6.14 - Toxicology of the Neuromuscular Junction

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Abstract

Because of the importance of skeletal muscle function to respiration, as well as voluntary movement, it is not surprising that a number of naturally occurring toxins such as those of reptiles (cobra venom) and arthropods (spider and scorpion venom) or anthropogenic toxicants such as cholinesterase inhibitors have actions directed at the synapse made by motor axons on skeletal muscle or neuromuscular junctions. Furthermore, other toxic chemicals have the neuromuscular junction as one of their sites of action. Additionally, due to its well-characterized physiology, biochemistry, and ultrastructure, the neuromuscular junction has been commonly used as a model synapse to examine the actions of putative neurotoxicants or neurotoxins on synaptic function.

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Change History: June 2017. W Atchison made changes throughout the article.

This is an update of W Atchison, Toxicology of the Neuromuscular Junction, Comprehensive Toxicology, Second Edition, 2010, Volume 13, Pages 221–237, ISBN 978-0-08-046884-6, 10.1016/B978-0-08-046884-6.01314-2.

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