Retarded recovery of excitability and twitches of frog toe muscles after K-induced depolarization (slow inactivation) in the presence of alkyl amphipaths.

Alkyl amphipaths resemble conventional local anesthetics in their ability to retard the recovery of excitability and twitch tension after depolarization at high Ko, an effect that is attributed to slow inactivation of potential-dependent sodium channels. The similar effect of low temperature offers an explanation for its ability to enhance the frequency-dependent effects of these agents.