title: Contraction induced by Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin in the isolated rat ileum.
abstract: Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin caused contraction of the isolated rat ileum in a dose-dependent manner. The contraction caused by the toxin was inhibited by verapamil, nifedipine, cinnarizine, but not by tetrodotoxin or incubation in a low Na+ medium. The toxin stimulated Ca2+ uptake in the ileum in a dose-dependent manner. Nifedipine completely inhibited the Ca2+ uptake into the ileum induced by the toxin. Furthermore, TMB-8, trifluoperazine, W-7 and H-7 significantly blocked the toxin-induced contraction. On the other hand, the toxin activated de novo production of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol in the tissue. These data suggest that the toxin-induced contraction is due to an increased Ca2+ permeability across the tissue, and activation of phospholipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirotani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007082:Ileum; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D010738:Type C Phospholipases
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens