[The reaction of the N-cholinoreceptors of the isolated neuron of the mollusk Planorbarius corneus to polymethylene-bis-trimethylammonium compounds].

Experiments have been made on isolated giant neurones of the mollusc Planorbarius corneus using clamp technique at temperatures 10 and 20 degrees C. The effect of polymethylene-bis-trimethylammonium compounds with 7-18 methylene groups in the molecule (C7...C18) on N-cholinoreceptors with chloride ionic channels was investigated. All these drugs were found to be agonists. Their cholinomimetic activity depends on the number of methylene groups (up to a certain extent) in their structure. This finding stands true also for skeletal muscles of frog and chick, as it had been shown in our earlier experiments. Analysis of membrane current fluctuations showed that the elementary current, the channel opened time, temperature coefficient (Q10) of the neuronal response to application of an agonist and the calculated Q10 of the reaction rate of the agonist with cholinoreceptor did not significantly differ for C8...C18 from the reaction rate of the agonist with cholinoreceptor. As compared with C8, C12...C18 exhibited 30 ... 40 times higher cholinomimetic activity, all other parameters in them being similar. Presumably, this difference is explained by concentrating capacity of C12...C18 at the membrane site because of their higher hydrophobic properties.