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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-2-10
pubmed:abstractText
TaiCatoxin (TCX), a complex toxin isolated from Taipan snake venom, is believed to have a specific blocking activity on voltage-dependent cardiac calcium channels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TCX on a broad range of heart muscle cell functions, i.e. electrophysiology, contractility, automaticity and the related biochemical modifications. Myocyte-enriched cultures were prepared from newborn rat heart ventricles. The transmembrane potentials were recorded with glass microelectrodes. The contractions were monitored photometrically. TCX decreased the action potential amplitudes, mainly by lowering the plateau. The action potential duration and the contraction parameters were decreased. Although TCX has a minor overall negative chronotropic effect, it evoked transient but severe arrhythmias and prolonged changes in the intercellular electrical coupling. Moreover, the action of TCX appeared to be dose-dependent. These effects are consistent with a specific blockade of the L-type, voltage-dependent calcium channels, but effects of other components of the toxin complex cannot be excluded. TCX also exhibits phospholipase A2 activity leading to the release of Iysophospholipids and FFA (acyl CoA and acyl carnitine), which have detrimental effects on cellular integrity and function.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0300-8177
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
160-161
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
61-6
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Effect of TaiCatoxin (TCX) on the electrophysiological, mechanical and biochemical characteristics of spontaneously beating ventricular cardiomyocytes.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory de Physiologie Faculté de Médecine, Dijon, France.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't