title: Membrane currents elicited by the epileptogenic drug pentylenetetrazole in the native oocyte of Xenopus laevis.
abstract: The effects of the epileptogenic agent pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) on membrane currents of native oocytes of Xenopus laevis were studied. PTZ elicits a response that consists of two inward currents. The first one is interpreted to be due to a decrease of potassium permeability since: (1) the input resistance is increased; (2) the equilibrium potential is near that of potassium; (3) the current is decreased during administration of potassium channel blocking agents; and (4) the PTZ response can be mimicked by blocking potassium channels without PTZ application. The second one is interpreted to be due to an increase of chloride permeability since: (1) the input resistance is decreased; (2) the equilibrium potential is near that of chloride; and (3) the response is decreased during administration of chloride blocking agents. These findings correspond to some extent with those made in neurons.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie, Münster F.R.G.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madeja
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Musshoff
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuhlmann
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Speckmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004566:Electrodes; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011188:Potassium; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole