Chronic removal of inhibitory axon alters excitatory transmission in a crustacean muscle fiber.

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Abstract
In the lobster P. penicillatus, the deep abdominal extensor muscles are innervated by an inhibitory axon and 2 excitatory axons. The inhibitory axon innervating the deep abdominal extensor muscles was killed by intracellular injection of the proteolytic enzyme pronase. Two weeks after the removal of the inhibitory axon the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) recorded in the muscles were greatly prolonged. This prolongation was not seen in the contralateral control muscles. Control experiments, in which the enzyme was injected into an excitatory axon, did not produce this change. Similarly, injecting pronase into the connective tissue surrounding the axons or cutting of the nerve did not produce this change. The increase in the duration of the EPSP was not associated with an increase in the time constant of the muscle membrane. Extracellular measurement of synaptic currents from single terminals showed that synaptic current was prolonged 2- to 4-old. Single quanta events show a similar prolongation, indicating an increase in the receptor channel open time.

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