Effects of acetylcholine on a slow voltage-activated non-selective cation current mediated by non-nicotinic receptors on isolated Ascaris muscle bags.

Isolated muscle bags from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum were prepared by collagenase treatment and dissection. Single bags were mounted in a V-shaped plastic pipette for voltage clamp application and intra- and extracellular perfusion. With 'physiological' intra- and extracellular solutions, depolarizing voltage steps from near the normal resting membrane potential, -40 mV, produced in leak-corrected currents, a slowly activating outward current at potentials more positive than -20mV.

Electrophysiology of Ascaris muscle and anti-nematodal drug action.

Three groups of anthelmintic drugs act directly and selectively on muscle membrane receptors of parasitic nematodes. These groups of anthelmintics are: (1) The Nicotinic Agonists (levamisole, pyrantel, morantel and oxantel) that act on acetylcholine receptors of nematode somatic muscle; (2) The GABA Agonist, piperazine, that acts on nematode muscle GABA receptors; and (3) The Avermectins that open glutamate gated Cl- channels on nematode pharyngeal muscle. The electrophysiology and pharmacology of muscle and neuromuscular transmission the nematode parasite, Ascaris suum, is outlined and effects of anthelmintics that interfere with transmission described.

A Cl channel in Ascaris suum selectivity conducts dicarboxylic anion product of glucose fermentation and suggests a role in removal of waste organic anions.

The permeability of organic anions (produced anaerobic fermentation of glucose) through a non-selective membrane Cl channel was examined. Single channel recording techniques were used to study the permeabilities of the anions: oxalate, succinate, oxaloacetate, malate, lactate and pyruvate in Ascaris muscle cell membranes. All of the anions, except malate, were found to be conducted through the channel.

The Ca-activated chloride channel of Ascaris suum conducts volatile fatty acids produced by anaerobic respiration: a patch-clamp study.

Plasma membrane vesicles prepared from the bag region of the somatic muscle cell of the parasite Ascaris suum contain a large conductance, voltage-sensitive, calcium-activated chloride channel. The ability of this channel to conduct a variety of carboxylic acids, a number of which are products of anaerobic respiration, was investigated using the patch-clamp technique and isolated inside-out patches of muscle membrane. The channel has a conductance of 140 pS in symmetrical 140 mM chloride.

A patch-clamp study of the ionic selectivity of the large conductance, Ca-activated chloride channel in muscle vesicles prepared from Ascaris suum.

Plasma membrane vesicles prepared from the bag region of the somatic muscle cell of the parasite Ascaris suum contain a large conductance, voltage-sensitive, calcium-activated chloride channel. The ability of this channel to conduct a variety of anions has been investigated using the patch-clamp technique on isolated inside-out patches of muscle membrane. Symmetrical Cl solutions (140 mM) produced single-channel I/V plots with reversal potentials of 0 mV, substitution of bath Cl by 140 mM NO3, Br and I caused depolarizing shifts in the reversal potentials.