title: The effect of aminopyridines on the activity recorded in the dorsal roots of an isolated hamster spinal cord preparation.
abstract: 1. The aminopyridines (AP) increase the activity recorded on the dorsal roots of an isolated hamster spinal cord preparation. 2. The threshold for 4-AP was 4 X 10(-6) M and the maximum effect was 3 X 10(-5) M. The threshold for 2AP and 3AP was 3 X 10(-5) M and the maximum effect was at 10(-3) M. 3. It took longer for the preparation to recover on washing from treatment with 4-AP than from 2-AP or 3-AP. Washing often showed a transient increase in activity. 4. Treatment with AP changed the pattern of firing so that the activity after treatment and prolonged washing showed a bursting pattern. 5. The activity recorded in the dorsal roots is generated within the spinal cord and may be related to activity of central pattern generators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Medical School, Southampton University, U.K.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Al-Zamil
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagust
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kerkut
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004566:Electrodes; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines