Biomaterial Database

Neuroexcitatory and depressant effects of penicillin at the cat soleus neuromuscular junction. 1975

A Raines, and K L Dretchen

Penicillin administered intraarterially in a dose of 200 units per kg produced high frequency (ca 300 Hz) repetitive discharges originating in motor nerve endings in response to single stimuli applies to the cat soleus nerve. The high frequency repetitive discharges were antidromically conducted and recorded on ventral root filaments. Simultaneously each repetitive burst was transmitted to the muscle, producing an increase in contractile strength by converting a twitch into a brief tetanic contraction. Posttetanic potentiation in this system, which is mediated by repetitive discharges originating in nerve terminals after high frequency stimulation, is augmented by penicillin; larger doses depressed posttetanic potentiation, and still larger doses produced varying degrees of neuromuscular block. Events similar to those observed after intraarterial injections were recorded when penicillin was administered intravenously in larger doses. These data suggest that in the presence of penicillin the motor nerve terminals remain depolarized for a prolonged period after excitation by the stimulus, thus providing a current sink for the parent axon. Under the influence of this constant cathodal focus the axon fires repetitively at the high frequency.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007269	Injections, Intra-Arterial	Delivery of drugs into an artery.	Injections, Intraarterial,Intra-Arterial Injections,Intraarterial Injections,Injection, Intra-Arterial,Injection, Intraarterial,Injections, Intra Arterial,Intra Arterial Injections,Intra-Arterial Injection,Intraarterial Injection
D007275	Injections, Intravenous	Injections made into a vein for therapeutic or experimental purposes.	Intravenous Injections,Injection, Intravenous,Intravenous Injection
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009469	Neuromuscular Junction	The synapse between a neuron and a muscle.	Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D010406	Penicillins	A group of antibiotics that contain 6-aminopenicillanic acid with a side chain attached to the 6-amino group. The penicillin nucleus is the chief structural requirement for biological activity. The side-chain structure determines many of the antibacterial and pharmacological characteristics. (Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1065)	Antibiotics, Penicillin,Penicillin,Penicillin Antibiotics
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004347	Drug Interactions	The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug.	Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D004491	Edrophonium	A rapid-onset, short-acting cholinesterase inhibitor used in cardiac arrhythmias and in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. It has also been used as an antidote to curare principles.	Edrophonium Chloride,Edrophonium Bromide,Edroponium,Tensilon,Bromide, Edrophonium,Chloride, Edrophonium
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential