Electrophysiological Effects of Drugs Known to Affect Acetylcholinesterase and Its Inhibition on Neural Mechanisms of Rat Septal Nuclei, In vitro

摘要

The purpose of our work is to explore the possibility that anticholinesterase drugs and acetylcholinesterase may produce effects on cholinergic and non-cholinergic systems by mechanisms which may or may not involve inhibition of cholinesterase. This project has utilized an in vitro brain slice preparation from rats. The slice contains the septal nuclei, which contain both cholinergic and noncholinergic neuronal networks. We employ intracellular electrophysiological techniques to analyze the action of endogenous transmitter and of drugs applied exogenously. Our level of analysis is at the individual neuron's cell membrane. Our results demonstrate that pyridostigmine does have direct actions that can not be interpreted as being solely due to inhibition of cholinesterase. Keywords: Response biology; Physiological effects; Pharmacokinetics. (kt)