Abstract
The action of chronically administered diphenylhydantoin on conduction velocity, excitability thresholds and afterpotentials in isolated rabbit vagus has been examined. After repetitive electrical stimulation, nonmyelinated C fibers in vagus nerves from control athmals exhibit a period of decreased excitability which persisted for approximately 165 seconds and which correlated with the time course of post-tetanic hyperpolarization. Diphenyihydantoin (5-20 mg/kg i.p. three times daily for five days) markedly shortened the recovery period. This was accomplished without accompanying depression of conduction velocity or excitability thresholds. The relationship between post-tetanic hyperpolarization and neural hyperexcitabiity is discussed.
Footnotes
- Received December 29, 1969.
- Accepted June 20, 1970.
- © 1970, by The Williams & Wilkins Company
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