title: Electromyographic assessment of the neuromuscular blockade produced in vivo by anatoxin-a in the rat.
abstract: The indirectly evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) of the plantar muscles of the rat were used to investigate the pharmacodynamics in vivo of the neuromuscular blockade produced by anatoxin-a. Onset time to maximum depression and the magnitude of maximum depression in amplitude of the ECAP were dose-dependent. The mean maximum percent depression (+/- S.D.) of the ECAP induced by single, supramaximal stimulations of the posterior tibial nerve after i.v. doses of (+)anatoxin-a hydrochloride at 0, 50, 100, 200 and 800 micrograms/kg were 3 (4), 53 (15), 82 (7), 95 (2), and 100 (1), respectively. The ED50 (95% confidence limits) for depression of the ECAP was 47 mg/kg (39-57 micrograms/kg). Rats administered 200 micrograms/kg or less of (+)anatoxin-a hydrochloride had 75% return of the pretoxin amplitude of the ECAP within 93 min. Animals dosed at 800 micrograms/kg did not have return of neuromuscular function and died despite mechanical ventilation, suggesting a lethal mechanism(s) of action in addition to respiratory paralysis. Percent decrements (+/- S.D.) in the amplitude of the fourth ECAP following repetitive stimulation at 10 Hz were 6 (5), 13 (22), 46 (18) and 59 (8) from (+)anatoxin-a hydrochloride given i.v. at 0, 50, 100 and 200 micrograms/kg, respectively. The decrement observed following repetitive stimulation was attributed to a presynaptic site of action. No change in maximal motor nerve conduction velocity or latency of the ECAP was observed after i.v. administration of (+)anatoxin-a hydrochloride at 100 micrograms/kg. LD50 values (95% confidence limits) for anatoxin-a administered i.v. to mice were 386 micrograms/kg (365-408 micrograms/kg, for (+)anatoxin-a hydrochloride and 913 micrograms/kg (846-985 micrograms/kg) for racemic anatoxin-a hydrochloride. No deaths were observed in mice after i.p. administration of (-)anatoxin-a hydrochloride at doses up to 73 mg/kg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000032:analysis*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004576:Electromyography; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D052998:Microcystins; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014326:Tropanes
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D014326:Tropanes; C509783:anatoxin a