Behaviors and neurodegeneration induced by two blockers of K+ channels, the mast cell degranulating peptide and Dendrotoxin I

Brain Res. 1997 Jul 11;762(1-2):223-7. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00481-2.

Abstract

Both the Mast Cell Degranulating (MCD) peptide and Dendrotoxin I (DTX(I)), two blockers of fast activation and slowly inactivating K+ channels, induced epileptiform seizures and brain damage after intracerebroventricular injection (200 pmol) in Sprague-Dawley rats. A considerable variation in the response of the rats was observed for each toxin. The neurodegeneration included the hippocampal formation, subiculum, septum, amygdala, and the cerebellum for both toxins, and the neocortex and anterior thalamic nuclei exclusively for DTX(I) treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bee Venoms / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Cerebellum / chemistry
  • Cerebellum / physiopathology
  • Elapid Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Hippocampus / chemistry
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Injections, Intraventricular
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects
  • Male
  • Nerve Degeneration / drug effects*
  • Neurotoxins / pharmacology
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Potassium Channel Blockers*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / physiopathology

Substances

  • Bee Venoms
  • Elapid Venoms
  • Neurotoxins
  • Peptides
  • Potassium Channel Blockers
  • mast cell degranulating peptide
  • dendrotoxin