title: Spider toxin (JSTX-3) inhibits the convulsions induced by glutamate agonists.
abstract: The effect of a spider toxin (JSTX-3)--a specific blocker of glutamate receptors--on the behavior of mice was studied using an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection technique. At higher doses (more than 12 nmol/brain), JSTX-3 increased motor activities and induced characteristic symptoms. JSTX-3 at a dose of 4.7 nmol/brain which per se did not produce any abnormal behavior, specifically antagonized quisqualate-induced convulsions but not NMDA- or kainate-induced convulsions. These results indicate that JSTX-3 is a selective antagonist of the quisqualate receptors in the mammalian central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D016318:Quisqualic Acid; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001180:Arthropod Venoms; C044936:JSTX spider toxin; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D013111:Spider Venoms; D016318:Quisqualic Acid; D007608:Kainic Acid