Release of packets of acetylcholine and synaptic vesicles elicited by brown widow spider venom in frog motor nerve endings poisoned by botulinum toxin

Life Sciences ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Pumplin ◽  
José del Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Motor Nerve ◽  
Nerve Endings ◽  
Spider Venom ◽  
Brown Widow Spider ◽  
Widow Spider

Ultrastructural Studies of the Action of Australian Spider Venoms

1972 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 40-41
Author(s):  
Ross C. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Motor Nerve ◽  
Nerve Endings ◽  
Spider Venom ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Ultrastructural Studies ◽  
Web Spider ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Black Widow Spider Venom ◽  
Latrodectus Mactans ◽  
Widow Spider

Ultrastructural studies have shown that Black Widow Spider venom has dramatic effects on motor nerve terminals causing in amphibians and mammals the disappearance of synaptic vesicles and in mammals the degeneration of nerve endings. There are two deadly Australian Spiders, the Red Back (Latrodectus mactans hasseltii), a subspecies of the Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans), and the Funnel Web Spider (Atrax robustus), unrelated. Because the Black Widow and Red Back are closely related it was anticipated that their venoms would have similar actions. Pharmacological studies indicated that the Funnel Web Spider venom also acted by releasing acetylcholine. The action of these venoms on nerve endings was studied.

scholarly journals CHANGES IN THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION OF THE FROG CAUSED BY BLACK WIDOW SPIDER VENOM

1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen W. Clark ◽  
William P. Hurlbut ◽  
Alexander Mauro
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Nerve Terminal ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Spider Venom ◽  
Presynaptic Membrane ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
End Plate ◽  
Black Widow Spider Venom ◽  
Widow Spider

Application of black widow spider venom to the neuromuscular junction of the frog causes an increase in the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (min.e.p.p.) and a reduction in the number of synaptic vesicles in the nerve terminal. Shortly after the increase in min.e.p.p. frequency, the presynaptic membrane of the nerve terminal has either infolded or "lifted." Examination of these infoldings or lifts reveals synaptic vesicles in various stages of fusion with the presynaptic membrane. After the supply of synaptic vesicles has been exhausted, the presynaptic membrane returns to its original position directly opposite the end-plate membrane. The terminal contains all of its usual components with the exception of the synaptic vesicles. The only other alteration of the structures making up the neuromuscular junction occurs in the axon leading to the terminal. Instead of completely filling out its Schwann sheath, the axon has pulled away and its axoplasm appears to be denser than the control. The relation of these events to the vesicle hypothesis is discussed.

The Role of Cholesterol in the Exo- and Endocytosis of Synaptic Vesicles in Frog Motor Nerve Endings

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 894-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Petrov ◽  
M. R. Kasimov ◽  
A. R. Giniatullin ◽  
O. I. Tarakanova ◽  
A. L. Zefirov
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Motor Nerve ◽  
Nerve Endings
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