Effects of Ba2+ and tetraethylammonium on cortical neurones

1. Ba(2+), applied by micro-iontophoresis, excites most cortical neurones that are excitable by ACh; other neurones tend to be depressed.2. The discharges evoked by Ba(2+) resemble those evoked by ACh, but they have an even slower time course and are characterized by firing in high frequency bursts.3. The excitatory action of Ba(2+), unlike that of ACh, is not abolished by muscarine antagonists; but it can be prevented with dinitrophenol.4. The depolarizing effect of Ba(2+) is associated with a rise in membrane resistance and it has a reversal level 24 mV more negative than the resting potential.5. These observations suggest that, as in other tissues, Ba(2+) reduced the K(+) conductance by a direct action on the cell membrane. Some diminution in Na(+) inactivation is indicated by the repetitive firing at high frequency.6. TEA has a predominantly depressant effect on all neurones tested. Like Ba(2+), it often increases greatly the duration of spikes, but there is no regular change in resting membrane resistance and no tendency to repetitive firing. TEA probably reduces only the delayed K(+) current.7. Even in large doses neither Ba(2+) nor TEA interferes with the conductance increase that generates the typical prolonged IPSPs recorded in cortical neurones.