Newly synthesized and preformed acetylcholine are released from Torpedo synaptosomes by different pathways.

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the release of preformed and of newly synthesized acetylcholine (ACh) from isolated Torpedo nerve terminals (synaptosomes). This was pursued by examining and comparing the effects of anticytoskeletal and anticalmodulin drugs and of activating the presynaptic muscarinic ACh receptors on the release of preformed endogenous ACh and of newly synthesized radiolabeled ACh. The anticytoskeletal drugs vinblastine, cytochalasin B, and colchicine inhibit the Ca2+-dependent K+-mediated release of newly synthesized radiolabeled ACh, but have no effect on the release of preformed ACh. By contrast, the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine markedly inhibits the release of preformed ACh, but has little effect on the release of newly formed ACh. Treatment of the synaptosomes with the calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine inhibits the release of both ACh pools concomitantly. These findings show that preformed and newly synthesized ACh are released by different routes and suggest that their secretion is mediated by converging pathways. The significance of these results in view of the previously demonstrated preferential release of newly synthesized ACh is discussed.