Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letters to Editor
  • Published:

Bicuculline Methochloride as a GABA Antagonist

Nature New Biology volume 240, pages 219–220 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

THE convulsant phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid bicuculline1 has proved valuable in studying inhibitory processes in the mammalian central nervous system mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). When administered electrophoretically near single neurones, bicuculline selectively reduces the inhibitory effect of GABA, with little or no reduction of the effects of glycine or noradrenaline2,3. Furthermore, bicuculline (administered intravenously or electrophoretically) suppresses a number of synaptic inhibitions suspected of being mediated by GABA on the basis of neurochemical and other evidence2,4.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Manske, R. H. F., Canad. J. Res., 8, 142 (1933).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Curtis, D. R., Duggan, A. W., Felix, D., and Johnston, G. A. R., Brain Res., 32, 69 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Curtis, D. R., Duggan, A. W., Felix, D., Johnston, G. A. R., and McLennan, H., Brain Res., 33, 57 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Curtis, D. R., and Felix, D., Brain Res., 34, 301 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Manske, R. H. F., Canad. J. Res., 9, 436 (1933).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bláha, K., Hrbek, J., Kováč, J., Pijewska, L., and Šantavý, F., Coll. Czeck. Chem. Comm., 29, 2328 (1964).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Rice, H. V., J. Pharmac. Exp. Ther., 63, 329 (1938).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Australian National University, Canberra

    G. A. R. JOHNSTON, P. M. BEART, D. R. CURTIS, C. J. A. GAME, R. M. McCULLOCH & R. M. MACLACHLAN

Authors
  1. G. A. R. JOHNSTON
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. M. BEART
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. R. CURTIS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. J. A. GAME
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. M. McCULLOCH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. M. MACLACHLAN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

JOHNSTON, G., BEART, P., CURTIS, D. et al. Bicuculline Methochloride as a GABA Antagonist. Nature New Biology 240, 219–220 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio240219a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio240219a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing