Neurotoxin

A neurotoxin or neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells or nerve tissue. It bothers especially membrane proteins and the interactions in ion channels. Nerve agents are generally used in the animal kingdom as a defense or prey venom vertebrates.

Most neurotoxins are exogenous toxins, they come from the environment and are absorbed by the body. Including also exist some gases (such as monophosphane ). However, the most common nerve agents are solids (heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury ... ) and liquids ( eg ethanol, formalin). The effect is strongly dependent on the dosage. Alcohol affects not acutely toxic in small amounts, but larger amounts and longer intake also paralyze the respiratory system.

In everyday common exogenous neurotoxins are

• Alcohol
• Atropine and hyoscyamine
• Botulinum toxin ( " cosmetics " Botox)
• Caffeine ( theine or in German also for the caffeine from teas )
• Nicotine

Parallel to these exogenous neurotoxins, there are also endogenous toxins, see excitotoxicity.