Weaning stage hyperglycemia induces glucose-insensitivity in arcuate POMC neurons and hyperphagia in type 2 diabetic GK rats

Hyperphagia triggers and accelerates diabetes, and prevents proper dietary control of glycemia. Inversely, the impact of hyperglycemia on hyperphagia and possible mechanistic cause common for these two metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetes are less defined. The present study examined the precise developmental process of hyperglycemia and hyperphagia and explored the alterations in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), the primary feeding and metabolic center, in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with type 2 diabetes and nearly normal body weight. At mid 3 to 4 weeks of age, GK rats first exhibited hyperglycemia, and then hyperphagia and reduced mRNA expressions for anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and glucokinase in ARC. Furthermore, [Ca²⁺]i responses to high glucose in ARC POMC neurons were impaired in GK rats at 4 weeks. Treating GK rats from early 3 to mid 6 weeks of age with an anti-diabetic medicine miglitol not only suppressed hyperglycemia but ameliorated hyperphagia and restored POMC mRNA expression in ARC. These results suggest that the early hyperglycemia occurring in weaning period may lead to impaired glucose sensing and neuronal activity of POMC neurons, and thereby induce hyperphagia in GK rats. Correction of hyperglycemia in the early period may prevent and/or ameliorate the progression of hyperphagia in type 2 diabetes.

Ghrelin signalling in β-cells regulates insulin secretion and blood glucose

Insulin secretion from pancreatic islet β-cells is stimulated by glucose. Glucose-induced insulin release is potentiated or suppressed by hormones and neural substances. Ghrelin, an acylated 28-amino acid peptide, was isolated from the stomach in 1999 as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue-receptor (GHS-R). Circulating ghrelin is produced predominantly in the stomach and to a lesser extent in the intestine, pancreas and brain. Ghrelin, initially identified as a potent stimulator of GH release and feeding, has been shown to suppress glucose-induced insulin release. This insulinostatic action is mediated by Gα(i2) subtype of GTP-binding proteins and delayed outward K⁺ (Kv) channels. Interestingly, ghrelin is produced in pancreatic islets. The ghrelin originating from islets restricts insulin release and thereby upwardly regulates the systemic glucose level. Furthermore, blockade or elimination of ghrelin enhances insulin release, which can ameliorate glucose intolerance in high-fat diet fed mice and ob/ob mice. This review focuses on the insulinostatic action of ghrelin, its signal transduction mechanisms in islet β-cells, ghrelin's status as an islet hormone, physiological roles of ghrelin in regulating systemic insulin levels and glycaemia, and therapeutic potential of the ghrelin-GHS-R system as the target to treat type 2 diabetes.

Receptor-mediated control of regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and apoptotic volume decrease (AVD)

A fundamental property of animal cells is the ability to regulate their own cell volume. Even under hypotonic stress imposed by either decreased extracellular or increased intracellular osmolarity, the cells can re-adjust their volume after transient osmotic swelling by a mechanism known as regulatory volume decrease (RVD). In most cell types, RVD is accomplished mainly by KCl efflux induced by parallel activation of K+ and Cl- channels. We have studied the molecular mechanism of RVD in a human epithelial cell line (Intestine 407). Osmotic swelling results in a significant increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and thereby activates intermediate-conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ (IK) channels. Osmotic swelling also induces ATP release from the cells to the extracellular compartment. Released ATP stimulates purinergic ATP (P2Y2) receptors, thereby inducing phospholipase C-mediated Ca2+ mobilization. Thus, RVD is facilitated by stimulation of P2Y2 receptors due to augmentation of IK channels. In contrast, stimulation of another G protein-coupled Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaR) enhances the activity of volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl- channels, thereby facilitating RVD. Therefore, it is possible that Ca2+ efflux stimulated by swelling-induced and P2Y2 receptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization activates the CaR, thereby secondarily upregulating the volume-regulatory Cl- conductance. On the other hand, the initial process towards apoptotic cell death is coupled to normotonic cell shrinkage, called apoptotic volume decrease (AVD). Stimulation of death receptors, such as TNF receptor and Fas, induces AVD and thereafter biochemical apoptotic events in human lymphoid (U937), human epithelial (HeLa), mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma hybrid (NG108-15) and rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells. In those cells exhibiting AVD, facilitation of RVD is always observed. Both AVD induction and RVD facilitation as well as succeeding apoptotic events can be abolished by prior treatment with a blocker of volume-regulatory K+ or Cl- channels, suggesting that AVD is caused by normotonic activation of ion channels that are normally involved in RVD under hypotonic conditions. Therefore, it is likely that G protein-coupled receptors involved in RVD regulation and death receptors triggering AVD may share common downstream signals which should give us key clues to the detailed mechanisms of volume regulation and survival of animal cells. In this Topical Review, we look at the physiological ionic mechanisms of cell volume regulation and cell death-associated volume changes from the facet of receptor-mediated cellular processes.

