strychninesensitive

Strychnine-sensitive refers to organisms or biological systems that exhibit a pronounced reaction to the presence of strychnine. Strychnine is a highly toxic alkaloid derived from the seeds of the Strychnos nux-vomica tree. Its primary mechanism of action in mammals involves acting as a competitive antagonist of glycine receptors, particularly in the spinal cord and brainstem. Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and its receptors play a crucial role in regulating motor neuron excitability.

When strychnine binds to these receptors, it prevents glycine from binding, thereby removing its inhibitory effect. This leads to excessive and uncontrolled excitation of motor neurons, resulting in a range of symptoms. In humans and many other animals, this manifests as severe muscle spasms, convulsions, rigidity, and potentially respiratory failure, which can be fatal. The term "strychnine-sensitive" highlights this inherent vulnerability of certain biological systems to this specific toxin.

Research into strychnine sensitivity has been vital for understanding neurotransmission, particularly the role of inhibitory pathways. Studies have used strychnine as a pharmacological tool to probe neuronal circuits and investigate the consequences of disrupting inhibitory signaling. The sensitivity of different species to strychnine can vary, influenced by factors such as receptor subunit composition and metabolic detoxification pathways. This differential sensitivity has implications for toxicology and the historical use of strychnine as a pesticide, though its use is now heavily restricted due to its extreme toxicity to non-target species, including humans.