[Effect of ethidium bromide on the electrical activity of nerve cells]

The interaction of ethidium bromide with stretch receptor neurons of the crayfish has been studied. The fluorescent staining of the neuron axon membrane was shown to be accompanied with the inactivation of its electrical action potential generation capacity. Taking into account the high specificity of ethidium bromide fluorescence rising under condition of its complexation with nucleic acids especially, the existence of RNA in composition of axon membrane electrogenic channels is suggested. The modification of RNA by ethidium bromide may lead to the inactivation of electrogenic channels in the axon membrane.