title: Neurophysiological effects of botulinum toxin type A.
abstract: Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) acts peripherally by inhibiting acetylcholine release from the presynaptic neuromuscular terminals, thus weakening muscle contraction, and its clinical benefit depends primarily on the toxin's peripheral action. In addition to acting directly at the neuromuscular junction, the toxin alters sensory inputs to the central nervous system, thus indirectly inducing secondary central changes. Some of the long-term clinical benefits of BoNT-A treatment may also reflect plastic changes in motor output after the reorganization of synaptic density.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Oftalmologia e Genetica, Universitá di Genova, Italia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berardelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A