Facilitatory effect of huperzine-A on mouse neuromuscular transmission in vitro.

AIM To study the effects of huperzine-A on neuromuscular junction transmission in mouse. METHODS The isolated mouse phrenic nervehemidiaphragm preparations were used with the conventional intracellular recording technique. The spontaneous electrical activities of cholinergic nerve terminals (miniature end-plate potentials, MEPP) were recorded. RESULTS Huperzine-A, tacrine, and E2020 at the concentrations of 0.05-1 mumol.L-1 increased the amplitude, mean rise time, and half decay time of MEPP in a concentration-dependent manner. Their potencies were E2020 > huperzine-A > tacrine. CONCLUSION The anticholinesterase action of huperzine-A in cholinergic synapses is stronger than that of tacrine.