Spider toxin (JSTX-3) inhibits the convulsions induced by glutamate agonists.
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.
Himi
T
T
Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Saito
H
H
Kawai
N
N
Nakajima
T
T
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*
D001180:Arthropod Venoms; C044936:JSTX spider toxin; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D013111:Spider Venoms; D016318:Quisqualic Acid; D007608:Kainic Acid