Mechanisms of Action of Trichothecenes in the Cardiovascular System
Abstract
Work performed during the past quarter was composed of our final experiments with T-2 toxin and Roridin A as well an increasing number of experiments with low molecular weight toxins that alter ion channels in excitable membranes tetrodotoxin (TTX), batrachotoxin (BTX), and veratridine (V) . The mycotoxin experiments were consistent with previous observations that autonomic nervous system disturbances are responsible for a substantial part of the cardiovascular collapse reported for trichothecene mycotoxicosis. Neither depressed cerebral blood flow nor pulmonary arteriolar resistance increase appeared to be of importance in experiments carried out in pentobarbital- anesthetized rats and dogs. The other set of experiments confirmed that single openings of Sodium (+) channels in cardiac cell membranes are difficult to study because of their voltage-and time-dependencies (they open infrequently once and briefly for a single voltage step). Therefore, we tested effects of BTX and V (Sodium + channel-openers) on single channels of cardiac muscle cells. The results indicated that they open channels that carry inward current and this can be blocked by TTx. They will be studied further as Sodium + channel agonists as well as TTX antagonists in cardiac cells.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA178107
Entities
People
- W. T.
Organizations
- University of Alabama