Animal peptide toxins have become powerful tools to study structure-function relationships and physiological roles of voltage-activated Ca 2ϩ channels. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PnTx3-6, a neurotoxin purified from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer on cloned mammalian Ca 2ϩ channels expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and endogenous Ca 2ϩ channels in N18 neuroblastoma cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp measurements indicate that PnTx3-6 reversibly inhibited L-(␣ 1C
PnPP-19 potentiates erection in vivo and ex vivo via the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. It does not affect sodium channels or rat hearts and shows no toxicity and low immunogenicity. These findings make it a promising candidate as a novel drug in the therapy of erectile dysfunction.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.