EFFECT OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS EPSILON TOXIN ON RAT ISOLATED AORTA

The effect of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin on rat isolated ao rta was investigated. The toxin caused contraction of the isolated aor ta in a dose-dependent manner. The toxin induced no contraction of the isolated aorta in low-Na medium and of the tissue stored at 4 C for 7 days. However, tetrodotoxin (TTX) had no effect on the toxin-induced contraction. The toxin-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by phentolamine and prazosine, but did not by atropine, mecamylamine, chlorpheniramine and methysergide. These data suggest that the toxin- caused contraction is mediated through nervous system in rat isolated aorta.