Krivoi_1985_Neirofiziologiia_17_607

Miniature end-plate currents (MEPC) in rat diaphragm were studied with voltage-clamp technique when synaptic acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was inhibited with different concentrations of galanthamine. The MEPC amplitude and time course were increased progressively with galanthamine concentrations in the range of 3.16 X 10(-8) - 10(-6) g/ml. The decay of MEPC was always exponential. The input resistance of muscle fibres increased. Galanthamine (10(-5) g/ml) produced a curare-like action: the amplitude and duration of MEPC were less as compared with those at galanthamine concentration 10(-6) g/ml, the decay of MEPC became biphasic. During washing out of the drug, the duration of MEPC began to increase and then to diminish, returning to the initial value 3 hours later. The decay of MEPC became exponential. A positive correlation was found between half-decay time and amplitude of MEPC both in the presence and in the absence of anticholinesterase. It is supposed that the functional role of synaptic AChE in limiting the postsynaptic effect of acetylcholine is not so significant as it is usually considered, therefore it is possible to use the parameters of MEPC for the estimation of functional AChE activity.