"Neurotoxicology" redirects here. For the scientific journal, see Neurotoxicology (journal).
Not to be confused with nerve agent.
Neurotoxins can be found in a number of organisms, including some strains of cyanobacteria,[1] that can be found in algal blooms or washed up on shore in a green scum.[2]
Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity).[3] Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insults[4] that can adversely affect function in both developing and mature nervous tissue.[5] The term can also be used to classify endogenous compounds, which, when abnormally contacted, can prove neurologically toxic.[4] Though neurotoxins are often neurologically destructive, their ability to specifically target neural components is important in the study of nervous systems.[6] Common examples of neurotoxins include lead,[7] ethanol (drinking alcohol),[8] glutamate,[9] nitric oxide,[10] botulinum toxin (e.g. Botox),[11] tetanus toxin,[12] and tetrodotoxin.[6] Some substances such as nitric oxide and glutamate are in fact essential for proper function of the body and only exert neurotoxic effects at excessive concentrations.
Neurotoxins inhibit neuron control over ion concentrations across the cell membrane,[6] or communication between neurons across a synapse.[13] Local pathology of neurotoxin exposure often includes neuron excitotoxicity or apoptosis[14] but can also include glial cell damage.[15] Macroscopic manifestations of neurotoxin exposure can include widespread central nervous system damage such as intellectual disability,[5] persistent memory impairments,[16] epilepsy, and dementia.[17] Additionally, neurotoxin-mediated peripheral nervous system damage such as neuropathy or myopathy is common. Support has been shown for a number of treatments aimed at attenuating neurotoxin-mediated injury, such as antioxidant[8] and antitoxin[18] administration.
^Sivonen, K (1999). "Toxins produced by cyanobacteria". Vesitalous. 5: 11–18.
^Scottish Government Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) in Inland Waters: Assessment and Control of Risks to Public Health Retrieved 15 December 2011.
^Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers
^ abSpencer 2000
^ abOlney 2002
^ abcCite error: The named reference Kiernan2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Lidsky 2003
^ abHeaton; Barrow, Marieta; Mitchell, J. Jean; Paiva, Michael (2000). "Amelioration of Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity in the Neonatal Rat Central Nervous System by Antioxidant Therapy". Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 24 (4): 512–18. doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2000.tb02019.x. PMID 10798588.
Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological...
Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (commonly called botox), is a highly potent neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum...
Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by the vegetative cell of Clostridium tetani in anaerobic conditions, causing tetanus....
motile bacterium with the ability to produce botulinum toxin, which is a neurotoxin. C. botulinum is a diverse group of pathogenic bacteria. Initially, they...
cosmetic procedure that modifies the shape of the lips using botulinum neurotoxin type A and occasionally adding hyaluronic acid fillers. The procedure...
(TTX or TTN) is an analog of the neurotoxin resiniferatoxin. It occurs naturally in Euphorbia poissonii. It is a neurotoxin that acts via full agonism of...
neurotransmitters in neurons. These neuronal SNAREs are the targets of the neurotoxins responsible for botulism and tetanus produced by certain bacteria. SNAREs...
respiratory failure. The major α-neurotoxin in Naja kaouthia venom is a long neurotoxin, α-cobratoxin; the minor α-neurotoxin is different from cobrotoxin...
plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is a chemical irritant and neurotoxin for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in...
mammalian groups with natural protection against another snake venom, α-neurotoxin. Developing independently, pigs, honey badgers, mongooses, and hedgehogs...
was published in 1992 by Dumbacher et al., which found traces of the neurotoxin homobatrachotoxin, a steroid alkaloid with the ability to polarize Na+...
Sea anemone neurotoxin is the name given to neurotoxins produced by sea anemones with related structure and function. Sea anemone neurotoxins can be divided...
act as both presynaptic and postsynaptic neurotoxins. Presynaptic neurotoxins, commonly known as β-neurotoxins, affect the presynaptic regions of the neuromuscular...
produces reliable yields when all other crops fail. The seeds contain a neurotoxin that causes lathyrism, a neurodegenerative disease, if eaten as a primary...
incidence of obesity. The neurotoxin regulation hypothesis proposes that drug use is not novel because human brains and plant neurotoxins coevolved. Genetic...
doses of Botulinum toxin C have not resulted in detectable Botulinum neurotoxin in milk produced. Using mouse bioassays and immunostick ELISA tests, botulinum...
(3FTx) and snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs). Of all the 3FTx, alpha-neurotoxins are the predominant and most lethal components when cytotoxins and beta-cardiotoxins...
effect. The main poison-producing glands, the parotoids, produce the neurotoxin bufotoxin and are located behind the ears of toads, along the backs of...
newts, as well as from other aquatic animals (see below). It is a potent neurotoxin that shuts down electrical signaling in nerves; it acts via interaction...
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