Afterhyperpolarization induced by the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in pelvic ganglion neurons of male rats

The electrophysiological mechanism underlying afterhyperpolarization induced by the activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in male rat major pelvic ganglion neurons (MPG) was investigated using a gramicidin-perforated patch clamp and microscopic fluorescence measurement system. Acetylcholine (ACh) induced fast depolarization through the activation of nAChR, followed by a sustained hyperpolarization after the removal of ACh in a dose-dependent manner (10 μM to 1 mM). ACh increased both intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and Na+ concentrations ([Na+]i) in MPG neurons. The recovery of [Na+]i after the removal of ACh was markedly delayed by ouabain (100 μM), an inhibitor of Na+/K+ ATPase. Pretreatment with ouabain blocked ACh-induced hyperpolarization by 67.2 ± 5.4% (n = 7). ACh-induced hyperpolarization was partially attenuated by either the chelation of [Ca2+]i with BAPTA/AM (20 μM) or the blockade of small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels by apamin (500 nM). Taken together, the activation of nAChR increases [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i, which activates Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+-activated K+ channels, respectively. Consequently, hyperpolarization occurs after the activation of nAChR in the autonomic pelvic ganglia.