Effects of territrem-B on cholinergic responses of snail neuron

Effects of territrem-B (TRB), a mycotoxin isolated from a rice culture of Aspergillus terreus, on the central neuron of the snail Achatina fulica were studied electrophysiologically. Territrem-B potentiated the acetylcholine (ACh) induced current of the neuron, while it had no effect on GABA or L-glutamate elicited currents. TRB and neostigmine increased the peak amplitude of the response elicited by the first perfusion of ACh and depressed the increase in current produced by a second perfusion. TRB and neostigmine showed different dose-dependent effects on ACh responses. The results suggested that TRB is a good tool for studying the physiological role of AChE in central neurons.