Blockade of Acetylcholine Receptors by Cobra Toxin Electrophysiology and Pharmacology

Author

Henry A. Lester

Date of Award

1971

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract

Cholinergic transmission has been studied in the presence of a pure polypeptide toxin, of known amino-acid sequence, from cobra venom. For the frog sartorius myoneural junction, micropipette electrodes and on-line computer were used to show that the toxin specifically and irreversibly inactivates postsynaptic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors 0 Raja and Torpedo electroplaques also show nicotinic pharmacology and were similarly affected by the toxin. The toxin failed to affect the muscarinic receptors of the isolated frog heart or the receptors of Aplysia neurons (neither nicotinic nor muscarinic)o These and other observations suggest that the toxin's pharmacological specificity is confined to nicotinic ACh receptors.

Comments

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of The Rockefeller University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Recommended Citation

Lester, Henry A., "Blockade of Acetylcholine Receptors by Cobra Toxin Electrophysiology and Pharmacology" (1971). Student Theses and Dissertations. 554.
https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/student_theses_and_dissertations/554