Release of γ-[ 3H]aminobutyric acid in rat brain cortical slices by α-scorpion toxin

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 325; no. 3; pp. 155 - 158
• Main Authors: Nicolato, R., Fernandes, V.M.V., Moraes-Santos, T., Gomez, R.S., Prado, M.A.M., Romano-Silva, M.A., Gomez, M.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 14.06.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; beta-Alanine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain slices; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Calcium Channels - drug effects; Central nervous system; Central neurotransmission. Neuromudulation. Pathways and receptors; Cerebral Cortex - drug effects; Cerebral Cortex - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; Gamma-aminobutyric acid release; In Vitro Techniques; Rats; Scorpion Venoms - adverse effects; Sodium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Sodium Channels - drug effects; Tetrodotoxin - pharmacology; Time Factors; Tityustoxin; Tritium; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; α-Scorpion toxin; Brain slices; α-Scorpion toxin; Tityustoxin; Gamma-aminobutyric acid release; Cerebral cortex; Rat; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Ionic channel; Toxin; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Sodium; Neurotoxin; Neurotransmitter; GABA; Release; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00177-5

In this paper, the effect of the α-scorpion toxin tityustoxin (TsTX) in the release of γ-[ 3H]aminobutyric acid ([ 3H]GABA) from rat brain cortical slices is described. The TsTX-stimulatory effect on the release of [ 3H]GABA was dependent on incubation time and TsTX concentration, having an EC 50 of 0.33 μM. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) completely inhibited the TsTX action on [ 3H]GABA release. The scorpion toxin effect was calcium-dependent and involves P/Q calcium channels. β-Alanine also induces the release of [ 3H]GABA that was not inhibited by TTX but was additive in the presence of TsTX. The data suggest a neuronal origin for the release of [ 3H]GABA by TsTX.