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Blocking action of snake venom polypeptides on cholinergic mechanisms of the leech dorsal muscle

  • Pharmacology
  • Published:
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

The blocking action of α-polypeptides isolated from the venom ofBungarus multicinctus andNaja naja siamensis was investigated in experiments on the isolated dorsal muscle of the leech. These neurotoxins (NTs), in a concentration of 1×10−5 g/ml, did not block responses to monoquaternary cholinomimetics (acetylcholine, carbachol, nicotine, monocholine ester of succinic acid). The ability of NT to block responses to biquaternary cholinomimetics depended on the length of their molecule. Only responses to dicholine esters of malonic, succinic and glutaric acids were blocked by NT. Dicholine esters of adipic, pimelic, suberic, azelaic, and sebacic acids retained the whole of their activity after treatment of the leech muscle with NT. The possible causes of the selective action of NT are discussed.

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Authors
  1. L. G. Magazanik
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  2. N. N. Potap'eva
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Magazanik, L.G., Potap'eva, N.N. Blocking action of snake venom polypeptides on cholinergic mechanisms of the leech dorsal muscle. Bull Exp Biol Med 79, 38–40 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00805500

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00805500

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