Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2007962 Peptides 2006 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the anti-nociceptive effect and the underlying mechanism of BmK AS, an active peptide purified from scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch. The results showed that BmK AS can significantly relieve formalin-induced two-phase spontaneous flinching response and carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia. Using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording, exposure of acutely isolated sensory neurons to 500 nM BmK AS produced a one-fold decrease in the number of action potentials (APs) evoked by a ramp of depolarizing current. To investigate the mechanism of action of BmK AS, isolated membrane current and Ca2+ influx on rat primary sensory neurons were examined. BmK AS produced insignificant effect on voltage-dependent IK and KCl or caffeine-induced Ca2+ influx, but caused remarkable suppressive effect on tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) and tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) INa. Further experiments showed that BmK AS reduced the peak TTX-R and TTX-S Na+ conductance in a dose-dependent manner, prompted the voltage-dependent activation, and caused a negative shift of the steady-state inactivation of TTX-R and TTX-S INa. Thus, the present results indicate the anti-nociceptive response of BmK AS may be ascribed to its specific modulation of voltage-gated Na+ channels of sensory neurons.

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