title: Contraction induced by Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin in the isolated rat ileum.
abstract: Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin caused contraction of the isolated ileum of the rat in a dose-dependent manner. The contraction caused by the toxin was inhibited by a low Na medium, tetrodotoxin (TTX), atropine, mecamylamine or tetraethylammonium (TEA). Furthermore, the contractile response induced by the toxin was abolished by incubation in Ca-free medium, and completely restored by and addition of Ca2+. In addition, verapamil inhibited contraction induced by the toxin in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that epsilon toxin induces contraction of the isolated ileum and that the toxin-elicited contraction is the result of an indirect action mediated through the nervous systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagahama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C039811:Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D001285:Atropine; D002118:Calcium