Flurazepam interaction with sodium and potassium channels in squid giant axon

External application of 0.05-1.0 mM flurazepam was found to partially block both sodium and potassium currents in voltage-clamped squid giant axons. At the same concentration the fractional block of the potassium current was found to be 3 times greater than that of the sodium current. In the presence of the drug the potassium current appeared to "inactivate', as flurazepam block became more profound during the course of the depolarization. The decay of the potassium current can be explained by a model in which flurazepam enters and blocks the potassium channels only after they have opened. Once bound in the potassium channel, removal of flurazepam from its binding site develops slowly (tau = 48 ms). Thus repetitive stimulation of the nerve produced a cumulative block. When applied inside the axon flurazepam was found to be 1.5 (n = 4) times more potent blocker of potassium channels than following external application. This result suggests that when applied externally, a neutral form of the drug diffuses across the membrane and blocks occurs from the inner end of the channel.