RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 EFFECTS OF VERATRUM ALKALOIDS ON MEMBRANE POTENTIAL AND CONDUCTANCE OF SQUID AND CRAYFISH GIANT AXONS JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 143 OP 154 VO 184 IS 1 A1 MASAHIRO OHTA A1 TOSHIO NARAHASHI A1 RICHARD F. KEELER YR 1973 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/184/1/143.abstract AB Eleven alkaloids obtained from Veratrum have been compared for their effects on the membrane potential and conductances of squid and crayfish giant axons. They can be classed in three groups. 1) Veratridine, cevadine and protoveratrines A and B cause the membrane to depolarize. The potency decreases in that order, and the concentrations of veratridine and cevadine required for 50% maximum depolarization are estimated to be 3.3 x 10-5 M and 3.7 x 10-3 M, respectively. The depolarization by veratridine is due primarily to a selective increase in resting sodium permeability of time membrane and is antagonized by tetrodotoxin. All of them are effective in augmenting and prolonging the negative (depolarizing) afterpotential. 2) Veratramine, isorubijervine, muldaimine (5-veratranine-3β, 11α-diol-11-acetate) and 5-veratranine-3β, 1lα-diol (1 x 10-4 M) are capable of blocking the action potential with little or no depolarization. 5-Veratranine-3β, 1lα-diol blocks both sodium and potassium conductance increases. 3) Cyclopamine, jervine, rubijervine and veratrosine have no effect on the resting and action potentials. Possible structure-activity relationships for these effects are discussed. © 1973 by The Williams & Wilkins Company