Journal article
Snake venoms and the neuromuscular junction
Seminars in neurology, Vol.24(2), pp.175-179
06/2004
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830904
PMID: 15257514
Abstract
There are approximately 420 venomous species of snakes living on the earth. Their venoms, each unique, can affect multiple organ systems. The venoms have a predilection for the peripheral nervous system where the neuromuscular junction is a favorite target. Those venoms affecting the release of acetylcholine from the presynaptic membrane are called beta-neurotoxins and those affecting the postsynaptic membrane are called alpha-neurotoxins. alpha-Bungarotoxin has been used in quantitative studies of acetylcholine receptor density and turnover and for the assay of antibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor. A unique feature of timber rattlesnake venom is its ability to cause clinical myokymia. This likely results from a blockade of voltage gated K+ antibodies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Snake venoms and the neuromuscular junction
- Creators
- Robert L Lewis - Department of Neurology, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505,USALudwig Gutmann
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Seminars in neurology, Vol.24(2), pp.175-179
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1055/s-2004-830904
- PMID
- 15257514
- ISSN
- 0271-8235
- eISSN
- 1098-9021
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2004
- Academic Unit
- Neurology
- Record Identifier
- 9984013921502771
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