Receptor-mediated facilitation of cell volume regulation by swelling-induced ATP release in human epithelial cells

Osmotic swelling induces the release of intracellular ATP in a number of cell types. In the immediate vicinity of the cell surface, released ATP has been shown to reach a concentration high enough to stimulate P2-purinergic receptors in a human epithelial cell line, Intestine 407. The role of released ATP in the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) after cell swelling was thus studied in Intestine 407 cells. The RVD was suppressed by an ATP hydrolyzing enzyme, apyrase, or by a purinergic receptor antagonist, suramin. Extracellular application of ATP accelerated the RVD rate in a concentration-dependent manner. An increase in the cytosolic free-Ca(2+) concentration was induced by a hypotonic challenge, and the swelling-induced Ca(2+) response was partially suppressed by apyrase or suramin. A rise in cytosolic Ca(2+) was also induced by extracellular application of ATP or UTP, but not ADP, 2-methylthio-ATP or alpha,beta-methylene ATP. The ATP-induced Ca(2+) response was blocked by suramin. Therefore, it is concluded that RVD is facilitated by ATP, which is released upon cell swelling, by augmenting intracellular Ca(2+) rise via the stimulation of purinergic (P2Y(2)) receptors in the human epithelial cell.

Methyllycaconitine-sensitive neuronal nicotinic receptor-operated slow Ca2+ signal by local application or perfusion of ACh at the mouse neuromuscular junction

Local application of acetylcholine (ACh; 0.3 mM, 20 microl) elicited bi-phasic elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations (contractile fast and non-contractile slow Ca2- signal measured as aequorin luminescence) in diaphragm muscle preparation. A neuronal nicotinic antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA; 0.01-1 microM), which did not affect the fast Ca2+ transients and twitch tension, concentration-dependently depressed only the slow Ca2+ component. Ca2+ channel blockers, Cd2+ (200 microM), nitrendipine (1 microM), verapamil (1 microM) and diltiazem (1 microM), or a Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX; 0.1 microM) failed to prevent the generation of slow Ca2+ response. Perfusion of ACh (1 microM) to isolated single skeletal (flexor digitorum brevis) muscle cells pretreated with TTX (0.1 microM) also elicited a slow Ca2+ signal measured as confocal imaging with a fluorescent dye, fluo-3, at the endplate region. MLA (1 microM) antagonized against the ACh perfusion-elicited slow Ca2+ signal. Perfusion of choline (1 mM), a neuronal nicotinic agonist, also elicited the MLA-sensitive slow Ca2+ signal. These results strongly suggest that the ACh-induced slow Ca2+ signal reflects Ca2+ entry through a postsynaptic MLA-sensitive neuronal nicotinic ACh receptor subtype at the neuromuscular junction.

