Effects of sea-anemone toxin (ATX-II) on the frequency of miniature endplate potentials at rat neuromuscular junctions.
Soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles were isolated from rats. The muscles were exposed to ATX-II, a toxin isolated from extracts of the sea-anemone Anemonia sulcata . The toxin caused a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of miniature endplate potentials in both types of muscle. The increase in frequency could be reversed by the application of tetrodotoxin (TTX), and could be prevented by prior exposure of the muscles to TTX. It is concluded that ATX-II causes a sodium-dependent depolarization of the nerve-terminal membrane.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D003063:Cnidaria; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012615:Sea Anemones
D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; C028800:toxin II (Anemonia sulcata)