Distribution in the rat central nervous system of acceptor sub-types for dendrotoxin, a K+ channel probe.

Dendrotoxin, a snake polypeptide that facilitates the release of neurotransmitters, is a putative ligand for certain voltage-dependent, rapidly-activating K+ channels. Using a 125I-labelled derivative, the location of high-affinity acceptors for this toxin in the rat central nervous system was established by quantitative sheet film autoradiography. A widespread distribution of binding sites was observed, with high densities of acceptors being found in most gray matter regions and along nerve tracts. Heterogeneity in these acceptors was deduced from their differential interaction with beta-bungarotoxin, another probe that perturbs transmitter release. Whereas the latter blocked the majority of dendrotoxin sites in gray matter areas, it competed much less efficaciously for the acceptors in white matter. These collective findings demonstrate the occurrence of dendrotoxin acceptor sub-types which display characteristic distributions in the central nervous system. Notably, this heterogeneity can be related to electrophysiological evidence for the presence in neurons of multiple, dendrotoxin-sensitive, K+ conductances, though some of these remain to be shown directly in brain preparations.