title: [Desmosome-like contacts of Mauthner neurons as targets of scorpion venom].
abstract: Desmosome-like contacts (DLC) in afferent chemical synapses of the Mauthner cells (MC) were investigated after application of low and high molecular mass peptide fractions 6 and 9, correspondingly, from the Central Asiatic black scorpion Orthochirus scrobiculosus. Besides, the DLC were examined in condition of a training induced morpho-functional stability of the MC (adaptation) mediated by transformation of actin monomers into polymers. In addition, the structure of DLC was studied after cytochalasin application which disrupts F-actin. Fraction 6 was shown to increase the length of DLC and osmiophily of fibrous material. Similar changes in DLC were caused by adaptation. Fraction 9 decreased the osmiophily of the fibrous material, made DLC asymmetric, but did not influence their length. Similar changes in DLC were seen also after cytochalasin D application. Taking into account our previous data on the role of F-actin in the MC functioning, which were obtained following specific pharmacological treatments, the similarity of ultrastructural changes in DLC after both adaptation and fraction 6 application, on the one hand, and after both cytochalasin D and fraction 9 application, on the other one, enabled us to suggest that these fractions may contain peptides able to exert influence of the actin cytoskeleton.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytotechnology, Pushchino State University.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Mikheeva
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Tiras
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moshkov
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Pashkov
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Grishin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006054:Goldfish; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms