Biomaterial Database

Neostigmine-induced alterations at the mammalian neuromuscular junction. I. Muscle contraction and electrophysiology. 1978

T N Tiedt, and E X Albuquerque, and C S Hudson, and J E Rash

The effects of single and repetitive injections of neostigmine on neuromuscular physiology were examined in rat extensor digitorum longus muscles. The characteristic facilitation of neuromuscular transmission associated with acute anticholinesterase treatment was accompanied by significant pre- and postsynaptic alterations in neuromuscular transmission. Three days of neostigmine treatment caused a decrease in indirectly and directly elicited muscle contraction. Miniature end-plate potential amplitude and frequency, end-plate potential amplitude, junctional acetylcholine sensitivity and quantal content of nerve-evoked end-plate potentials were also decreased by this treatment. By 22 to 25 days of continued treatment, the decreased rate of transmitter release had returned almost to normal, whereas the alterations of the postsynaptic membrane persisted for as long as 106 days. Alterations were also found in the muscle action potential and in certain passive electrical properties of the extrajunctional muscle membrane. In addition, many of the physiological changes were correlated directly with the morphological changes observed in rats treated similarly. We conclude that neostigmine treatment in rats in therapeutic doses has deleterious effects on neuromuscular physiology and neuromuscular ultrastructure. Although the pattern of these changes is not identical with that seen in rabbit and human myasthenia gravis, the neostigmine treatment used in patients with myasthenia gravis may contribute in part to the neuromuscular alterations observed in this disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D008566	Membranes	Thin layers of tissue which cover parts of the body, separate adjacent cavities, or connect adjacent structures.	Membrane Tissue,Membrane,Membrane Tissues,Tissue, Membrane,Tissues, Membrane
D009045	Motor Endplate	The specialized postsynaptic region of a muscle cell. The motor endplate is immediately across the synaptic cleft from the presynaptic axon terminal. Among its anatomical specializations are junctional folds which harbor a high density of cholinergic receptors.	Motor End-Plate,End-Plate, Motor,End-Plates, Motor,Endplate, Motor,Endplates, Motor,Motor End Plate,Motor End-Plates,Motor Endplates
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
D009388	Neostigmine	A cholinesterase inhibitor used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis and to reverse the effects of muscle relaxants such as gallamine and tubocurarine. Neostigmine, unlike PHYSOSTIGMINE, does not cross the blood-brain barrier.	Synstigmin,Neostigmine Bromide,Neostigmine Methylsulfate,Polstigmine,Proserine,Prostigmin,Prostigmine,Prozerin,Syntostigmine,Bromide, Neostigmine,Methylsulfate, Neostigmine
D009435	Synaptic Transmission	The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES.	Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
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
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
D005260	Female		Females