Inducing neuronal bursting activity in the CNS of L. stagnalis using Dimethylformamide

Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a hydrophilic aprotic solvent often used in peptide coupling, an essential process in the pharmaceutical industry. Its use in biological study is typically in the role of a peptide solvent when evaluating the efficacy of peptides and their effect on the cellular membrane. In evaluating the effect of the peptide gramicidin on neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, an interesting cellular response was noted when applying DMF without gramicidin. In the presence of DMF alone, the regular beating pattern of neuron VDI, an identified neuron in the dorsal presentation of the visceral ganglion, changed to bursting pattern. A slight lowering of the membrane potential was also noted.