Enhancement of peroxynitrite-evoked acetylcholine release by hydroxyl radical scavengers from mouse cerebral cortical neurons

We investigated the effects of hydroxyl radical scavengers on peroxynitrite (OONO-)-evoked acetylcholine (ACh) release from mouse cerebral cortical neurons. N,N'-dimethylthiourea, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, dose-dependently increased OONO(-)-evoked ACh release. Other hydroxyl radical scavengers such as uric acid and mannitol, also enhanced OONO(-)-evoked ACh release, although these enhancing effects were not found in the absence of OONO-. In addition, OONO(-)-induced 45Ca2+]influx was significantly facilitated by the scavengers, whereas no effects of the scavengers on 45Ca2+]influx was observed in the absence of OONO-. These results indicate that hydroxyl radical scavengers enhance OONO(-)-evoked ACh release via the facilitation of OONO(-)-induced 45Ca2+]influx.