[Desensitizing function of calcium mobilized by the postsynaptic neuronal-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction]

Neuronal-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (N-nAChR) are co-localized with muscle-type (M-)nAChR in the postjunctional endplate membrane of adult skeletal muscle fibers. The postsynaptic desensitizing functions of the N-nAChR at the neuromuscular junction and at single skeletal muscle cells have been investigated using aequorin luminescence and fluorescence confocal imaging. A biphasic elevation of local intracellular Ca2+ is elicited by prolonged nicotinic action at the mouse muscle endplates. The contractile fast and non-contractile slow Ca2+ components are operated by postsynaptic M- and colocalized N-type nAChR, respectively. We have named the latter slow one RAMIC (receptor-activity modulating intracellular Ca2+). The N-nAChR are activated by nicotine and choline, and RAMIC are antagonized by methyllycaconitine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine. Neuromuscular functions may be regulated by a dual nAChR system to maintain the normal postsynaptic excitability. Certain N-nAChR may be also endowed with the same functional role in the central nervous system.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide potentiates nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-operated slow Ca2+ mobilization at mouse muscle endplates

1. The involvement of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the non-contractile slow Ca2+ mobilization induced by prolonged nicotinic stimulation was investigated by measurement of [Ca2+], levels in mouse single muscle cells (flexor digitorum brevis; FDB) loaded with a Ca2+ indicator fluo-3 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. 2. CGRP (3-30 nM) potentiated acetylcholine (ACh, 1 microM)-elicited slow Ca2+ mobilization in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. The potentiation by CGRP of the slow Ca2+ component was greatly depressed by a competitive nicotinic antagonist (+)-tubocurarine (5 microM). The Ca2+ channel blocker nitrendipine (1 microM) affected neither ACh responses nor the CGRP potentiation. 4. The slow Ca2+ component was completely abolished by reducing [Ca2+]0 from 2.5 to 0.25 mM whereas the fast component was not affected. The CGRP-induced potentiation of slow Ca2+ signal was also depressed by decreasing [Ca2+]0. 5. Isoproterenol (30 microM) and 8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (1 mM) potentiated the ACh-elicited slow Ca2+ response. The potentiation by CGRP of the slow Ca2+ component was completely abolished by a protein kinase-A inhibitor H-89 (1 microM). 6. These findings indicate that CGRP potentiates the nicotinic ACh receptor-operated slow Ca2+ signal via the activation of protein kinase-A system at the skeletal muscle endplates.

Acetylcholine sensitivity of biphasic Ca2+ mobilization induced by nicotinic receptor activation at the mouse skeletal muscle endplate

1. Acetylcholine (ACh) was locally applied onto the endplate region in a mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparation to measure intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) entry through nicotinic ACh receptors (AChRs) by use of Ca2+-aequorin luminescence. 2. ACh (0.1-3 mM, 20 microl) elicited biphasic elevation of [Ca2+]i (fast and slow Ca2+ mobilization) in muscle cells. The peak amplitude of the slow Ca2+ mobilization (not accompanied by twitch tension) was concentration-dependently increased by ACh, whereas that of the fast component (accompanied by twitch tension) reached a maximum response at a lower concentration (0.1 mM) of applied ACh. 3. A pulse of nicotinic agonists, (-)-nicotine (10 mM) and 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium (10 mM), but not a muscarinic agonist pilocarpine (10 mM), also elicited a biphasic Ca2+ signal. 4. Even though ACh release from motor nerve endings was blocked by botulinum toxin (5 microg, bolus i.p. before isolation of the tissue), the generation of both a fast and slow Ca2+ component caused by ACh application was observed. 5. These results strongly suggest that ACh locally applied onto the endplate region of skeletal muscle induces a slow Ca2+ signal reflecting Ca2+ entry through a postsynaptic nicotinic AChR, which has a low sensitivity to transmitter ACh.

