Tetanus toxin: a rapid and selective blockade of the calcium, but not sodium, component of action potentials in cultured neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells.

The slow action potential of mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells, which was elicited in Na-free medium and whose amplitude was directly dependent on extracellular Ca concentrations, was blocked by tetanus toxin (TNTX) without change in resting membrane potential and resistance. The average value of action potential overshoot (peak potential level of spikes) in the absence and presence of TNTX was -1 and -11 mV, respectively. The concentration of TNTX required for 50% inhibition of Ca-dependent spikes (IC50) was about 65 ng/ml. The amplitude of spikes was decreased within 10-20 min after adding TNTX. The inhibition of Ca-dependent spikes was mimicked by 10 mM CoCl2 and MnCl2, but not by the boiled or neutralized toxin. The results indicate that TNTX inhibited electrogenesis of Ca, but not Na, components of action potentials of the neuroblastoma cells.