Mechanisms of the neuromuscular blocking activity of the aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin
Brănişteanu, D.D.; Sauciuc, A.; Proca, B.; Fuică, A.; Gogescu, G.
Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi 86(2): 287-294
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0048-7848 PMID: 25588253 Document Number: 193597
While increasing the spontaneous quantal transmitter release in frog neuromuscular junctions, streptomycin blocked the evoked transmitter release by decreasing the quantal content (m). The quantal parameter of release n (number of release sites) was significantly decreased, while p (probability of release through transmitter activation) increased. Streptomycin competes with calcium ions for the membrane release sites while the intracellular mechanisms of release remain unaffected. The data show a good fit to the two-step hypothesis of quantal transmitter release recently developed on the basis of ouabain actions.