Modification of effects of biologically active peptides,caused by enzyme treatment,on the excitability of identifiable giant neurones of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac)

Summary Physalaemin, which excites an identifiable molluscan giant neurone (the TAN, tonically autoactive neurone), lost the effect after the trypsin treatment. Unexpectedly, this peptide shows an inhibitory effect on the same neurone after chymotrypsin treatment. Deamino-dicarba-(d-d-)oxytocin and d-d-Arg-vasotocin, which excite another identifiable neurone (the PON, periodically oscillating neurone) continue to show the effect after chymotrypsin treatment (6 h). But d-d-Arg-vasotocin losts the effect on the PON after trypsin treatment.The authors thank Dr Sadaaki Iwanaga of Osaka University and Dr Atsuo Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. for their helpful advice, and Miss Hiroko Tamura for her technical assistance.