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Anesth Analg 1986; 65:345-349
© 1986 International Anesthesia Research Society
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A Microelectrode Study of the Effects of Atracurium on Neuromuscular Transmission

Tetsutaro Otagiri, MD, and Martin D. Sokoll, MD

Received from the Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.

Abstract

Using standard microelectrode recording techniques, we studied the effects of atracurium on neuromuscular transmission in a concentration range between 10–13 and 10–5 M in the rat diaphragm. Both intact and cut diaphragm preparations were used. Atracurium produced no significant alteration of miniature endplate potential (MEPP) frequency (P > 0.05). Increasing concentrations of atracurium (10–6-10–5 M) caused a linear decrease in MEPP amplitude from 70.5 ± 2.3% to 28.0 ± 2.5% of baseline levels (P < 0.05). In the cut diaphragm preparation, atracurium increased the degree of rundown and decreased quantum content of the endplate potential (EPP). The above observations suggest that atracurium interferes with neuromuscular transmission by, first of all, producing cholinergic receptor block and secondly, producing frequency-dependent inhibition of release of acetylcholine from the nerve terminal.

Key Words: NEUROMUSCULAR RELAXANTS—atracurium






Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press
Copyright © 1986 by the International Anesthesia Research Society.