[Central Asiatic black scorpion venom protect Mauthner neurons from the damaging action of prolonged stimulation]

The effect of long-term natural stimulation resulting in prolonged fatigue and structural disorders as well as the black scorpion poison influence on these processes were studied in gold fish Mauthner neurons (MN). The poison previously applied to MN significantly protects their function and structure from the stimulatory effect and subsequently allows the neurons to recover more fast. Appearance of numerous desmosome-like (actin-containing) contacts and proliferation of subsurface cisterns, the accumulators of calcium ions was noted immediately after the poison action and stimulation and one day later in afferent synapse ultrastructure. The poison interaction with neuronal actin, mediated by alteration of calcium-accumulating systems is probably one of the mechanisms of its protective effect.