The effect of droperidol on mammalian non-myelinated nerve fibres

Abstract

A study has been made of the effect of droperidol on non-myelinated nerve fibres of the desheathed rabbit vagus. Droperidol did not affect membrane permeability nor the sodium pump activity of the nerve fibres. A specific reduction of sodium influx during the action potential was found in the presence of the drug. Such a specific effect was also observed with local anaesthetics. The potency of droperidol with respect to this action appears to be about 10 times that of lidocaine.