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Effect of volatile anaeshetics on the electrical activity and the coupling coefficient of weakly electrically coupled neurones

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Abstract

  1. 1.

    The application of the volatile anaesthetics, halothane and isoflurane (1% v/v and 2% v/v), to the CNS of Lymnaea reduced the firing frequency of the small weakly coupled pedal A cluster (PeA) neurones, which eventually become quiescent. There was no change in their resting membrane potential.

  2. 2.

    Met-enkephalin significantly increased the coupling coefficient between PeA neurones.

  3. 3.

    The volatile anaesthetics decreased the coupling coefficient even in the presence of met-enkephalin.

  4. 4.

    These effects were dose dependent and the effects of halothane were more rapid than those of isoflurane, reflecting their different anaesthetic potencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Birzeit, Birzeit, Israel

    M. M. Qazzaz

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    W. Winlow

Authors
  1. M. M. Qazzaz
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  2. W. Winlow
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Dedicated to Professor János Salánki for his 70th birthday.

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Qazzaz, M.M., Winlow, W. Effect of volatile anaeshetics on the electrical activity and the coupling coefficient of weakly electrically coupled neurones. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 50, 199–213 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03543042

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03543042

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