[Slow Ca2+ (RAMIC) mobilization operated by postsynaptic neuronal nicotinic receptor regulates synaptic function at the mouse neuromuscular junction]

We have found that non-contractile slow Ca2+ mobilization (RAMIC; Receptor-Activity Modulating Intracellular Ca2+) is generated by motor nerve stimulation with anti-cholinesterase at the skeletal muscle, and desensitizes muscle nicotinic receptor (nAChR). To confirm this Ca2+ mobilization without anti-cholinesterase, acetylcholine (ACh) was locally applied by N2-gas pressure onto endplate region at the mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparation. ACh (0.1-3 mM, 20 microliters) elicited bi-phasic elevation of [Ca2+]i (fast and slow Ca2+ mobilization measured as Ca(2+)-aequorin luminescence) in muscle cells. The peak amplitude of slow Ca2+ mobilization (not accompanied by contraction) was increased by ACh concentration-dependently, whereas that of fast component (accompanied by contraction) reached a maximum response at a lower concentration of ACh. The slow Ca2+ mobilization was blocked by lower concentrations of competitive nAChR antagonists which did not affect the fast Ca2+ transients. Moreover, the slow Ca2+ signal was selectively depressed by a neuronal nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine. Neither Ca2+ channel blockers nor a Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin prevented the generation of the slow Ca2+ mobilization. These results suggest that RAMIC is mobilized through postsynaptic neuronal nAChR subtype to desensitize muscle nAChR at the neuromuscular junction.

Neuronal nicotinic receptor operates slow Ca2+ mobilization at mouse muscle endplate

The contribution to neuromuscular functions by neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expressed at skeletal muscle endplate was investigated using intracellular Ca2+ measurements. A neuronal nAChR blocker, methyllycaconitine (MLA), depressed non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization without affecting muscle nAChR activity in nerve-stimulated mouse diaphragm muscle, after cholinesterase inhibition. Confocal imaging demonstrates that the MLA-sensitive Ca2+ mobilization also occurred at the endplate in single flexor digitorum brevis muscle cells as the slow component of two-phasic Ca2+ elevation after the prolonged nicotinic stimulation. A monoclonal antibody to alpha 1 subunit of muscle nAChR depressed the fast but not the slow component. Thus, muscle neuronal-nAChR can induce the localized rise of Ca2+ at the postjunctional sites.

Enhancement by calcitonin gene-related peptide of non-contractile Ca2(+)-induced nicotinic receptor desensitization at the mouse neuromuscular junction

1. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-operated non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization (unaccompanied by muscle contraction) depressed contractile Ca2+ mobilization (accompanied by muscle contraction) in mouse diaphragm muscles. In the process of nicotinic AChR desensitization, the enhancing role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the non-contractile Ca2(+)-induced depression of contractile Ca2+ mobilization was investigated by measurement of Ca2(+)-aequorin luminescence in the presence of neostigmine (0.1 microM). 2. When the phrenic nerve was stimulated with paired pulses at intervals of 150, 300, 600, 1000 and 2000 ms, contractile Ca2+ transients were elicited during the generation of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization. The amplitude of the contractile Ca2 transients elicited by the second pulse (S2) was depressed at the shorter pulse intervals, but not at the longer pulse intervals. 3. The extent of depression of S2 was enhanced when the duration of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization was prolonged by CGRP (10 nM). However, CGRP failed to enhance the depression of S2 when non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization was not observed at the low external Ca2+ concentration (1.3 mM). 4. The enhancing effect by CGRP on the depression of S2 was counteracted by staurosporine (3 nM), a protein kinase-C inhibitor, despite prolongation of the duration of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization. 5. When H-89 (1 microM), a protein kinase-A inhibitor, completely blocked non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization, the depression of S2 was diminished. The prolongation of the duration of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization by AA373 (300 microM), a protein kinase-A activator, enhanced the depression of S2. The enhancing effect was observed neither with CGRP nor with AA373, in the presence of H-89 (0.1 microM). 6. These findings suggest that the CGRP mobilizes non-contractile Ca2+ through activation of protein kinase-A, which in turn may activate protein kinase-C, then enhance the desensitization of postsynaptic nicotinic AChRs at the neuromuscular junction.

