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Miniature excitatory synaptic ion currents in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris body wall muscles
E M Volkov1, L F Nurullin, E Nikolsky
1State Medical University, Kazan, Russia.
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.
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