Biomaterial Database

Blockade of synaptic transmission in the squid giant synapse by a spider toxin (JSTX). 1983

N Kawai, and S Yamagishi, and M Saito, and K Furuya

We studied the effect of spider toxin (JSTX)--specific blocker of glutamate receptor--on giant synapse of the squid stellate ganglion. JSTX irreversibly blocked the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) without affecting the presynaptic action potential or the antidromic action potential. L-glutamate depolarized the postsynaptic membrane and suppressed EPSP which may be due to desensitization. The action of glutamate was completely blocked in the presence of JSTX. The results suggest that glutamate is the transmitter at the giant synapse of squid.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007608	Kainic Acid	(2S-(2 alpha,3 beta,4 beta))-2-Carboxy-4-(1-methylethenyl)-3-pyrrolidineacetic acid. Ascaricide obtained from the red alga Digenea simplex. It is a potent excitatory amino acid agonist at some types of excitatory amino acid receptors and has been used to discriminate among receptor types. Like many excitatory amino acid agonists it can cause neurotoxicity and has been used experimentally for that purpose.	Digenic Acid,Kainate,Acid, Digenic,Acid, Kainic
D009435	Synaptic Transmission	The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES.	Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005728	Ganglia, Sympathetic	Ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system including the paravertebral and the prevertebral ganglia. Among these are the sympathetic chain ganglia, the superior, middle, and inferior cervical ganglia, and the aorticorenal, celiac, and stellate ganglia.	Celiac Ganglia,Sympathetic Ganglia,Celiac Ganglion,Ganglion, Sympathetic,Ganglia, Celiac,Ganglion, Celiac,Sympathetic Ganglion
D005971	Glutamates	Derivatives of GLUTAMIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the 2-aminopentanedioic acid structure.	Glutamic Acid Derivatives,Glutamic Acids,Glutaminic Acids
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001180	Arthropod Venoms	Venoms from animals of the phylum ARTHROPODA. Those most investigated are from SCORPIONS and SPIDERS of the class Arachnidae and from ant, bee, and wasp families of the INSECTA order HYMENOPTERA. The venoms contain protein toxins, enzymes, and other bioactive substances and may be lethal to man.	Arachnid Toxin,Arachnid Toxins,Arachnid Venoms,Hymenoptera Venom,Hymenoptera Venoms,Insect Venom,Insect Venoms,Arachnid Venom,Arthropod Venom,Toxin, Arachnid,Toxins, Arachnid,Venom, Arachnid,Venom, Arthropod,Venom, Hymenoptera,Venom, Insect,Venoms, Arachnid,Venoms, Arthropod,Venoms, Hymenoptera,Venoms, Insect
D013111	Spider Venoms	Venoms of arthropods of the order Araneida of the ARACHNIDA. The venoms usually contain several protein fractions, including ENZYMES, hemolytic, neurolytic, and other TOXINS, BIOLOGICAL.	Araneid Venoms,Spider Toxin,Spider Toxins,Tarantula Toxin,Tarantula Toxins,Tarantula Venom,Araneid Venom,Spider Venom,Tarantula Venoms,Toxin, Spider,Toxin, Tarantula,Toxins, Spider,Toxins, Tarantula,Venom, Araneid,Venom, Spider,Venom, Tarantula,Venoms, Araneid,Venoms, Spider,Venoms, Tarantula
D013569	Synapses	Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.	Synapse
D049832	Decapodiformes	A superorder of CEPHALOPODS comprised of squid, cuttlefish, and their relatives. Their distinguishing feature is the modification of their fourth pair of arms into tentacles, resulting in 10 limbs.	Cuttlefish,Illex,Sepiidae,Squid,Todarodes,Cuttlefishs,Decapodiforme,Illices,Squids,Todarode