The effects of cAMP on the excitability and responses of defensive behavior command neurons in the common snail evoked by sensory stimuli.

Experiments on snails showed that extracellular application of dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) or intracellular application of cAMP for 30 min evoked increases in excitability and synaptic facilitation in responses to sensory stimulation of defensive behavior command neurons LP11 and RP11. Excitability increased 45-60 min after the start of addition of db-cAMP or cAMP and remained elevated until the end of the experiment (3-4 h). Synaptic facilitation started 50-60 min after the onset of extracellular application of db-cAMP and remained detectable in the responses of neurons to tactile stimulation of the head for 1 h and to application of dilute quinine solution for 2-4 h. Application of db-cAMP produced no changes in responses to tactile stimulation of the foot or mantle ridge. Intracellular injection of cAMP induced facilitation of neuron responses only to weak quinine solutions. The responses of neurons to tactile stimulation of the head, foot, and mantle ridge did not change after injections of cAMP. It is suggested that cAMP is involved in the mechanisms controlling the excitability of neurons LP11 and RP11. In addition, cAMP is selectively involved in the postsynaptic mechanism inducing the transient stage of long-term facilitation of synaptic "inputs," which mediates excitation evoked by chemical stimuli. This set of effects of cAMP is similar to effects arising during the development of nociceptive sensitization and in response to serotonin.