title: Ethanol and magnesium suppress nickel-induced bursting activity in leech Retzius nerve cells.
abstract: In the present study we have examined effects of ethanol and magnesium on Ni(2+)-induced bursting of leech Retzius cells. Saline with 3 mmol/l NiCl2 induced spontaneous bursting activity, characterized by rapid depolarizations to a plateau level during which bursts of action potentials occurred. To test for the mechanism of bursting initiation external Na+ was completely removed. Removal of external Na(+) in presence of 3 mmol/l NiCl2 terminated the bursting activity. Application of 2% ethanol solution significantly decreased the bursting frequency, duration and amplitude of depolarization plateaus, and the number of spikes per plateau. Solution containing 10 mmol/l Mg2+ almost completely abolished the oscillatory activity of the neurons and completely suppressed action potential generation. We conclude that ethanol and magnesium suppress Ni(2+)-induced epileptic activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathological Physiology, Medical Faculty Belgrade, Dr. Subotica 1/II, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dhruba
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Srdjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopicic
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanojevic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nedeljkov
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cemerikic
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nedeljkov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D007865:Leeches / Q000166:cytology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D000431:Ethanol; D009532:Nickel; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium