How does black widow venom affect the nervous system?
Black widow venom hijacks the victim’s nervous system. The venom causes the nervous system to dump all of its neurotransmitters. Hours 1-3: Pain becomes more severe — causing the abdomen to have a board-like rigidity.
What does black widow venom do to muscles?
Neuromuscular symptoms, including severe muscle pain and cramping, usually occur within an hour. Increased autonomic function leading to tachycardia, tachypnea and hypertension are also associated and are often correlated with increased pain.
What is the mechanism of action of black widow spider venom?
α-Latrotoxin is a presynaptic neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the black widow spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus. It exerts toxic effects in the vertebrate central nervous system by depolarizing neurons, by increasing [Ca2+]i and by stimulating uncontrolled exocytosis of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals.
Is black widow spider venom an agonist or antagonist?
Black widow spider venom is an agonist of acetylcholine; botulism is an antagonist of acetylcholine.
How does black widow venom interact with acetylcholine?
Animals, Poisonous and Venomous The mechanism of action of black widow spider venom involves binding of the gangliosides and glycoproteins of the motor end plate in the neuromuscular junction, which affects the opening of sodium channels and the release of acetylcholine (Ach) and norepinephrine.
What type of toxin is black widow venom?
The most widely known of those spiders are the black widows, Latrodectus mactans. The venom of widow spiders (Latrodectus) contains several protein toxins, called latrotoxins, which selectively target against either vertebrates, insects or crustaceans.
What does acetylcholine do to the brain?
Acetylcholine in the brain alters neuronal excitability, influences synaptic transmission, induces synaptic plasticity, and coordinates firing of groups of neurons.
How does latrotoxin affect acetylcholine?
Binding of α-latrotoxin to neuronal receptors results in massive release of acetylcholine (ACh) at the neuromuscular junction, resulting in profound muscle contraction. The symptoms of toxicosis relate to this neuromuscular activity and include muscle spasms, muscle pain, and abdominal rigidity.
