Nicotinic transmission in sympathetic ganglia: blockade by the snake venom neurotoxin kappa-bungarotoxin.
Kappa-bungarotoxin, a snake venom alpha-neurotoxin, blocks nicotinic transmission in chick lumbar sympathetic ganglia as well as in the rat superior cervical ganglion. Intracellular and extracellular recordings support the conclusion that the toxin has a specific action at the postsynaptic nicotinic receptors on ganglia neurons. The affinity of kappa-bungarotoxin for receptors in chick ganglia appears to be higher than that for receptors in the rat ganglia. Kappa-bungarotoxin can thus be used as a ligand for studying nicotinic receptors in a variety of neuronal preparations.
D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D002217:Carbachol