The Action of Botulinum Toxin at the Neuromuscular Junction

摘要: Botulism results from the action of a protein neurotoxin (mol. wt. congruent to 150,000) produced by bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which there are eight known strains. Botulinum is most potent biological toxin known, having median lethal dose 5--50 ng/kg body weight. The primary site botulinum cholinergic nerve terminal, where it blocks release neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Death usually respiratory failure. Nonlethal doses can induce sprouting terminal and have significant postsynaptic effects, including muscle atrophy alterations in membrane electrical properties fiber. There no universally available treatment for intoxication. However, immunotherapeutic chemotherapeutic procedures not being developed will be discussed.