Two subtypes of sodium channel with tetrodotoxin sensitivity and insensitivity detected in denervated mammalian skeletal muscle.

The action potential (AP) in most nerve and muscle preparations depends upon nanomolar concentrations of the neurotoxins saxitoxin (STX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX). In some excitable tissues lacking mature innervation, a toxin-resistant AP has been described by electrophysiological results. However, multiple attempts to detect corresponding toxin-resistant Na channels with radiolabelled STX and TTX have been unsuccessful. We report here the detection of Na channels with low-affinity binding of STX and TTX, accounting for 50-60% of the Na channels in rat hindlimb muscle 4-5 days after denervation.