APGW-amide as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of Achatina fulica Ferussac

APGWamide (L-Ala-L-Pro-Gly-L-Trp-NH2) was purified from the ganglia of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac). This peptide inhibited (hyperpolarized) more than half of the Achatina neurone types tested. This produced an outward current with the membrane conductance increase of RAPN (right anterior pallial neurone) under voltage clamp. The ED50 of the peptide was 6.2 x 10(-6) M (95% confidence limit: 5.0-7.8 x 10(-6) M) and the Emax was 3.9 +/- 0.2 nA. The effects were due to a membrane permeability increase to K+. The peptide is proposed as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the Achatina neurones.