Diabetic state-induced rapid inactivation of noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization operated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in mouse diaphragm muscle

1. Diabetic modifications of nicotinic receptor-operated noncontractile Ca2- mobilization observed in the presence of anticholinesterase were investigated by measuring Ca(2+)-aequorin luminescence in diaphragm muscles of mice with diabetes induced by injections of streptozotocin (150 mg kg-1, bolus i.v.) and alloxan (85 mg kg-1, bolus i.v.). 2. The diabetic state accelerated the decline of noncontractile Ca2+ transients without affecting their peak amplitude. Insulin treatment reversed this alteration. 3. The increase in contractile Ca2+ transients by cholinesterase inhibition was attenuated 0.6 fold and became resistant to changes in [Ca2+]o in the diabetic state. 4. Changes in extracellular pH from 7.6 to 5.6 depressed the peak amplitude of noncontractile Ca2+ transients without affecting their duration, and enhanced the peak amplitude of contractile Ca2+ transients. 5. These results suggest that the inactivation process of noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization is promoted in diabetic muscles, presumably by desensitization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Complementary effects of paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizin on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in the nerve-stimulated skeletal muscle of mice

Effects of paeoniflorin (PF) and glycyrrhizin (GLR), contained in paeony and licorice roots, respectively, on contractile and non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization were examined by measuring the Ca(2+)-aequorin luminescence (Ca2+ transients) of the nerve-stimulated skeletal muscle of mice in the presence of neostigmine (0.3 microM). PF (0.1-1 mM) prolonged the duration of non-contractile Ca2+ transients, which may induce the desensitization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, but did not affect contractile Ca2+ transients. GLR (0.3-1 mM) depressed contractile Ca2+ transients without affecting non-contractile transients. These results suggest that PF and GLR may have complementary effects on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization to block the neuromuscular transmission.

Immunohistochemical localization of neuronal nicotinic receptor subtypes at the pre- and postjunctional sites in mouse diaphragm muscle

The existence of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits was investigated in the cryostat sections of mouse diaphragm muscles using the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The specific immunolabelings with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to beta 2 and to alpha 8 subunits of neuronal nAChR were observed at the endplate determined by labeling with a fluorescent dye (BODIPY)-conjugated alpha-bungarotoxin. The immunoreactivity of mAb to the alpha 3 subunit of neuronal nAChR was detected on the motor nerve fibers including the nerve terminals. These results provide evidence that the subtypes of postsynaptic nAChR, recognized by the anti-beta 2 and/or anti-alpha 8 mAbs, and the presynaptic nAChR recognized by the anti-alpha 3 mAb, are present at the neuromuscular junction, in addition to the classical muscle nAChR.

Postsynaptic nicotinic receptor desensitized by non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization via protein kinase-C activation at the mouse neuromuscular junction

1. Non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization (unaccompanied by muscle contraction) was initiated by nerve stimulation in the presence of neostigmine (more than 0.03 microM) at the endplate region of mouse diaphragm muscles. In the process of nicotinic receptor desensitization, the depressant effect of non-contractile Ca2+ on contractile Ca2+ mobilization was investigated by measurement of Ca(2+)-aequorin luminescence. 2. When the phrenic nerve was stimulated with paired pulses having intervals of 150, 300, 600, 1000 and 2000 ms, contractile Ca2+ transients were elicited during the generation of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization. The amplitude of the contractile Ca2+ transients elicited by the second pulse (S2) was depressed at the shorter pulse intervals, but recovered to the initial contractile response (S1) at longer pulse intervals. 3. The extent of depression of S2 was enhanced by increasing the concentration of neostigmine (0.03 to 0.3 microM). When a low concentration (0.05 microM) of pancuronium, a competitive nicotinic antagonist, completely blocked non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization, the depression of S2 was diminished. 4. The depression of S2 was enhanced when the peak amplitude of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization was raised by increasing the external Ca2+ concentration from 1.3 to 5 mM. 5. Staurosporine (10 nM), a protein kinase-C inhibitor, diminished the depression of S2 despite large amounts of non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization. The diminishing effect of staurosporine was counteracted by TPA (0.1 microM), a protein kinase-C activator. 6. These findings suggest that non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization may enhance the desensitization of the postsynaptic nicotinic receptor via activation of protein kinase-C at the neuromuscular junction.

