title: Synaptic effects of low molecular weight components from Chilean Black Widow spider venom.
abstract: alpha-Latrotoxin is the principal component of the venom from the euroasiatic Black Widow spider and has been studied for its pharmacological use as a synaptic modulator. Interestingly, smaller molecular weight fractions have been found to be associated with this toxin, but their cellular actions have not been studied in detail. The venom from the Chilean Black Widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) does not produce alpha-latrotoxin, however it does contain several small polypeptides. We have recently demonstrated cellular effects of these peptides at the synaptic level using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Purified venom from the glands of L. mactans was studied in 12 DIV rat hippocampal neuronal cultures. Venom at a concentration of 10nM was able to decrease neuronal conductance thereby increasing membrane resistance. This effect on the passive properties of the neurons induced a change in action potential kinetics simulating the action of classic potassium channel blockers. These changes produced an increase in spontaneous synaptic activity in rat hippocampal cultures in the presence of the venom in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. These results indicate that venom from Chilean spider L. mactans is capable of increasing cell membrane resistance, prolonging the action potential and generating an increase in synaptic activity demonstrating an interesting pharmacological effect of these low molecular weight fragments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurociencia-CEBIOR, Departamento de Ciencia Preclinicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile. jparodi@ufro.cl
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D055369:Miniature Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D013111:Spider Venoms; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; C038599:black widow spider venom