Actions of isothiocyanates on the central nervous system ofPeriplaneta americana

摘要

AbstractA simple sucrose‐gap method for determining the effects of neurotoxicants on the insect central nervous system is used to investigate the mode of action of various isothiocyanates which are known potent inhibitors of insect choline acetyltransferase. The application of 2‐isothiocyanatoethyltrimethylammonium iodide to desheathed sixth abdominal ganglia of Periplaneta americana produces rapid effects on synaptic transmission at the cercal‐nerve, giant‐fibre synapses. Monitoring effects on the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and changes of resistance and potential of the postsynaptic membrane indicate that this compound acts primarily on the postsynaptic membrane. Similar actions are noted for other isothiocyanates inves