Nitric oxide donors inhibit the acetylcholine-induced Cl- current in identified Onchidium neurons.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and diethylamine NO (C2H5)2N[N(O)NO]-Na+ (DEA/NO), NO donors, on an acetylcholine (ACh)-induced Cl- current in identified Onchidium neurons using voltage-clamp and pressure ejection techniques. Bath-applied SNP (10 microM) and DEA/NO (5-10 microM) reduced the ACh-induced Cl- current in the neurons without affecting the resting membrane conductance and holding current. The suppressing effect of NO donors were concentration-dependent and completely reversible. Pretreatment with 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (1 micro M), a specific inhibitor of NO-stimulated guanylate cyclase, and hemoglobin (50 micro M), a nitric oxide scavenger, decreased the SNP-induced inhibition of the ACh-induced current. Intracellular injection of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) or bath-application of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (50 micro M), a non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, inhibited the ACh-induced current, mimicking the effect of NO donors. These results suggest that SNP and DEA/NO inhibit the ACh-induced Cl- current and that this effect is mediated by an increase in intracellular cGMP.