Effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on the sensitization of a defensive response in common snails and potentiation of the cholinosensitivity of command neurons.

The effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on short-term sensitization of a defensive reaction in common snails and the potentiation of the cholinosensitivity of command neurons were studied. The protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin did not prevent behavioral sensitization. Anisomycin and the irreversible protein synthesis inhibitor saporin changed the dynamics of potentiation of command neuron cholinosensitivity. We suggest that the sensitization of the defensive response of the common snail studied here does not require the synthesis of new proteins.