Reversibility of neuromuscular blockade produced by toxins isolated from the venom of the seasnake Laticauda semifasciata

A. L. Harvey*, I. W. Rodger

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The neuromuscular blocking potencies and reversibilities of purified toxins from the venom of the seasnake Laticauda semifasciata were assessed on the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. All toxins inhibited the responses to indirect stimulation and to carbachol but not the responses to direct muscle stimulation or to raised KCl concentrations. Fraction 0·06 M and 0·09 M were about 100 times less potent than the most potent compound, erabutoxin b but they were similarly partially and slowly reversible. In contrast LsIII toxin was less potent than erabutoxin b but its effect could be readily reversed by washing. Since the toxins differ in chemical structure, it is suggested that separate parts of the toxin molecule may determine affinity for the acetylcholine receptor and reversibility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)219-225
Number of pages7
JournalToxicon
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1978

Keywords

  • carbachol
  • cholinergic receptor
  • erabutoxin
  • snake venom
  • animal experiment
  • chicken
  • muscle
  • neuromuscular blocking
  • peripheral nervous system
  • reptile

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