Sustained Tolerance to a Specific Effect of Ethanol on Posttetanic Potentiation in <i>Aplysia</i>

Abstract

Perfusion with 0.8 molar ethanol in a seawater specifically accelerates the rate of decay of posttetanic potentiation observed after repetitive electrical stimulation of an identified synapse in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica. Repeated perfusion with seawater alternately with and without ethanol leads to a progressive diminution of this specific effect of ethanol, such that after the third application ethanol no longer has any effect on the rate constant of decay of posttetanic poteniation. This tolerance to the specific effects of ethanol persists for at least 11 hours after the last application of ethanol.