Funnel web spider venom produces spontaneous action potentials in nerve

Authors

Ian Spence, University of New South Wales
David J. Adams, University of New South WalesFollow
Peter W. Gage, University of New South Wales

RIS ID

106310

Publication Details

Spence, I., Adams, D. J. & Gage, P. W. (1977). Funnel web spider venom produces spontaneous action potentials in nerve. Life Sciences, 20 (2), 243-249.

Abstract

Venom from the lethal Australian spider, Atrax robustus, causes fasciculation of muscles in vivo and in isolated diaphragms in mice. Spontaneous end-plate potentials were recorded in muscle fibres exposed to the venom and associated spontaneous electrical activity could also be recorded from the phrenic nerve. It was proposed that the venom produces muscle fasciculation by causing abnormal, spontaneous, repetitive firing of motor nerves. The mechanism of this action was investigated in aplysia neurones. The venom produced abnormal, spontaneous, repetitive inward currents in voltage clamped neurones and changed the current-voltage characteristics of the surface membrane. It is suggested that the basic mode of action of Funnel-web venom is to change the electrical field in nerve membrane.