The effect of alpha-latrotoxin on a synaptic connection between identified neurons in the brain of the mollusc Helix pomatia L.

The effect of alpha-latrotoxin on identified monosynaptic peptidergic contacts between identified neurons from the brain of the snail Helix pomatia L. was studied. It was found that, after extracellular application, toxin evoked an increase in the amplitude of the postsynaptic response. Neither amplitude nor duration of the action potential in a presynaptic neuron was affected. Intracellular injection of toxin into the soma of a presynaptic neuron led to a decrease in the postsynaptic current amplitude. The current induced by intracellular injection of cAMP into a postsynaptic neuron was also inhibited by extracellular or intracellular application of toxin. These data indicate that toxin evokes both an increase of transmitter release from a presynaptic neuron and a decrease in amplitude of the postsynaptic response.