Inhibition of evoked neurotransmitter release from rat hippocampus by a polypeptide toxin isolated from the marine snail Conus distans.
The active fraction, isolated and partially purified from the crude venom of the marine snail Conus distans, with a molecular mass of about 25 kDa, inhibits neurotransmitter release in rat hippocampus. This toxin (distans Toxin) inhibits the electrically evoked tritium labelled noradrenaline release from rat hippocampal slices in a dose and time dependent manner. The neurotransmitter release is mainly regulated by N-type of voltage sensitive Ca(2+)-channels. The distans toxin behaves as a partial antagonist of calcium in the buffer, possibly by competing with calcium for this type of voltage sensitive Ca(2+)-channels.
Saxena
V K
VK
Department of Medicine, University of Antwerp (UIA), Wilrijk, Belgium.
Partoens
P
P
de Block
J
J
Coen
E P
EP
Vauquelin
G
G
De Potter
W P
WP
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012908:Snails
D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D009498:Neurotoxins; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine