Modulation of BmKAS-1 and BmK1-3-2 to sodium channel in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate what effects BmKAS-1 (a polypeptide purified from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch [BmK] and named as BmK activator of skeletal-muscle ryanodine receptor) and its upstream mixture BmK1-3-2 have on Na+ channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) small diameter neurons.


METHODS
The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the effects of BmKAS-1 and BmK1-3-2 on Na+ current in rat small diameter DRG neurons.


RESULTS
About 50% peak Na+ current was suppressed by 10 micrograms/ml of BmK1-3-2. 1.62 micrograms/ml of BmKAS-1 also blocked 50% peak Na+ current, and there was an obvious dose-dependent relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Both BmK1-3-2 and BmKAS-1 have a blocking effect on Na+ channels, and this may one of the mechanisms for the analgetic effect of BmK1-3-2 and BmKAS-1.
Xiao
H
H
Department of Neurotoxicology, Applied Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing 210029, China. neutoxi@njmu.edu.cn
Mao
X
X
Tan
Z
Z
Shi
Y
Y
Zhao
Z
Z
Ji
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides; D051381:Rats; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
C119408:KAS-1 toxin, Buthus martensi; D010455:Peptides; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D015222:Sodium Channels