The effects of capsaicin on action potential and outward potassium currents in a bursting neuron of the snail, Helix pomatia L.

The effects of capsaicin (CAP) on membrane properties, action potentials (APs) and outward membrane currents were investigated using the single electrode current and voltage clamp. CAP (60-300 microM) depolarized the cell membrane and increased the input resistance (Rin). The burst frequency of the neuron simultaneously increased. CAP prolonged the APs and attenuated the outward currents with decreasing potency in the sequence of the early outward current (IA), an early and a late component of the delayed outward current.