SCORPION TOXIN-INDUCED CATECHOLAMINE RELEASE FROM SYNAPTOSOMES

1471-4159

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Abstract— A toxin purified from crude venom of the scorpion L. quinquestriatus releases [3H]norepinephrine from synaptosomes prepared from rat brain. The toxin-induced release is dependent on duration of exposure and concentration of toxin in the medium. The absence of calcium in the medium diminishes toxin-induced release but does not abolish it. Toxin-induced release is diminished by tetrodotoxin or, to a lesser extent, by desmethylimipramine. Since the released tritium is present predominantly as norepinephrine, it appears that toxin-induced release is similar to that produced by veratradine or tyramine and is distinct from reserpine induced release.

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