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The effect of chronic neostigmine treatment on channel properties at the rat skeletal neuromuscular junction
Author(s) -
Gwilt M.,
Wray D.
Publication year - 1986
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.1476-5381.1986.tb09467.x
Subject(s) - neostigmine , neuromuscular junction , acetylcholine receptor , acetylcholine , depolarization , chemistry , skeletal muscle , anesthesia , medicine , receptor , neuroscience , biology
1 We have studied the effects of chronic neostigmine treatment on single channel properties at the rat skeletal neuromuscular junction. Rats received 0.86 mg kg −1 neostigmine (s.c.) daily for 9–11 days. Microelectrode recordings were then made from the extensor digitorum longus muscle. 2 The amplitude of miniature endplate potentials was significantly reduced in muscles from neostigmine‐treated rats as compared with controls. 3 Acetylcholine (2–5 μM) applied in the bath produced a depolarization and associated channel opening frequency (from voltage noise analysis) which were significantly reduced in neostigmine‐treated muscles with respect to controls. 4 The depolarization resulting from the opening of a single channel (from voltage noise analysis) and single channel open time and conductance (from current noise analysis) were not significantly changed by chronic neostigmine treatment. 5 It is concluded that chronic neostigmine treatment causes an adaptive reduction in the number of functional acetylcholine receptors at the endplate without otherwise affecting single channel properties themselves.