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  • Title: Contraction and increase in tissue calcium content induced by maitotoxin, the most potent known marine toxin, in intestinal smooth muscle.
    Author: Ohizumi Y, Yasumoto T.
    Journal: Br J Pharmacol; 1983 May; 79(1):3-5. PubMed ID: 6871549.
    Abstract:
    Maitotoxin (MTX), the most potent known marine toxin, isolated from toxic dinoflagellates and poisonous fish, caused a dose-dependent contraction of the guinea-pig isolated ileum and taenia caeci at concentrations of 100 pg to 30 ng/ml. These contractile responses to MTX (3 ng/ml) in both tissues were abolished by incubation in Ca2+-free solution and were markedly inhibited by treatment with methoxyverapamil (D600), but were not affected by tetrodotoxin and atropine. Furthermore, MTX markedly elevated tissue Ca2+ content of the taenia caeci. These results suggest that MTX activates Ca2+ channels in the smooth muscle membrane of both tissues to increase Ca2+ influx and thus induces contractions.
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