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. 1971 Oct;218(2):433–445. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009626

Selective effects of an octopus toxin on action potentials

Angela Dulhunty, Peter W Gage
PMCID: PMC1331804  PMID: 4330930

Abstract

1. A lethal, water soluble toxin (Maculotoxin, MTX) with a molecular weight less than 540, can be extracted from the salivary glands of an octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa).

2. MTX blocks action potentials in sartorius muscle fibres of toads without affecting the membrane potential. Delayed rectification is not inhibited by the toxin.

3. At low concentrations (10-6-10-5 g/ml.) MTX blocks action potentials only after a certain number have been elicited. The number of action potentials, which can be defined accurately, depends on the concentration of MTX and the concentration of sodium ions in the extracellular solution.

4. The toxin has no post-synaptic effect at the neuromuscular junction and it is concluded that it blocks neuromuscular transmission by inhibiting action potentials in motor nerve terminals.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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