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The effects of saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin on nerve conduction in the presence of lithium ions and of magnesium ions
Author(s) -
EVANS M. H.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1969.tb07998.x
Subject(s) - saxitoxin , tetrodotoxin , magnesium , chemistry , sodium , lithium (medication) , ion , lithium chloride , saline , compound muscle action potential , biophysics , chloride , inorganic chemistry , toxin , biochemistry , electrophysiology , endocrinology , neuroscience , biology , organic chemistry
1 It has been shown that nerve fibres from rat cauda equina will conduct action potentials after immersion in saline in which lithium chloride is substituted for sodium chloride. 2 Both saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin inhibit lithium‐generated action potentials. The concentration of toxin needed to inhibit the lithium‐generated action potentials is similar to that needed to inhibit sodium‐generated action potentials. 3 If magnesium chloride is added to the saline to give a concentration of 10–15 m m there is usually a slight fall in amplitude of the compound action potential. Saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin now inhibit the action potential to a greater degree than in the absence of magnesium ions.