Biomaterial Database

The influence of taipoxin on cholinergic synapses in the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. 1978

W Naef, and P G Waser

The influences of the snake venom taipoxin on the cholinergic synapses of the electric organ of Torpedo mamorata were investigated. 1. In ultrathin sections presynaptic membrane indentations are noted under the influence of taipoxin/NaCl. 2. The presynaptic membranes often show small interruptions. 3. In taipoxin/horseradish peroxidase incubated organ pieces typical omega-shaped indentations are found, but on the postsynaptic side. 4. The vesicle density decreased under the influence of the taipoxin in contrast untreated cholinergic synapses. 5. In freeze etched preparations no membrane indentations and interruptions are observed, but only a small vesicle density was seen.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002799	Cholinergic Fibers	Nerve fibers liberating acetylcholine at the synapse after an impulse.	Cholinergic Fiber,Fiber, Cholinergic,Fibers, Cholinergic
D004557	Electric Organ	In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672)	Electric Organs,Organ, Electric,Organs, Electric
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005399	Fishes	A group of cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates having gills, fins, a cartilaginous or bony endoskeleton, and elongated bodies covered with scales.
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
D012910	Snake Venoms	Solutions or mixtures of toxic and nontoxic substances elaborated by snake (Ophidia) salivary glands (Duvernoy's gland) for the purpose of killing prey or disabling predators and delivered by grooved or hollow fangs. They usually contain enzymes, toxins, and other factors.	Duvernoy's Gland Secretion,Duvernoy's Secretion,Snake Toxin,Snake Toxins,Snake Venom,Duvernoy Gland Secretion,Duvernoy Secretion,Duvernoys Gland Secretion,Duvernoys Secretion,Secretion, Duvernoy's,Secretion, Duvernoy's Gland,Toxin, Snake,Venom, Snake
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
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In