Definition of picrotoxin in English:
picrotoxin
noun ˌpɪkrə(ʊ)ˈtɒksɪnˌpikrōˈtäksən
mass nounMedicine A bitter compound used to stimulate the respiratory and nervous system, especially in treating barbiturate poisoning.
This toxin is obtained from the seeds of the shrub Anamirta cocculus (family Menispermaceae)
Example sentencesExamples
- When the synapses of these inhibitory neurons are blocked by drugs (such as of picrotoxin or penicillin), the excitatory network can sustain a chain reaction leading to an epileptiform discharge.
- Picrotoxin eliminates frequency selectivity of an auditory interneuron in a bushcricket.
- The only synaptic feedback to the pyloric pacemaker group through the EP to PD inhibitory synapse was removed by applying 10-5 M picrotoxin in the bath.
- The cellular mechanisms underlying picrotoxin-induced convulsive activity were studied by using mouse spinal neurons growing in tissue culture.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek pikros 'bitter' + toxin.