Lanthanides induce neurotransmitter release from the vesicular pool in rat brain synaptosomes

The influence of lanthanoids on exocytosis was investigated. It was shown that gadolinium increases the spontaneous release of the glutamate nonmetabolizing analogue [H-3]D-aspartate. It was established using the fluorescent dye acridine orange that gadolinium and lanthanum induce exocytosis. The effect was dose-dependent and was maximum at 300 mu M Gd3+. The exocytosis induced by gadolinium was calcium-independent. It is suggested that lanthanides induce a vesicular release of neurotransmitters by the mechanisms common for all polyvalent cations.