Neuromuscular blocking action of two brevetoxins from the Florida red tide organism Ptychodiscus brevis.

The action of Ptychodiscus brevis "brevetoxins" T17 and T34 on rat phrenic nerve-stimulated hemidiaphragm contraction is reported. The potency of T34 is greater than the potency of T17, but both cause a complete block of neuromuscular transmission in the nM to pM concentration ranges. Preparations exposed to low concentrations of T17 can recover in the presence of the toxin, whereas the effects of T34 are irreversible. The initial contracture produced by each is prevented by tetrodotoxin or curare. Neuromuscular block does not appear to be due to acetylcholine depletion, as determined by electron microscope examination of the neuromuscular junctions of blocked preparations. Persistent nerve depolarization is believed to be responsible for the neuromuscular block.