Depression of synaptic transmission by diphenylhydantoin

Yoel Yaari, Jonathan H. Pincus*, Zohar Argov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin, DPH) depresses synaptic transmission at the frog neuromuscular synapse by presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. In normal Ringer's solution the amplitude of the neurally evoked end‐plate potentials and their quantal content are reduced. Somewhat paradoxically, miniature end‐plate potential (mepp) frequency is increased by the drug. These effects could result if DPH blocked both calcium transport at the axonal membrane and intracellular calcium sequestration. Mepp amplitude is reduced, and DPH also induces nerve conduction block at high rates of stimulation. The relevance of these effects to the anticonvulsive activity of DPH is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)334-338
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of Neurology
Volume1
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1977

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