Comparison of the effects of muscarine and vasopressin on inositol phospholipid metabolism in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat

Abstract

Both muscarine and vasopressin have been shown previously to increase the accumulation [3H]inositol phosphates in superior cervical ganglia in which the phospholipids were labeled with [3H] inositol. In this study, we have compared the effects of muscarine and of vasopressin on phospholipid metabolism in the ganglion. The effects of these agents on [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation are additive. The response to muscarine levels off after approximately 10 min, whereas the response to vasopressin increases for at least 30 min. The incorporation of [3H]inositol into phospholipids is enhanced in decentralized ganglia and in ganglia maintained in organ culture compared to freshly isolated ganglia. These treatments appear to potentiate the effect of muscarine on [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation, but do not affect the response of the ganglia to vasopressin. Muscarine and vasopressin also increase the incorporation of [3H]inositol into phospholipids in the ganglion. Autoradiographic techniques were used to localize the inositol-containing phospholipids in the ganglion. Muscarine increases phospholipid labeling primarily in the cell bodies of the principal ganglionic neurons, whereas vasopressin increases phospholipid labeling primarily in the neuropil. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that muscarine and vasopressin stimulate the hydrolysis of different pools of ganglionic phospholipids.