Cardiotoxicity of the skin of the red-banded rubber frog, Phrynomerus bifasciatus (Smith 1847)

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Van der Walt, M.P.K.
Van Rooyen, J.M.
Oberholzer, G.
Van Aswegen, G.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Published by the Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.

Abstract

The skin of the red-banded rubber frog is said to secrete an unidentified toxin. Whole skin extract as well as HPLC fractions were tested for toxicity on viable, isolated cardiomyocytes. The skin extract and one of its fractions were shown to be cardiotoxic. Whole-cell clamping tests demonstrated that both extract and fraction interfered with the function of the potassium channels of the cardiomyocytes and that the toxic substance has an affinity for the IK₁ channels. Investigations are in progress to isolate and characterize the toxic substance.

Description

The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.

Keywords

Veterinary medicine, Toxicity, Amphibia

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Van der Walt, MPK, Van Rooyen, JM, Oberholzer, G & Van Aswegen, G 1992, 'Cardiotoxicity of the skin of the red-banded rubber frog, Phrynomerus bifasciatus (Smith 1847)'. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 107-109.