title: Zinc: effect and interaction with other cations in the cortex of the rat.
abstract: Zinc and other cations were iontophoretically applied to neurones in the frontoparietal cortex of urethane-anaesthetised rats and their effect on the activity of these cells was examined. Slow and often prolonged increases in firing rate occurred in 45.2% of neurones after zinc application and 72.7% after barium. Calcium caused short duration decreases in firing rate in 89.3% of neurones as did manganese (78.6%) cerium (21.9%) and magnesium (33.3%). When applied simultaneously zinc blocked the depressant effect of calcium (in 79.3% of neurones) but not that of manganese or GABA; other ions were ineffective. These results suggest that zinc, which is known to be present in nerve terminals, may modulate neuronal activity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D015032:Zinc