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The Effects of Scorpion Venom Toxin on the Release of Amino Acid Neurotransmitters from Cerebral Cortex In Vivo and In Vitro
Author(s) -
CoutinhoNetto J.,
AbdulGhani A.S.,
Norris P. J.,
Thomas A. J.,
Bradford H. F.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1980.tb03691.x
Subject(s) - tetrodotoxin , in vivo , neurotoxin , glutamate receptor , venom , neurotransmitter , pharmacology , biology , in vitro , chemistry , neuroscience , biochemistry , receptor , central nervous system , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology
: Tityustoxin, the active component of the venom of the Brazilian yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus , caused specific release of the neurotransmitter amino acids glutamate, aspartate and GABA in vivo from the superfused sensori‐motor cortex of conscious unanesthetised rats and in vitro from rat cortical synaptosomes. The effects on synaptosomes appear to be due to a depolarising action. Synaptosomal potassium levels were depleted by the toxin. The action was also blocked both in vivo and in vitro by tetrodotoxin and was Ca 2+ ‐dependent. The uptake of [U‐ 14 C]GABA was inhibited by tityustoxin but this action was prevented by tetrodotoxin (1 μm). Since the release of [U‐ 14 C]GABA from synaptosomes due to the tityustoxin was also prevented by ietrodotoxin under identical circumstances, it is concluded that the tityustoxin has a primary action on release of neurotransmitters rather than on uptake.