Pharmacological, eletrophysiological and morphological characterization of novel tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel coupled to corpus cavernosum of snakes

• Grant number: 15/15583-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Autonomic Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Gilberto de Nucci
• Grantee: Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/11828-4 - Pharmacological, eletrophysiological and morphological characterization of a novel TTX-resistant sodium channel coupled to corpus cavernosum of snakes, AP.TEM

Abstract

Corpora cavernosa from humans and other mammals relax to transmural stimulation, and these relaxations are sensitive to voltage-gated sodium channel blockers such as tetrodotoxin (TTX). Snakes and lizards are unique among amniote vertebrates in having a bilaterally symmetrical intromitteny penis, known as hemipenises. The transmural stimulation of Crotalus durissus terrificus hemipenises causes relaxation, which is insensitive to TTX, indicating the presence of a novel sodium channel. The objective of this project is to perform a complete study of this channel, since this may offer a new insight as a potential therapeutical target for erectile dysfunction and other diseases. This will be accomplished with the following steps: cloning of this sodium channel and expression in Xenopus oocytes to perform full electrophysiological studies; pharmacological study using bioassay and release of 3H-noradrenaline and 3Hacetylcholineof the Crotalus durissus terrificus hemipenises; morphological localization using transmission electron microscopy of the novel sodium channel; screening of new toxins isolated from Conus striatus and Conus sp as potential inhibitors of this novel sodium channel. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

JUSTO, Alberto Fernando Oliveira. The role of endothelium in contraction induced by eletrical field stimulation in aortae of Crotalus durissus terrificus (rattlesnake) and Bothrops jararaca (jararaca) and evidence of cathecolamine synthesis in the human endothelium. 0000. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Campinas, SP.