Premium
Differential effects of α‐latrotoxin on mouse nerve endings and fibers
Author(s) -
Mallart Alberto,
Haimann Claudia
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880080211
Subject(s) - free nerve ending , motor nerve , postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , chemistry , electrophysiology , impulse (physics) , anatomy , biophysics , biology , biochemistry , receptor , physics , quantum mechanics
The action of α‐latrotoxin (α‐LTx), the major toxic component from black widow spider venom, was studied on mammalian motor nerve endings and fibers. Electrophysiologic recordings of presynaptic and postsynaptic responses at early stages after the application of different doses of α‐LTx showed massive transient increases in transmitter release and changes in the configuration of presynaptic currents. Later, a loss of invasion of terminals by nerve impulses occurred, whereas the impulse conduction in nerve fibers was unmodified. These results support the idea of a selective effect of α‐LTx on presynaptic membrane excitability.