title: Miniature excitatory synaptic ion currents in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris body wall muscles.
abstract: The miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (MEPCs) of the muscle cells of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris were recorded by glass microelectrodes. In a single synaptic zone, three types of MEPC were recorded: a fast single-exponential type that decayed with tau =0.9 ms, a slow single-exponential with tau = 9.2 ms and a two-exponential MEPC with tau = 1.3 and 8.5 ms, respectively. The muscle cells of earthworms contain populations of yet-unidentified ionic channels that might be different from the common nicotinic and muscarinic groups of acetylcholine receptors, since these MEPCs are not sensitive to d-tubocurarine, atropine, benzohexonium or proserine. Alternatively, besides ACh receptors, the membrane may contain receptors for another yet-unidentified excitatory transmitter.
authors.affiliation: State Medical University, Kazan, Russia.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Volkov
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nurullin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nikolsky
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vyskocil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D007473:Ion Channels