title: Venom effects on monoaminergic systems.
abstract: The monoamines, dopamine, epinephrine, histamine, norepinephrine, octopamine, serotonin and tyramine serve many functions in animals. Many different venoms have evolved to manipulate monoaminergic systems via a variety of cellular mechanisms, for both offensive and defensive purposes. One common function of monoamines present in venoms is to produce pain. Some monoamines in venoms cause immobilizing hyperexcitation which precedes venom-induced paralysis or hypokinesia. A common function of venom components that affect monoaminergic systems is to facilitate distribution of other venom components by causing vasodilation at the site of injection or by increasing heart rate. Venoms of some scorpions, spiders, fish and jellyfish contain adrenergic agonists or cause massive release of catecholamines with serious effects on the cardiovascular system, including increased heart rate. Other venom components act as agonists, antagonists or modulators at monoaminergic receptors, or affect release, reuptake or synthesis of monoamines. Most arthropod venoms have insect targets, yet, little attention has been paid to possible effects of these venoms on monoaminergic systems in insects. Further research into this area may reveal novel effects of venom components on monoaminergic systems at the cellular, systems and behavioral levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel. aviva@alum.mit.edu
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weisel-Eichler
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Libersat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013045:Species Specificity; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D014688:Venoms; D006632:Histamine