title: Behavioural effects in mice and intoxication symptomatology of weak neurotoxin from cobra Naja kaouthia.
abstract: Weak neurotoxins belong to the superfamily of three-finger toxins from snake venoms. In general, weak toxins have a low toxicity and, contrary to other three-finger toxins, their molecular targets are not well characterized: in vitro tests indicate that these may be nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Here, we report the influence of intraperitoneal and intravenous injections of weak neurotoxin from Naja kaouthia venom on mouse behaviour. Dose-dependent suppression of orientation-exploration and locomotion activities as well as relatively weak neurotropic effects of weak neurotoxin were observed. The myorelaxation effect suggests a weak antagonistic activity against muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neurotoxic effects of weak neurotoxin were related to its influence on peripheral nervous system. The symptomatology of the intoxication was shown to resemble that of muscarinic agonists. Our data suggest that, in addition to interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors observed earlier in vitro, weak neurotoxin interacts in vivo with some other molecular targets. The results of behavioural experiments are in accord with the pharmacological profile of weak neurotoxin effects on haemodynamics in mice and rat indicating the involvement of both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
authors: Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors: Dmitry Y
authors: DY
authors: Mordvintsev
authors: Dmitry I
authors: DI
authors: Rodionov
authors: Mariya V
authors: MV
authors: Makarova
authors: Andrey A
authors: AA
authors: Kamensky
authors: Natalya G
authors: NG
authors: Levitskaya
authors: Alexey Y
authors: AY
authors: Ogay
authors: Dmitry I
authors: DI
authors: Rzhevsky
authors: Arkady N
authors: AN
authors: Murashev
authors: Victor I
authors: VI
authors: Tsetlin
authors: Yuri N
authors: YN
authors: Utkin
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003039:Cobra Neurotoxin Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003039:Cobra Neurotoxin Proteins; D009498:Neurotoxins