Sodium Channel Toxins and Neurotransmitter Release |
| |
Authors: | André Ricardo Massensini Marco Aurélio Romano-Silva Marcus Vinícius Gomez |
| |
Affiliation: | Núcleo de Neurociências, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil. |
| |
Abstract: | Voltage-dependent sodium channels (VDSC) are an important class of ion channels in excitable cells, where they are responsible for the generation and conduction of action potential. In addition, the release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals is influenced by sodium channel activity. The function of VDSC is subject to modulation by various neurotoxins, such as scorpion toxins, which have long been used as tools in the investigation of neurotransmitter release. This opens an interesting perspective concerning modulation of neurotransmission via pharmacological manipulation of sodium channel properties, which can lead to a better understanding of their physiological and pathological roles. Here we briefly review the studies of neurotoxins acting on sodium channels, focusing primarily on the view of the mechanisms of neurotransmitter release. |
| |
Keywords: | Sodium channels scorpion toxins tityustoxin veratridine neurotransmission |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|