[The participation of cholinergic mechanisms in the origin of the dendritic potential of the cerebral cortex].

The effect of some muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic drugs on the dendritic potential was studied in adult anesthetized cats. M-antagonists in high concentrations, M-agonists, N-agonists and acetylcholine decreased the amplitude of dendritic potential, whereas M-antagonists in low concentrations and N-antagonists increased it. Application of the cholinesterase inhibitor (proserine) to the cerebral cortex increased both the amplitude and the duration of the dendritic potential. The neuropile of the 1st layer of the cat cerebral cortex seems to have M1 subtype postsynaptic muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, M2 subtype presynaptic acetylcholine receptors, and nicotinic presynaptic acetylcholine receptors.