title: The effect of cocaine on membrane potential, on membrane depolarization by veratridine or elevated [K]o and on sodium/potassium permeability ratios in synaptosomes from the limbic cortex of the rat.
abstract: Effects of cocaine on the synaptosomal membrane potential (Em), on membrane depolarization induced by veratridine or elevated [K]o and on sodium/potassium permeability ratios (pNa/pK), have been measured in buffer containing either low or high [Na]. Fluorescence of the dye rhodamine 6G was used to measure the membrane potential. Cocaine began to reduce the Em (depolarized) at concentrations between 10(-6) and 10(-5) M in low [Na] buffer and between 10(-5) and 10(-4) M in high [Na] buffer. Maximum depolarization (with 10(-3) M cocaine) was 21 mV in low [Na] buffer and 11 mV in high [Na] buffer. Cocaine also reduced the depolarization caused by veratridine or elevated [K]o; the effective concentration of cocaine in reducing the response to veratridine was one-tenth that necessary to reduce the response to elevated [K]o. The antagonism by cocaine of the response to veratridine was similar to that found by other investigators; however, this action would tend to oppose depolarization and thus cannot explain the depolarizing effect of cocaine alone. The antagonism by cocaine of the depolarization caused by elevated [K] was consistent with a reduction in pK; such a change in pK could explain the observed reduction in Em caused by cocaine alone. The effect of cocaine (10(-3) M) on the Em was also measured as a function of [K]o at low and high [Na]o. Cocaine caused membrane depolarization at all [K]o's (3.9-19.2 mV), an effect that was somewhat greater in the low [Na] medium. These measurements of Em were fitted to the Goldman equation and the ratio of pNa/pK estimated. The presence of cocaine increased the estimate of pNa/pK by 45.7%, presumably by reducing pK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005453:Fluorescence; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000187:drug effects; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014701:Veratridine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D014701:Veratridine; D012964:Sodium; D003042:Cocaine; D011188:Potassium