PROCAINE AS AN ACETYLCHOLINE AGONIST IN SNAIL NEURON

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 211  (1) , 93-98
Abstract
Low concentrations of procaine (10-5 M) are capable of provoking changes in the membrane potential of snail [H. aspersa] neurons. This effect is produced by direct application to the membrane and is characterized by a short response time and rapid reversibility. The resulting potential change has the same properties as that which follows acetylcholine application, including the same change of membrane resistance, the same relationship with membrane potential, the same ionic dependence and the same pharmacological sensitivity. The identity between the acetylcholine and procaine responses holds both for cells depolarized and cells hyperpolarized by acetylcholine. This procaine sensitivity involves only about 2/3 of the cells and procaine activates the cholinergic receptor on these cells.