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[The effects of ethanol on neuromuscular junctions of adult toad]
1Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, WCUMS, Chengdu 610041, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of ethanol on the transmission at the neuromuscular junctions(NMJ) and the possible mechanism thereby.
Methods:
The effects of ethanol on the endplate potential (EPP) and miniature endplate potential(MEPP) of sciatic nerve-sartorious muscle preparations of 20 adult toads (Bufo bufo gargarizans) were studied in vitro by means of intracellular microelectrode recording.
Results:
Ethanol could cause the changes in EPP amplitude so as to influence the transmission at NMJ, and the effects apparently depended on the concentration of the ethanol. A proper concentration of ethanol could produce a significant increase in EPP amplitude and therefore facilitate the transmission at the NMJ. A proper concentration of ethanol also could produce a significant increase in MEPP frequency but had no influence on MEPP amplitude.
Conclusion:
Ethanol can increase the quantal number of transmitters released from presynaptic part. That may be one of the reasons why ethanol can facilitate the transmission at the NMJ.