tetrodotoxin and Hypersensitivity

Voltage-gated Na(+) channels (Nav) are the targets of a variety of scorpion toxins. Here, we investigated the effects of Amm VIII, a toxin isolated from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus, on pain-related behaviours in mice. The effects of Amm VIII were compared with the classic scorpion α-toxin AaH II from Androctonus australis. Contrary to AaH II, intraplantar injection of Amm VIII at relatively high concentrations caused little nocifensive behaviours. However, Amm VIII induced rapid mechanical and thermal pain hypersensitivities. We evaluated the toxins' effects on Nav currents in nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and immortalized DRG neuron-derived F11 cells. Amm VIII and AaH II enhanced tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) Nav currents in DRG and F11 cells. Both toxins impaired fast inactivation and negatively shifted activation. AaH II was more potent than Amm VIII at modulating TTX-S Nav currents with EC50 of 5 nM and 1 μM, respectively. AaH II and Amm VIII also impaired fast inactivation of Nav1.7, with EC50 of 6.8 nM and 1.76 μM, respectively. Neither Nav1.8 nor Nav1.9 was affected by the toxins. AaH II and Amm VIII reduced first spike latency and lowered action potential threshold. Amm VIII was less efficient than AaH II in increasing the gain of the firing frequency-stimulation relationship. In conclusion, our data show that Amm VIII, although less potent than AaH II, acts as a gating-modifier peptide reminiscent of classic α-toxins, and suggest that its hyperalgesic effects can be ascribed to gain-of-function of TTX-S Na(+) channels in nociceptors.

Topics: Animals; Biophysical Phenomena; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ganglia, Spinal; Hyperalgesia; Hypersensitivity; Male; Membrane Potentials; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons; Pain; Pain Threshold; Rats; Scorpion Venoms; Sodium Channel Blockers; Sodium Channels; Tetrodotoxin

Visceral hypersensitivity is a clinical observation made when diagnosing patients with functional bowel disorders. The cause of visceral hypersensitivity is unknown but is thought to be attributed to inflammation. Previously we demonstrated that a unique set of enteric neurons, colospinal afferent neurons (CANs), co-localize with the NR1 and NR2D subunits of the NMDA receptor as well as with the PAR2 receptor. The aim of this study was to determine if NMDA and PAR2 receptors expressed on CANs contribute to visceral hypersensitivity following inflammation. Recently, work has suggested that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons expressing the transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) receptor mediate inflammation induced visceral hypersensitivity. Therefore, in order to study CAN involvement in visceral hypersensitivity, DRG neurons expressing the TRPV1 receptor were lesioned with resiniferatoxin (RTX) prior to inflammation and behavioural testing.. CANs do not express the TRPV1 receptor; therefore, they survive following RTX injection. RTX treatment resulted in a significant decrease in TRPV1 expressing neurons in the colon and immunohistochemical analysis revealed no change in peptide or receptor expression in CANs following RTX lesioning as compared to control data. Behavioral studies determined that both inflamed non-RTX and RTX animals showed a decrease in balloon pressure threshold as compared to controls. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the NR1 cassettes, N1 and C1, of the NMDA receptor on CANs were up-regulated following inflammation. Furthermore, inflammation resulted in the activation of the PAR2 receptors expressed on CANs.. Our data show that inflammation causes an up-regulation of the NMDA receptor and the activation of the PAR2 receptor expressed on CANs. These changes are associated with a decrease in balloon pressure in response to colorectal distension in non-RTX and RTX lesioned animals. Therefore, these data suggest that CANs contribute to visceral hypersensitivity during inflammation.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Colon; Diterpenes; Ganglia, Spinal; Hypersensitivity; Inflammation; NAV1.9 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; Neurons; Neurons, Afferent; Neuropeptides; Organ Specificity; Protein Subunits; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, PAR-2; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Sodium Channels; Tetrodotoxin; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; TRPV Cation Channels; Viscera

Topics: Acetylcholine; Alternaria; Analgesics; Animals; Antigens, Fungal; Atropine; Capsaicin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Stimulation; Hypersensitivity; In Vitro Techniques; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth; Potassium Chloride; Rabbits; Reference Values; Serotonin; Substance P; Tetrodotoxin; Trachea

