Heptanol exerts epileptiform effects in identified neurons of the buccal ganglia of Helix pomatia.

Abstract 1-Heptanol (0.2–5.0 mM) known to block electrical contacts was tested under epileptic and non-epileptic conditions in the buccal ganglia of Helix pomatia . Synchronicity of epileptiform activity was not affected. In concentrations below 1 mM, heptanol accelerated epileptiform activity induced by pentylenetetrazol. In concentrations above 1 mM, it evoked epileptiform activity without admixture of an epileptogenic drug. Coupling coefficient was increased and decreased in low and high concentration ranges of heptanol, respectively. The measured decrease of coupling is interpreted as a result of the activation of `epileptiform' membrane conductances accompanied by decreased length constants of neuronal fibers.