{{Short description|Effect of a transmitter substance}} {{refimprove|date=May 2026}} An '''ionotropic effect''' is the effect of a transmitter substance or hormone that activates or deactivates ionotropic receptors (ligand-gated ion channels).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ligand-gated ion channels |url=https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/physiology/ligand-gated-ion-channels |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Kenhub |language=en}}</ref> The effect can be either positive or negative, specifically a depolarization or a hyperpolarization respectively. This term is commonly confused with an inotropic effect, which refers to a change in the force of contraction (e.g. in heart muscle) produced by transmitter substances or hormones.
==Examples== This term could be used to describe the action of acetylcholine on nicotinic receptors, glutamate on NMDA receptors or GABA on GABAa receptors.
==References== <references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ionotropic Effect}} Category:Membrane biology Category:Electrophysiology Category:Neurochemistry Category:Molecular neuroscience
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