The action of toxins on the voltage-gated sodium channel

The author discusses the recent findings concerning the influence of selected neurotoxins on the voltage-gated sodium channel. Sodium voltage-gated channels are blocked or modified by four of five classes of neurotoxical agents: guanidinum toxins (tetrodotoxin, saxitoxin), lipid soluble compounds (veratridine, grayanotoxin, batrachotoxin, aconitine, pyrethroids, brevetoxins), polipeptide toxins (alpha-scorpion and sea anemone toxins) and beta-scorpion toxins. The mode of operation of these toxins at the different binding sites within the channel is discussed.