Which affects more synapses: cobra venom or acetylcholine?
1 Answer
Jun 4, 2016
Acetylcholine affects more synapses than cobra venom.
Explanation:
Cobra venom is a mixture of neurotoxins, one of which is α-cobratoxin.
This toxin is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist.
It blocks the binding of acetylcholine to the nAChRs in neuromuscular junctions.
This inhibits ion flow through the postsynaptic membrane, leading to paralysis and possible death.
Cobra venom does not enter the central nervous system.
Acetylcholine acts in both the central and the peripheral nervous systems.
Hence, acetylcholine acts at more synapses than cobra venom.
