Effect of Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus venom on sympathetic ganglion isolated in vitro

Paggi, Paola; Rossi, A.

doi:10.1016/0041-0101(71)90079-1

Cited by 26 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Similar evidence pointing to presynaptic action of the venom has been obtained in the cat soleus and tenuissimus muscles (Okamoto et al, 1971) and in the rat diaphragm (Ceccarelli and Mauro, manuscript in preparation). And recent experiments on the rat superior cervical ganglion indicate that here again the venom exerts its effect at the presynaptic endings (Paggi and Rossi, 1971;Paggi and Toschi, 1972). That the venom does not act exclusively at cholinergic terminals is seen in the very recent findings showing complete release of catecholamine from the nerve terminals in the rat iris .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Effect of Black Widow Spider Venom on the Lobster Neuromuscular Junctions

Kawai

Mauro

Grundfest

1972

The Journal of General Physiology

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The effect of black widow spider venom (BWSV) on the junctions of the lobster nerve-muscle preparation was studied by intracellular recordings. After application of BWSV both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (epsp and ipsp) were augmented then suppressed. The frequency of miniature potentials was markedly increased by BWSV. Summated postsynaptic conductance changes appeared to be responsible for the membrane depolarization and the decrease in effective membrane resistance seen in the early stages of the venom action. In the later stages both excitatory and inhibitory "giant miniature potentials" were evoked. 'No discernible changes were found in the reversal potential of the epsp and ipsp and in the sensitivity of the postsynaptic membrane. The results indicate that BWSV has a presynaptic action at crustacean neuromuscular junctions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Effect of Black Widow Spider Venom on the Lobster Neuromuscular Junctions

Kawai

Mauro

Grundfest

1972

The Journal of General Physiology

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“…These authors hypothesized that the block was due either to depolarization of the nerve cell bodies as was 2 THE JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY • VOLUME 52,1972 nerve cell, just as in the frog it leaves untouched the ability of the axon and muscle fiber to conduct action potentials. In the rat superior cervical ganglion, Paggi and Rossi (1971) have shown that the venom causes block of transmission and release of tagged acetylcholine with no impairment of axonal conduction .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the Fine Structure of the Neuromuscular Junction of the Frog Caused by Black Widow Spider Venom

Clark

Hurlbut

Mauro

1972

The Journal of Cell Biology

199

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Application of black widow spider venom to the neuromuscular junction of the frog causes an increase in the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (min.e.p.p.) and a reduction in the number of synaptic vesicles in the nerve terminal. Shortly after the increase in min.e.p.p. frequency, the presynaptic membrane of the nerve terminal has either infolded or "lifted." Examination of these infoldings or lifts reveals synaptic vesicles in various stages of fusion with the presynaptic membrane. After the supply of synaptic vesicles has been exhausted, the presynaptic membrane returns to its original position directly opposite the end-plate membrane. The terminal contains all of its usual components with the exception of the synaptic vesicles. The only other alteration of the structures making up the neuromuscular junction occurs in the axon leading to the terminal. Instead of completely filling out its Schwann sheath, the axon has pulled away and its axoplasm appears to be denser than the control. The relation of these events to the vesicle hypothesis is discussed.

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“…In addition to depolarizing excitable cells, the extract causes a release of transmitter from cholinergic nerve endings in brain (21,24), sympathetic ganglia (38,39), and Torpedo electric tissue (25), and from adrenergic nerve endings in the iris and other tissues (20,22,24). At neuromuscular junctions, the extract increases the frequency of occurrence of miniature end plate potentials, and blocks neuromuscular transmission.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Purification from black widow spider venom of a protein factor causing the depletion of synaptic vesicles at neuromuscular junctions.

Frontali¹,

Ceccarelli²,

Gorio³

et al. 1976

The Journal of Cell Biology

222

139

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The aqueous extract of the venom glands of black widow spiders was fractionated on a column of Sephadex G-200 and then on a column of DEAE-Sephadex A-50, pH 8.2. A protein fraction was obtained that caused a great increase in the frequency of occurrence of miniature end plate potentials at the frog neuromuscular junction, and caused swelling of the nerve terminals and depleted them of their vesicles. The fraction consists of at least four protein components that are similar in their molecular weights (about 130,000) and isoclectric points (ranging from pH 5.2 to 5.5) and are immunologicaUy indistinguishable. It contains no sugar residues and has little or no lipolytic or proteolytic activity. The fraction is toxic to mice and is different from the fractions that act on houseflies, the crayfish stretch receptor and the cockroach heart. It seems pure enough to warrant a detailed study of its site and mode of action.The physiological effects of the extract of the venom glands of the black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans, particularly the variety tredecimguttatus, have been studied extensively and the primary effects seem to be exerted on the nervous system (2-5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15-18, 20-23, 30, 31, 33, 36-40, 43). Some of the active agents are proteins (18), and they seem to act in at least two basic ways: (a) to depolarize the cell bodies of some neurons and (b) to cause the release of neurotransmitters from a variety of nerve endings. For example, the extract depolarizes the cell body of the crayfish stretch receptor (S. Obara and A. Mauro, unpublished data) and induces a discharge of impulses in the axon (26). This depolarizing action of the extract may be responsible for its ability to induce a discharge of action potentials in the abdominal ganglion of the cockroach (5, 17).In addition to depolarizing excitable cells, the extract causes a release of transmitter from cholinergic nerve endings in brain (21, 24), sympathetic ganglia (38, 39), and Torpedo electric tissue (25), and from adrenergic nerve endings in the iris and other tissues (20,22,24). At neuromuscular junctions, the extract increases the frequency of occurrence of miniature end plate potentials, and blocks neuromuscular transmission. The neuromuscular effects have been observed at the cholinergic junctions of frogs and mammals (31, 37), at adrenergic nerve endings (vas deferens) in mammals (27), at both the inhibitory (3,-aminobutyrate) 462

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Effect of Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus venom on sympathetic ganglion isolated in vitro

Cited by 26 publications

References 17 publications

Effect of Black Widow Spider Venom on the Lobster Neuromuscular Junctions

Effect of Black Widow Spider Venom on the Lobster Neuromuscular Junctions

Changes in the Fine Structure of the Neuromuscular Junction of the Frog Caused by Black Widow Spider Venom

Purification from black widow spider venom of a protein factor causing the depletion of synaptic vesicles at neuromuscular junctions.

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