title: Further studies on the actions of salicylates on nerve membranes.
abstract: The effects of sodium salicylate, sodium benzoate and 5-bromo salicylate on nerve fibres of the rabbit cervical vagus and of the frog sciatic nerve 'in vitro' were studied and using the single sucrose gap technique. The application of 5-bromo salicylate in concentrations between 2 X 10(-3) to 5 X 10(-3) M induced a slow fall in spike height accompanied by a small hyperpolarization (0.5--2.0 mV). Higher concentrations (1 X 10(-2)--2 X 10(-2) M) produced depolarization and a rapid block of nervous conduction. Concentrations of 1 X 10(-2)--2 X 10(-2) M of sodium salicylate were needed to induce the same hyperpolarizing and slow blocking effects in non-myelinated nerve fibres. Myelinated fibres of the frog sciatic nerve were also blocked by concentrations greater than 1 X 10(-2) M of 5-bromo salicylate, but showed an increase in the amplitude of the compound action potential and a prolonged falling phase when superfused with concentrations around 5 X 10(-3) M. A frequency-dependent decrease in the action potential amplitude was observed with sodium salicylate and 5-bromo salicylate and was shown to be more easily induced in non-myelinated than in myelinated fibres. 5-Bromo salicylate (2 X 10(-2) M) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (1 X 10(-4) M) reduced the amplitude and the rate constant of decay of the hyperpolarization produced by tetanic stimulation of non-myelinated nerve fibres. Sodium salicylate (2 X 10(-2) M) increased the time constant of decay of the hyperpolarization of the potassium-activated response and slightly decreased its amplitude. Sodium salicylate was 3--5 times less potent than 5-bromo salicylate; while sodium benzoate was practically ineffective in producing the phenomena under study.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D004140:Dinitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004140:Dinitrophenols; D012459:Salicylates; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium