Presynaptic calcium stores contribute to nicotine-elicited potentiation of evoked synaptic transmission at CA3-CA1 connections in the neonatal rat hippocampus

Nicotine acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) are ligand‐gated ion channels that are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system. It is well established that presynaptic, α7‐containing nAChRs modulate glutamate release in several brain areas, and that this modulation requires extracellular calcium. However, the intracellular mechanisms consecutive to nAChR opening are unclear. Recent studies have suggested a role for presynaptic calcium stores in the increase of neurotransmitter release following nAChR activation. Using the minimal stimulation protocol at low‐probability Schaffer collateral synapses in acute hippocampal slices from neonatal rats, we show that nicotine acting on presynaptic α7 nAChRs persistently upregulates glutamate release. We tested the role of calcium stores in this potentiation. First, we examined the relationship between calcium stores and glutamate release. We found that bath application of SERCA pump inhibitors (cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin), as well as an agonist of ryanodine receptors (ryanodine 2 μM) increases the probability of glutamate release at CA3‐CA1 synapses, decreases the coefficient of variation and the paired‐pulse ratio, indicating that presynaptic activation of calcium‐induced calcium release can modulate glutamatergic transmission. Next, we investigated whether blocking calcium release from internal stores could alter the effect of nicotine. Preincubation with thapsigargin (10 μM), cyclopiazonic acid (30 μM), or with a high (blocking) concentration of ryanodine (100 μM) for 30 min to 5 h failed to block the effect of nicotine. However, after preincubation in ryanodine, nicotine‐elicited potentiation was significantly shortened. These results indicate that at immature Schaffer collateral‐CA1 synapses, activation of presynaptic calcium stores is not necessary for but contributes to nicotine‐elicited increase of neurotransmitter release.