Tetracaine hydrochloride

Tetracaine hydrochloride (Pontocaine) is a hydrochloride salt form of tetracaine which is a potent local anaesthetic and a channel function allosteric inhibitor. Tetracaine hydrochloride (Pontocaine) is used to block temporarily the pain "message" that is sent along the nerves that connect the eyes to the brain. Tetracaine hydrochloride (Pontocaine) is mainly used topically in ophthalmology and as an antipruritic, and it has been used in spinal anesthesia. In biomedical research, tetracaine is used to alter the function of calcium release channels (ryanodine receptors) that control the release of calcium from intracellular stores. In addition, tetracaine serves as an allosteric blocker of channel function. At low concentrations, tetracaine gives rise to an initial prevention of spontaneous calcium release events, while at high concentrations, tetracaine blocks release completely.