[Effect of surugatoxin on celiac ganglia in cats (author's transl)]

Pharmacological properties of surugatoxin (SGTX), the toxic principle from Japanese ivory mollusc (Babylonia japonica), have been studied. In the present paper, the effect of SGTX on celiac ganglia in cats was investigated by measuring blood pressure from femoral artery and regional blood flow in liver (LBF) and spleen (SBF) of anaesthetized cats. SGTX(50 nmol/kg i.v.) markedly inhibited both the hypertension and changes of LBF and SBF in response to splanchnic (preganglionic) nerve stimulation. On the other hand, it did not inhibit the changes of SBF by splenic(postganglionic) nerve stimulation. The hypertension and changes in LBF and SBF in response to DMPP(94.2 nmol/kg i.v.) were abolished by SGTX(50 nmol/kg i.v.), whereas those to McN-A-343 (94.8 nmol/kg i.v.) were not. SGTX usually enhanced the pressor response to McN-A-343. These results indicate that SGTX has a blocking effect on the nicotinic receptor in celiac ganglia as well as in superior cervical ganglia of cats and rats.