Electrophysiological effects of Drugs Known to Affect Acetylcholinesterase and Its Inhibition on Neural Mechanisms of Rat Septal Nuclei, in vitro

Abstract

The purpose of our work is to explore the possibility that anticholinesterase drugs and acetylcholinesterase may produce effects on cholinergic and non-cholinergic systems by mechanisms which may or may not involve inhibition of cholinesterase. This project has utilized an in vitro brain slice preparation from rats. The slice contains the septal nuclei, which contain both cholinergic and noncholinergic neuronal networks. We employ intracellular electrophysiological techniques to analyze the action of endogenous transmitter and of drugs applied exogenously. Our level of analysis is at the individual neuron's cell membrane. Our results demonstrate that pyridostigmine does have direct actions that can not be interpreted as being solely due to inhibition of cholinesterase.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 30, 1986
Accession Number
ADA204832

Entities

People

  • Joel P. Gallagher

Organizations

  • University of Texas Medical Branch

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acetylcholinesterases
  • Amino Acids
  • Atropine
  • Brain
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cells
  • Classification
  • Diagrams
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Monitoring
  • Neurons
  • Schematic Diagrams
  • Security
  • Transmitters

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurotoxicology