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Action of exogenic acetylcholine on the potassium currents of frog motor nerve endings

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Abstract

Using nerve-muscle preparations of the cutaneous pectoris muscle of the frog, and recording extracellular evoked electrical responses from a nerve ending (NE), we have studied the mechanisms by which exogenic acetylcholine (ACh) influences the ion currents of a motor nerve ending. We have established that ACh in concentrations of 0.1–0.6 mmoles/liter causes an increase in the third phase of the NE response, and in concentrations of 0.7–2.0 mmoles/liter, suppresses it. We have found that tubocurarine and atropine do not block the effects of ACh. It has been shown that the ACh-induced increase in the amplitude of the third phase of the NE response is seen against a background of calcium channel blockers, and it can be eliminated by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and tetraethylammonium. The inhibitory effect of ACh on the third phase of the NE response is not present in calcium-free solutions, nor when the calcium current is blocked. A discussion is given of the mechanisms of exogenic and endogenic ACh action on the potential-dependent and calcium-activated potassium current of the NE.

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S. V. Kurashov Medical Institute, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Kazan. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 678–683, November–December, 1992.

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Zefirov, A.L., Shakir'yanova, D.M. Action of exogenic acetylcholine on the potassium currents of frog motor nerve endings. Neurophysiology 24, 454–458 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01052964

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01052964

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