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In Vivo Effects of β‐Bungarotoxin on the Acetylcholine System in Different Brain Areas of the Rat
Author(s) -
Gulya K.,
Budai D.,
Kása P.,
Rakonczay Z.
Publication year - 1984
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.1471-4159.1984.tb06685.x
Subject(s) - acetylcholine , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , striatum , choline acetyltransferase , in vivo , chemistry , cerebrum , hippocampus , choline , acetylcholinesterase , medicine , cholinergic , toxin , endocrinology , pharmacology , central nervous system , receptor , biology , biochemistry , dopamine , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology
The in vivo effects of β‐bungarotoxin (β‐BT) on the acetylcholine (ACh) system were studied in the whole cerebrum and in different brain regions. The effect of β‐BT on cerebral ACh and choline (Ch) contents was time‐dependent. The results show that a singe intrace‐ rebroventricular injection of 1 μg toxin increased both the ACh and Ch contents in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum, while in the striatum the ACh level was decreased. Ten nanograms of toxin injected into the lateral ventricle twice, on the first and third days, led to a reduced ACh level 2 days after the last treatment. In animals treated with the same dose three times, on the first, third, and fifth days, and sacrificed 2 days after the last injection, the choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities were reduced and the number of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors was decreased. A biphasic effect of the toxin was therefore demonstrated. It is suggested that in the first phase of the toxin effect the increased levels of ACh and Ch may be due to the inhibition of neuronal transmission, while in the second phase, when the elements of the ACh system are reduced, the neuronal degenerating effect of β‐BT plays a significant role.