In vivo uptake of the probe 51Cr-labeled EDTA from the jejunum of egg albumin (EA)-sensitized rats was compared with controls at baseline and after intraluminal antigen challenge. Probe recovery in blood was 60-80% greater in sensitized animals during the baseline period, suggesting that sensitization resulted in increased intestinal permeability. Sensitized, but not control, rats demonstrated a 15-fold increase in 51Cr-EDTA uptake after intraluminal antigen; no change occurred with an unrelated protein. Macromolecular recovery was also enhanced in sensitized animals, since serum levels of immunoreactive EA were elevated 14-fold compared with controls. Antigen challenge was accompanied by biochemical (protease release) and morphological (reduced numbers) evidence of mast cell degranulation in sensitized rats. The neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (applied directly to ligated jejunal segments) inhibited EA-induced uptake of 51Cr-EDTA and antigen. In isolated jejunum from sensitized rats, tetrodotoxin reduced secretory responses to luminal, but not serosal, antigen. These results indicate that neural factors may influence the uptake of molecules from the gut lumen during intestinal anaphylaxis.

Topics: Anaphylaxis; Animals; Cell Membrane Permeability; Electric Conductivity; Electrophysiology; Epithelium; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Jejunum; Male; Membrane Potentials; Muscle, Smooth; Ovalbumin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tetrodotoxin

Net ion transport by jejunum of rats immunized against Trichinella spiralis on challenge with parasite-derived antigen was measured in Ussing chambers as a rapidly expressed, biphasic rise and fall (phase I and II) in short-circuit current (delta Isc). This delta Isc is triggered by mucosal anaphylaxis. Our objective is to identify mast cell-derived substances that mediate the epithelial response. Antigenic challenge of sensitized jejunum caused the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), histamine, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The antigen-induced phase I response was mimicked by exogenous 5-HT or histamine and blocked by pretreatment of tissue with 5-HT and histamine H1-antagonists; the phase II response was mimicked by exogenous PGE2 and blocked by an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. Atropine and tetrodotoxin significantly blunted the phase I response as well as the delta Isc caused by exogenous 5-HT or histamine while only slightly reducing the phase II response and not affecting the delta Isc induced by PGE2. Results support the conclusion that 5-HT, histamine, and PGE2 mediate the antigen-induced change in Isc through direct and neurally mediated stimulation of jejunal epithelium.

Topics: Anaphylaxis; Animals; Atropine; Biological Transport; Chlorides; Dinoprostone; Epithelium; Histamine Release; Hypersensitivity; Immunization; Intestine, Small; Ions; Jejunum; Male; Mast Cells; Prostaglandins E; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Serotonin; Tetrodotoxin; Trichinella

We previously showed that rats sensitized to egg albumin (EA) respond in vivo intraluminal antigen-challenge with decreased net absorption of water and electrolytes and depletion of mucosal histamine. However, administration of anti-histamines did not prevent the transport abnormalities. The present in vitro studies examined the effect of histamine to alter net ion transport and the ability of diphenhydramine (DPH) and cimetidine (CIM) to block the responses to both histamine and antigen. Control rat jejunum was mounted in Ussing chambers and histamine was added to the serosal side either in the absence or presence of DPH or CIM. In control tissues histamine caused a transient increase in short-circuit current (Isc) in a dose-dependent manner between 10(-5) and 10(-4) M which was blocked by 10(-5) M DPH but was unaffected by CIM in concentrations up to 10(-4) M. There was no response to EA. Jejunum from sensitized rats exposed to EA demonstrated a biphasic Isc response: a rapid transient rise followed by a somewhat less elevated but sustained component. In tissues pre-treated with DPH the initial peak was unaffected but the sustained component was reduced. Our results indicate that H1-receptors mediated the effects of histamine in rat jejunal mucosa but that during intestinal anaphylaxis histamine is responsible for only a portion of the antigen-induced transport abnormalities. Our data also suggest that IgE-mediated reactions in the intestine may involve an interaction between mast cell mediators and enteric nerves.

Topics: Animals; Cimetidine; Diphenhydramine; Histamine; Hypersensitivity; In Vitro Techniques; Intestinal Mucosa; Jejunum; Membrane Potentials; Ovalbumin; Rats; Tetrodotoxin

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Animals; Child; Dermatitis, Contact; Fishes, Poisonous; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Tetrodotoxin