective modulation of Ca2+ current by external ATP has rarely been found, and the effect is also unusual because it changes the kinetics of inactivation rather than those of activation.
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