Blocking Action of Snake Venom Neurotoxins at Receptor Sites to Putative Central Nervous System Transmitters.

A general survey of crude venom from snakes of four different families revealed that several venoms which are known to operate at peripheral cholinergic junctions in vertebrates also interfere with cholinergic receptor sites in molluscan central nervous system tissue, and that venom from one snake, Vipera russelli, may contain a fraction which selectively interferes with dopamine receptor sites. Several additional experiments concerning the structure and mechanisms of both cholinergic and dopaminergic transmission are proposed and certain snake venoms are suggested for further investigation as possibly valuable pharmacological probes in future experiments of receptor pharmacology. (Author)