Effects of two new aminoglycoside antibiotics on the rat sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle preparation.

2'-Amino-2'-deoxy-kanamycin (bekanamycin, Kanendomycin) and pentisomicin displayed a neuromuscular blocking activity on the rat sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle preparation. Pentisomicin showed the highest neuromuscular blocking effect; the neuromuscular blocking potency of bekanamycin was similar to that of tobramycin, another new aminoglycoside. The neuromuscular block produced by these antibiotics was reversed by calcium chloride whereas it was not influenced by neostigmine methylsulfate.