The mechanisms of sodium current inhibition by benzocaine in the squid giant axon

(1) The effects of benzocaine on the ionic currents in the voltage-clamped squid giant axon have been examined under various conditions; intact axons, axons internally perfused with CsF and axons dialysed with tetraethylammonium ions were used. (2) Both the steady state outward (potassium) current and the early transient (sodium) current were reduced by ca. 50% by benzocaine (1 mM). (3) Plots of the changes produced by benzocaine (1 mM) in the Hodgkin-Huxley parameters for the steady state activation (m infinity), the steady state inactivation (h infinity) and the time constants (tau m and tau h) for activation and inactivation of the sodium current are shown. The m infinity and h infinity curves are shifted in positive and negative directions respectively on the voltage axis. The time constants are not greatly affected. (4) In axons in which the sodium current inactivation had been largely removed by treatment with chloramine T, the sodium current was still reduced by ca. 50% by 1 mM benzocaine and the positive shift in activation remained unchanged. (5) The dependence on benzocaine concentration (for less than or equal to 2 mM) of the peak sodium current reduction and the shift in steady state inactivation have been determined. (6) It is concluded that in the squid axon the effects on inactivation are not the main reason for the reduction of the sodium current by benzocaine and that, in common with many other neutral anaesthetics, there are at least two sites at which benzocaine acts.