Monoclonal antibody to beta 2 subunit of neuronal nicotinic receptor depresses the postjunctional non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization in the mouse diaphragm muscle

The involvement of subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in the postjunctional non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization was investigated in mouse diaphragm muscles treated with an anticholinesterase, using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to nAChR subunits. mAb 210 (specific for alpha 1 subunit of muscle nAChR) depressed contractile Ca2+ transients without affecting non-contractile Ca2+ transients. mAb 270 (specific for beta 2 subunit of neuronal nAChR) depressed only non-contractile Ca2+ transients. mAb 210 did not completely block the ACh-activated channel currents in flexor digitorum brevis muscle cells. The present findings indicate that the anti-beta 2 mAb 270-related subtype of nAChR may postsynaptically operate the non-contractile Ca2+ mobilization at the neuromuscular junction, suggesting the involvement of a subtype different from the usual muscle-type nAChR.

Enhancement by calcitonin gene-related peptide of nicotinic receptor-operated noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization at the mouse neuromuscular junction

1. The involvement of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the mechanism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-operated noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization (not accompanied by twitch tension) was investigated by measuring Ca(2+)-aequorin luminescence at the neuromuscular junction of mouse diaphragm muscle treated with neostigmine. 2. Noncontractile Ca2+ transients were enhanced by 4-aminopyridine (100 microM), a K+ channel blocker, and inhibited by botulinum toxin (1-100 micrograms, i.p.) and hexamethonium (10-100 microM), a neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist. 3. Noncontractile Ca2+ transients were diminished by CGRP8-37 (10-20 microM), a CGRP antagonist. CGRP (0.3-10 nM) prolonged the duration of noncontractile Ca2+ transients. The effect of CGRP was suppressed by CGRP8-37 (0.1 microM). 4. Noncontractile Ca2+ transients were inhibited by H-89 (0.1-1 microM), a protein kinase-A inhibitor. The catalytic subunit of protein kinase-A and AA373 (300 microM), a protein kinase-A activator, prolonged the duration of noncontractile transients. The prolongations either by CGRP or by AA373 were not observed in the presence of H-89 (0.1 microM). 5. Contractile (accompanied by twitch tension) but not noncontractile Ca2+ transients were decreased by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA, 0.3-1 microM), a protein kinase-C activator. Phospholipase A2 increased only contractile Ca2+ transients. Calmodulin-related agents affected neither type of Ca2+ transients. 6. These results provide the first evidence that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-operated noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization is promoted by nerve-released CGRP activating protein kinase-A, and is dependent on the accumulated amounts of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction where desensitization might readily develop.

Effect of Clostridium perfringens beta toxin on blood pressure of rats

Guanethidine treatment or adrenal medullectomy significantly inhibited the elevation in blood pressure induced by Clostridium perfringens beta toxin, and the combination of the two drastically reduced the pressure rise, to less than 19% of that in control rats. When rats were pretreated with tetrodotoxin or hexamethonium, the toxin-evoked rise was significantly inhibited. Elevation in blood pressure induced by the toxin in spinal rats tended to be less than that in control rats. When investigated by a microscopical technique, arteriolar constriction in the mesenteric vasculature was observed after the blood pressure elevation induced by the toxin reached a maximum. Blood flow in the skin decreased with an increase in blood pressure following intravenous injection of the toxin. It is concluded that beta toxin acts on the autonomic nervous system and produces arterial constriction.