The underlying mechanism of scorpion venom peptide BmK AS in reducing epilepsy seizures: mediated through dual modulation of Nav1.6 and the inflammasome pathway

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  The underlying mechanism of scorpion venom peptide BmK AS in reducing epilepsy seizures: mediated through dual modulation of Nav1.6 and the inflammasome pathway Abstract Introduction:  Voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) dysregulation, particularly of the Nav1.6 subtype, is a core mechanism underlying epileptogenesis and its associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The scorpion venom peptide BmK AS has demonstrated anticonvulsant potential, but its efficacy in chronic epilepsy and the precise mechanisms of action remain undefined. Methods:  Here, we show that BmK AS exerts robust anti-epileptic and neuroprotective effects through converging mechanisms. In a kainic acid-induced mouse model, BmK AS treatment reduced mortality and seizure parameters. Electrophysiological studies assessed BmK AS modulation of VGSC subtypes. The functional relevance of Nav1.6 targeting was confirmed by the loss of BmK AS’s anti-seizure efficacy upon its pharmacological blockade in a PTZ-in...

On two wolf spiders from Yintiaoling Nature Reserve of Chongqing, China (Araneae, Lycosidae)

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On two wolf spiders from Yintiaoling Nature Reserve of Chongqing, China (Araneae, Lycosidae)

Abstract

Two spiders of the wolf spider family Lycosidae from high altitude area (>1900 m) of Yintiaoling Nature Reserve are presented here, including a new species, Trochosa alpina sp. nov. (male, female) and a poorly known species, Alopecosa pseudocuneata (Schenkel, 1953). The new species is similar to the Holarctic congener, T. ruricola (De Geer, 1778) and Alopecosa pseudocuneata is quite similar to the Palaearctic species, Alopecosa cuneata (Clerck, 1757). Description / redescription, diagnoses, photos and illustrations of these two species are given. Photos of A. cuneata are provided for comparison purposes.

Zhang, X.-Y. and Zhang, Z.-S. (2025) “On two wolf spiders from Yintiaoling Nature Reserve of Chongqing, China (Araneae, Lycosidae)”, Zootaxa. Auckland, New Zealand, 5652(1), pp. 95–102. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5652.1.11.