Local Electrographic Responses to Intrahippocampal d-Tubocurarme and Related Neuromuscular Blocking Agents.

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Abstract
Of a series of neuromuscular blocking agents (dTC [d-tubocurarine], Flaxedil, dihydro-[beta]-erythroidine, decamethonium, succinylcholine) micro-injected into the dorsal hippocampus of the cat brain, only dTC was highly selective in establishing a focus at the injection site. The characteristic dTC focal discharge consisted of a spike and wave complex with an afterdischarge interposed. The dTC hippocampal discharge was projected to other neurophysiologically related sites in the limbic system. The ineffectiveness of cholinomimetic agents (methacholine, carbachol, physostigmine) in antagonizing the dTC focus further emphasize the differences between the actions of neuromuscular blocking agents on hippocampal and neuromuscular transmission. Marked potency of dTC (4 [mu]g) in establishing a hippocampal focus and the waveform of the focal discharge suggest that dTC acts similar to picrotoxin by interfering with presynaptic inhibitory mechanisms in the hippocampus; as such, the intrahippocampal function of dTC would be that of a disinhibitor.