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Brief Communication

Nature Neuroscience 10, 943–945 (1 August 2007) | doi:10.1038/nn1940

A tarantula peptide against pain via ASIC1a channels and opioid mechanisms

Michel Mazzuca , Catherine Heurteaux , Abdelkrim Alloui , Sylvie Diochot , Anne Baron , Nicolas Voilley , Nicolas Blondeau , Pierre Escoubas , Agn|[egrave]|s G|[eacute]|lot , Anny Cupo , Andreas Zimmer , Anne M Zimmer , Alain Eschalier & Michel Lazdunski

Psalmotoxin 1, a peptide extracted from the South American tarantula Psalmopoeus cambridgei, has very potent analgesic properties against thermal, mechanical, chemical, inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rodents. It exerts its action by blocking acid-sensing ion channel 1a, and this blockade results in an activation of the endogenous enkephalin pathway.