Biomaterial Database

Actions of dinitrophenol and some other metabolic inhibitors on cortical neurones. 1971

J M Godfraind, and H Kawamura, and K Krnjević, and R Pumain

1. In cats under methoxyflurane, DNP and other metabolic inhibitors were tested on cortical neurones by iontophoresis from micropipettes.2. DNP, dinitro-o-cresol, iodoacetate, pentachlorophenol and oligomycin (uncouplers or inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation), as well as moderate anoxia, blocked selectively and reversibly spontaneous firing and discharges evoked by ACh; responses evoked by glutamate were facilitated by moderate doses of DNP and blocked only by large amounts.3. Azide, cyanide, ouabain and strophanthidine had a mainly excitatory effect; the cardiac glycosides tended to depress more strongly responses to glutamate.4. Intracellular observations showed that DNP causes a sharp fall in electrical excitability, associated with a hyperpolarization and fall in membrane resistance.5. The hyperpolarizing action of DNP had a mean reversal level (E(DNP)) nearly 30 mV more negative than the resting potential; E(DNP) was identical with the mean reversal level for the depolarizing action of ACh, measured on the same cells.6. DNP had its usual hyperpolarizing effect on neurones whose IPSPs had been made positive by raising the internal [Cl]; the mean E(IPSP) was over 30 mV more positive than E(DNP).7. It is concluded that DNP lowers excitability by raising the membrane conductance to K(+) (g(K)) and that it blocks ACh responses selectively because ACh has a precisely opposite action on these neurones.8. In the Discussion, it is suggested that the rise in g(K) is mediated by an increase in internal free Ca(2+), caused by a slowing of mitochondrial activity, and that a similar mechanism may play a significant role in general anaesthesia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007461	Iodoacetates	Iodinated derivatives of acetic acid. Iodoacetates are commonly used as alkylating sulfhydryl reagents and enzyme inhibitors in biochemical research.	Iodoacetic Acids,Acids, Iodoacetic
D007478	Iontophoresis	Therapeutic introduction of ions of soluble salts into tissues by means of electric current. In medical literature it is commonly used to indicate the process of increasing the penetration of drugs into surface tissues by the application of electric current. It has nothing to do with ION EXCHANGE; AIR IONIZATION nor PHONOPHORESIS, none of which requires current.	Iontophoreses
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
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009840	Oligomycins	A closely related group of toxic substances elaborated by various strains of Streptomyces. They are 26-membered macrolides with lactone moieties and double bonds and inhibit various ATPases, causing uncoupling of phosphorylation from mitochondrial respiration. Used as tools in cytochemistry. Some specific oligomycins are RUTAMYCIN, peliomycin, and botrycidin (formerly venturicidin X).	Oligomycin
D010042	Ouabain	A cardioactive glycoside consisting of rhamnose and ouabagenin, obtained from the seeds of Strophanthus gratus and other plants of the Apocynaceae; used like DIGITALIS. It is commonly used in cell biological studies as an inhibitor of the NA(+)-K(+)-EXCHANGING ATPASE.	Acocantherin,G-Strophanthin,Acolongifloroside K,G Strophanthin
D002297	Cardanolides	The aglycone constituents of CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES. The ring structure is basically a cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus attached to a lactone ring at the C-17 position.
D002301	Cardiac Glycosides	Cyclopentanophenanthrenes with a 5- or 6-membered lactone ring attached at the 17-position and SUGARS attached at the 3-position. Plants they come from have long been used in congestive heart failure. They increase the force of cardiac contraction without significantly affecting other parameters, but are very toxic at larger doses. Their mechanism of action usually involves inhibition of the NA(+)-K(+)-EXCHANGING ATPASE and they are often used in cell biological studies for that purpose.	Cardiac Glycoside,Cardiotonic Steroid,Cardiotonic Steroids,Glycoside, Cardiac,Glycosides, Cardiac,Steroid, Cardiotonic,Steroids, Cardiotonic
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
D002540	Cerebral Cortex	The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions.	Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical