title: Conductance changes during bath application of beta-alanine and taurine in giant interneurons of the isolated lamprey spinal cord.
abstract: (1) Input conductances of giant interneurons in the isolated spinal cord of lampreys were measured with two separate intracellular electrodes. Bath applications of 0.4--3 mM beta-alanine and taurine produced large, reversible conductance increases which were Cl-dependent. (2) Strychnine at 1--2.5 microM might be a competitive antagonist of both amino acids, but had a stronger effect on taurine. Bicuculline and picrotoxin were weak antagonists of beta-alanine and taurine in some cells. (3) A few giant interneurons desensitized after repeated application of the amino acids, but most became more sensitive. Responses to the amino acids also increase at low temperatures in in Na-free fluid, suggesting effect of uptake mechanisms.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007395:Interneurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D007798:Lampreys; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000409:Alanine; D001640:Bicuculline; D002712:Chlorides; D004573:Electrolytes; D005998:Glycine; D010852:Picrotoxin; D013331:Strychnine; D013654:Taurine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid