[Morpho-functional changes in the frog urinary bladder receptors under the influence of barbiturates]

The effect of hexenal and nembutal on the tissue bushy receptors was studied the living isolated frog urinary bladder using methylene blue staining. These drugs were shown to induce the changes in the receptor pulse activity which included three phases: an initial sharp increase, an abrupt decline and a low protracted plateau. Reactions to hexenal and nembutal, while possessing some common features, had their own peculiarities. Synchronously, the dynamics of methylene blue staining of the receptor elements was registered for the control of the intensity of oxidation-reduction processes in the receptor neuroplasm, that is for redox-system dynamics. It was found that the phases of this dynamics coincided in many respects with the phases of the receptor electric activity changes. No ultrastructural changes associated with the putative damaging effect of barbiturates on the receptors were recorded (during the exposure of 1-30 min). The most significant characteristic was an accumulation glycogen granules in the neuroplasm of the receptor elements, suggesting the prevalence of energy substrate deposition over its expenditure. Depression of the receptor pulse activity supports the assumption that barbiturates, besides their soporific and narcotic actions, apparently possess some anesthetic property.