title: Philanthotoxin inhibits Ca2+ currents in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons.
abstract: The wasp venom philanthotoxin-4.3.3 (PhTX-4.3.3) is an antagonist of glutamate transmission in the insect as well as in the mammalian brain. It was recently shown that PhTX-4.3.3 inhibits the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) transmission in rat hippocampus. In this study we show that dideaza-philanthotoxin-12 (dideaza-PhTX-12), an analogue of PhTX-4.3.3, is a potent antagonist of voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons. At a concentration of 10 microM it reduces the Ca2+ current to 40%. Two voltage-dependent potassium currents, the A current and the delayed rectifier, were hardly affected by dideaza-PhTX-12, indicating selectivity of the drug for Ca2+ currents. As a consequence the philanthotoxins will inhibit the calcium influx via voltage dependent as well as NMDA mediaded calcium channels and thus reduce excitability in the hippocampus.
authors: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Karst
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Joëls
authors: W J
authors: WJ
authors: Wadman
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Piek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011073:Polyamines; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D011073:Polyamines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C091262:dideaza-philanthotoxin-12; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C034092:delta-philanthotoxin; D002118:Calcium