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Effects of γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Picrotoxin on Spontaneous Activity in the Central Nervous System of the Crayfish

Nature volume 188, pages 1117–1119 (1960)Cite this article

Abstract

SINCE the extraction of an inhibitory substance (factor I) from mammalian brain1, one constituent of which was identified as γ-aminobutyric acid2, this constituent has been tried on a number of invertebrate preparations3. It imitates the action of inhibitory neurones in crayfish and on injection into the animal results in flaccidity2. The action of γ-aminobutyric acid is very similar to that obtained on stimulation of the inhibitory fibres in crayfish stretch receptors4. The effects of γ-aminobutyric acid are counteracted by picrotoxin in this preparation2 as well as in crayfish hearts5. Picrotoxin by itself is a convulsant in crayfish6,7 although no effect on synaptic transmission is observed using 2.5 × 10−4 M picrotoxin8. However, concentrations greater than 10−6 M progressively decrease the effect of inhibitory nerve stimulation in crayfish claws9.

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Author notes

  1. JOSEPH K. HICHAR

    Present address: Department of Biology, Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

    JOSEPH K. HICHAR

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  1. JOSEPH K. HICHAR
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HICHAR, J. Effects of γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Picrotoxin on Spontaneous Activity in the Central Nervous System of the Crayfish. Nature 188, 1117–1119 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/1881117b0

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