BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Effects of amino acids and convulsants on spontaneous action potentials in cerebellar cortex slices. 1976

K Okamoto, and J H Quastel

1 Picrotoxin selectively and reversibly suppressed the inhibitory action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), but not that of glycine, taurine or beta-alanine, on the frequency of spontaneous spike discharges in guinea-pig cerebellar slices. Strychnine reversibly suppressed the inhibitory action of glycine, taurine or beta-alanine but had no effect on that of GABA. 2 GABA, glycine, taurine and beta-alanine showed an early excitatory effect that was unaffected by picrotoxin or strychnine. 3 Studies of the dose-response relations indicated a competition between the amino acid and the convulsant at a common receptor site. 4 Kinetic analyses of the dose-response relations for the amino acids in the presence or absence of picrotoxin or strychnine indicated that the number of molecules of amino acid combining with the receptor site in order to produce a response (inhibition or excitation) was 3 for GABA, 2 for glycine, 3 for taurine and 4 for beta-alanine. There appeared to be no evidence that the response was due to the cooperativity between the amino acid receptor complexes. The number of molecules of convulsant that combined with the receptor site was 1 for either strychnine or picrotoxin. 5 Mixtures of glycine with taurine or beta-alanine, in contrast to those with GABA, appeared not to give additive inhibitory effects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D010852 Picrotoxin A mixture of PICROTOXININ and PICROTIN that is a noncompetitive antagonist at GABA-A receptors acting as a convulsant. Picrotoxin blocks the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-activated chloride ionophore. Although it is most often used as a research tool, it has been used as a CNS stimulant and an antidote in poisoning by CNS depressants, especially the barbiturates. 3,6-Methano-8H-1,5,7-trioxacyclopenta(ij)cycloprop(a)azulene-4,8(3H)-dione, hexahydro-2a-hydroxy-9-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-8b-methyl-, (1aR-(1aalpha,2abeta,3beta,6beta,6abeta,8aS*,8bbeta,9S*))-, compd. with (1aR-(1aalpha,2abeta,3beta,6beta,6abeta,8,Cocculin
D011188 Potassium An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D011955 Receptors, Drug Proteins that bind specific drugs with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Drug receptors are generally thought to be receptors for some endogenous substance not otherwise specified. Drug Receptors,Drug Receptor,Receptor, Drug
D002525 Cerebellar Cortex The superficial GRAY MATTER of the CEREBELLUM. It consists of two main layers, the stratum moleculare and the stratum granulosum. Cortex Cerebelli,Cerebelli, Cortex,Cerebellus, Cortex,Cortex Cerebellus,Cortex, Cerebellar
D003292 Convulsants Substances that act in the brain stem or spinal cord to produce tonic or clonic convulsions, often by removing normal inhibitory tone. They were formerly used to stimulate respiration or as antidotes to barbiturate overdose. They are now most commonly used as experimental tools. Convulsant,Convulsant Effect,Convulsant Effects,Effect, Convulsant,Effects, Convulsant
D006168 Guinea Pigs A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
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
D000596 Amino Acids Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins. Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

Related Publications

K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Effects of methylmercury on the spontaneous and potassium-evoked release of endogenous amino acids from mouse cerebellar slices.
May 1987, Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Effects of ions on amino acids of brain-cortex slices metabolizing glucose.
January 1968, Acta physiologica latino americana,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Amino acids and neurotransmission in rat cerebellar cortex.
January 1981, Advances in biochemical psychopharmacology,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
[Action of dicarboxylic amino acids on spontaneous electrical activity of the cat cerebral cortex].
January 1967, Archivio di scienze biologiche,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Actions of amino acids and convulsants on bulbar reticular neurones.
January 1970, Experimental brain research,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Effects of barbiturates on responses evoked by excitatory amino acids in slices of rat olfactory cortex.
January 1987, Neuropharmacology,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Effect of anesthesia on spontaneous activity and evoked potentials of the cerebellar cortex.
January 2012, Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Amino acid transport in brain cortex slices. II. Competition between amino acids.
November 1962, Canadian journal of biochemistry and physiology,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
Effect of barbiturates on release endogenous amino acids from rat cortex slices.
June 1979, Neurochemical research,
K Okamoto, and J H Quastel
[Effects of derivatives of omega-amino acids on evoked potentials of the mammalian cerebral cortex].
June 1961, Nihon seirigaku zasshi. Journal of the Physiological Society of Japan,
Copied contents to your clipboard!