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. 1971 Jul;216(1):237–246. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009521

On the presynaptic acetylcholine receptor in sympathetic ganglia of the frog

B L Ginsborg
PMCID: PMC1331972  PMID: 4326849

Abstract

1. Action potentials have been recorded extracellularly from individual preganglionic nerve terminals in the lumbar sympathetic chain of frogs (cf. Koketsu & Nishi, 1968).

2. The action potentials were unaffected by changes in external Mg2+ or Ca2+ concentration, but were attenuated or even abolished by acetylcholine or carbachol. The effect on the presynaptic action potential was transient, in contrast to the blockade of synaptic transmission caused by these drugs, which as is well known persists indefinitely in their presence.

3. In the presence of tubocurarine (5 × 10-5 M), acetylcholine and carbachol had no effect on the presynaptic action potential.

4. The action potentials were reduced by an increase in external K+ concentration and abolished at between 9 and 16 mM K+. Synaptic transmission persisted until the amplitude of the action potential was reduced to less than one third of its control value.

5. It is concluded that although the presynaptic nerve is endowed with acetylcholine receptors, they are not the source of the long lasting blockade of synaptic transmission caused by cholinergic substances.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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