title: Omega AGA toxin IVA blocks high-voltage-activated calcium channel currents in cultured pars intercerebralis neurosecretory cells of adult locusta migratoria.
abstract: Using the whole cell patch-clamp technique, calcium (Ca) channel currents from cultured medial neurosecretory cells (MNSCs) of Locusta migratoria (Rössler and Bickmeyer, 1993) were investigated. The calcium channel blocker omega AGA toxin IVA (AGA IVA) blocks a fraction of these calcium channel currents in approximately 30% of MNSCs, without a shift in the I-V relationship. The block can be at least partially reversed by strong depolarizing voltage pulses as described for vertebrate neurones from Mintz et al. (1992). The existence of probably more than three calcium channel types in insects is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Neurotoxikologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bickmeyer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rössler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiegand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D013111:Spider Venoms; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA