Mechanism of action of beta-bungarotoxin on synaptosomal preparations

The neurochemical activity of beta-bungarotoxin was investigated using a synaptosomal preparation of rat cerebral cortices. In preparations preincubated with [3H]choline in order to label acetylcholine the toxin caused a rapid release of the transmitter, which was calcium dependent but only a little affected by a depolarizing concentration of potassium. beta-Bungarotoxin was also shown to be a potent inhibitor of the high affinity transport system for choline, producing 50% inhibition at a concentration of 50 nM. These findings explain the observed electrophysiological effects of the toxin. Electron microscopy revealed no discernible effect of 0.1 muM beta-bungarotoxin on either synaptic vesicles or mitochondria. Neither the release of transmitter nor the inhibition of choline uptake by the toxin was affected by the presence of an inhibitor of phospholipase activity.