Effects of the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata toxin II on skeletal muscle and on neuromuscular transmission

Abstract

Effects of anemone toxin II (ATX II) have been analysed on the neuromuscular junction of the frog and different twitch muscles. Amplitudes of evoked endplate potentials and endplate currents are increased by ATX II, without effects on the amplitudes of miniature endplate potentials and endplate currents resulting from ionophoretically applied transmitter. The increase in evoked transmitter release is due to an increase in quantal content caused by an effect of the toxin on the presynaptic action potentials. ATX II is also effective on muscle fibers. The action potentials of frog twitch muscles are reversibly prolonged by ATX II. Their rate of rise and amplitudes are increased, while there is no effect on resting membrane potential. Similarly, action potentials of fast twitch muscle (extensor digitorum longus, EDL) of the mouse are reversibly prolonged by ATX II. In slow twitch muscle (soleus, SOL) of the mouse the toxin induces repetitive action potentials following the generation of a single action potential. Tetrodotoxin resistant action potentials of both denervated EDL and SOL are greatly and irreversibly prolonged by ATX II. The effects on muscle are due to a Na+ channel specific action of ATX II. Na+ current inactivation is slowed with the time constant tau h increasing towards positive membrane potentials. The steady state inactivation curve hoo was shifted to more positive potentials and its slope reduced.