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The effects of anti‐Parkinson drugs on cortical neurones
Author(s) -
CLARKE G.,
DAVIES J.
Publication year - 1973
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.1476-5381.1973.tb08178.x
Subject(s) - procaine , excitatory postsynaptic potential , acetylcholine , neuroscience , atropine , chemistry , glutamate receptor , pharmacology , anesthesia , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , medicine , psychology , biochemistry , receptor
Summary1 The effects of a potential anti‐Parkinson drug, benapryzine, have been compared with those of benzhexol, atropine and procaine on the excitatory responses induced by acetylcholine and l ‐glutamate on feline cortical neurones using the microiontophoretic technique. 2 All the drugs tested reduced the excitatory responses evoked by acetylcholine and l ‐glutamate. However, benapryzine, benzhexol and procaine more effectively reduced the excitatory responses to l ‐glutamate than those to acetylcholine whereas atropine was more effective against acetylcholine‐induced excitation. 3 In the presence of procaine the amplitude of the extracellular spikes was decreased. This effect was also observed during applications of benapryzine and benzhexol. 4 Tests on the isolated frog sciatic nerve indicated that benapryzine and benzhexol had local anaesthetic actions respectively greater than and equivalent to those of procaine. 5 It was concluded that the effects of benapryzine and benzhexol on cortical neurones were probably related to their local anaesthetic properties. The possibility that a local anaesthetic action may account for the effects of these drugs and of many other commonly used anti‐Parkinson drugs in Parkinson's disease is discussed.