Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Visualizing the Morphological Characteristics of Neuromuscular Junction in Rat Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle
Published on: May 17, 2022
Depolarizing neuromuscular junctional blocking action of Parthenium hysterophorus leaf extracts in rat
P Vijayalakshmi1, K M Vijayalakshmi, N V Nanda Kumar
1Division of Environmental Biology, Department of Zoology, S. V. University, Tirupati - 517 502. A.P. India.
Abstract:
Electromyographic (EMG) and electrodiagnostic studies were made on sciatic nerve-anterior tibialis muscle in vivo in rats administered with a sublethal dose of Parthenium hysterophorus dry leaf powder 100 mg/100 g body weight of rat. Nerve-evoked and muscle-evoked compound muscle action potentials were recorded at different frequencies of stimulations and at different time intervals. The EMG studies revealed depolarizing neuromuscular junctional (NMJ) blocking effects of the leaf extract. The decrement-increment (D-I) phenomena and the EMG pattern in general showed a resemblance to an established anticholinesterase agent like neostigmine. The studies confirm that the leaf extract contains a proven and promising new depolarizing NMJ blocker.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers
Neuromuscular Junction And Blockade
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Mechanism of Action
Competitive antagonists prevent acetylcholine from binding to its receptor, inhibiting membrane depolarization. Without conformational changes or intrinsic...
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacological Actions
Although all competitive neuromuscular blockers are designed...
Depolarizing Blockers: Mechanism of Action
Succinylcholine is the most commonly used depolarizing blocker. Chemically, it constitutes two molecules of acetylcholine joined together by an acetate methyl group. They act on the receptors in the same way as acetylcholine. Because succinylcholine...

