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. 1985 Jun;363:363–375. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1985.sp015716

Dopaminergic modulation of neuromuscular transmission in the prawn.

M W Miller, H Parnas, I Parnas
PMCID: PMC1192935  PMID: 2862279

Abstract

The action of the putative crustacean neurohormone dopamine was examined in the fast extensor musculature of the prawn with intracellular and extracellular recording techniques. Dopamine produced a concentration-dependent (10(-7)-10(-5) M) decrease in the size of the excitatory junctional potential (e.j.p.). It had no effect on the muscle fibre resting membrane potential or input resistance. High concentrations (10(-5)M) of dopamine had no effect on the amplitude distribution or decay time of quantal unit currents, indicating that the agent does not act by blocking post-synaptic receptors or channels. Bath application of dopamine reduced the quantal content at single release sites with a similar time course and concentration dependence as that observed for the e.j.p. Dopamine had no effect on histograms of synaptic delays determined over a 10 degree C range, indicating that it does not modify the time course of phasic neurosecretion. Twin-impulse facilitation experiments showed a marked decrease in the duration of facilitation in the presence of dopamine. These results are interpreted according to recent theoretical and experimental findings as indicating that the dopamine-induced reduction in transmitter release is produced by a decrease in the entry of Ca during the nerve terminal action potential.

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Selected References

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