Facilitatory effect of Pinellia ternata lectin on quantal release of acetylcholine from nerve terminals

Pinellia ternata lectin (PTL) extracted from the rhizome of Pinellia ternata Briet by porcine thyroglobulin-Sepharose 4B column exhibits hemagglutination activity and carbohydrate binding specificity for mannan. Here we reported the effects of PTL on the resting membrane potential of muscle fiber and on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the motor nerve terminals in the phrenic nerve diaphragm preparations of mice. The results showed that PTL increased the frequency of miniature end-plate potential (MEPP). In 30 min after the treatment of the preparation with lectin 100 micrograms.ml-1, the frequency of MEPP reached 20 times higher than that of the control. Addition of mannan 1 mg.ml-1 restored the raised discharge of MEPP to its control level immediately. Similar to the effect of PTL on MEPP frequency, the amplitude and mean quantal content of end-plate potential also increased after PTL. At 100 micrograms.ml-1, the lectin depolarized the muscle membrane slightly, while at 10 micrograms.ml-1 no effect on the membrane potential was found. These results were interpreted as the intracellular Ca2+ elevation due to a permeability increase of the nerve terminal to ions after PTL.