Reversible conduction block produced by lipid-insoluble quaternary ammonium ions in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-treated nerves

Abstract

Frog sciatic nerves were excised and treated in a Ringer's solution containing the surface-active agent, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMB). Such CTMB-treated nerves were compared to normal, untreated nerves with respect to their susceptibility to conduction block produced by six lipid-insoluble quaternary ammonium ions; the CTMB-treated nerves were rendered especially susceptible to rapid, reversible conduction block. A possible mechanism of CTMB action is proposed, involving chemo-dissection of permeability barriers which normally surround the individual axons. The findings that acetylcholine, curare, etc. can produce reversible, axonal conduction block in CTMB-treated nerves are not inconsistent with a theory of cholinergic impulse conduction.