Toxin gamma of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus modifies both activation and inactivation of sodium permeability of nerve membrane.

The effects of the major neurotoxic fraction isolated from scorpion venom of Tityus serrulatus, TiTx gamma, on peripheral nerve membrane of Xenopus laevis were studied under current- and voltage-clamp conditions. 700 nmol/l TiTx gamma depolarized the membrane and induced spontaneous activity (150 s-1, maximum value), which ceased within a few minutes. It reduced the amplitude of the action potentials from 109 mV to 52 mV and increased their duration from 1.25 ms to 4.5 ms. 440 nmol/l TiTx gamma induced inward Na current flow at resting potential. The descending branch of the Na current-voltage curve was flattened and shifted approximately 10 mV to more negative potentials. Maximum Na permeability was reduced to about 20%. Both development of and recovery from inactivation of Na permeability were slowed. The steepness of the steady-state inactivation curve was decreased, but the mid-potential changed only insignificantly. No prepulse was necessary to elicit either a shift of activation or an inward current at resting potential. Expressing the toxin effect either in terms of the decrease of Na peak current or of the slowing of inactivation, half-maximum effects were found with 0.3 +/- 0.1 and 3.7 +/- 0.7 mumol/l TiTx gamma, respectively.