title: Depression of glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission by benzyl alcohol.
abstract: The data obtained from this study suggest that the nonionizable anesthetic benzyl alcohol has two prominent actions on GABA- and glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission at the lobster neuromuscular junction. They are as follows: (1) depression of the excitatory end-plate potential and the postsynaptic membrane response to applied glutamate, and (2) a hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic resting membrane potential associated with a decrease in effective membrane resistance. No change in amplitude of the inhibitory end-plate potential or inhibitory reversal potential was seen. Excitatory miniature end-plate potential frequency was also unaffected. The depression of excitatory synaptic transmission appears to be due to a decreased responsiveness of the postsynaptic receptor-ionophore complex.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000187:drug effects; D008121:Nephropidae; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D005971:Glutamates; D001224:Aspartic Acid