Facilitatory effect of huperzine-A on mouse neuromuscular transmission in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of huperzine-A on neuromuscular junction transmission in mouse.


METHODS
The isolated mouse phrenic nervehemidiaphragm preparations were used with the conventional intracellular recording technique. The spontaneous electrical activities of cholinergic nerve terminals (miniature end-plate potentials, MEPP) were recorded.


RESULTS
Huperzine-A, tacrine, and E2020 at the concentrations of 0.05-1 mumol.L-1 increased the amplitude, mean rise time, and half decay time of MEPP in a concentration-dependent manner. Their potencies were E2020 > huperzine-A > tacrine.


CONCLUSIONS
The anticholinesterase action of huperzine-A in cholinergic synapses is stronger than that of tacrine.
Lin
J H
JH
State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
Hu
G Y
GY
Tang
X C
XC
D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077265:Donepezil; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; D013654:Taurine; D000077265:Donepezil