Regional brain c-fos activation associated with penile erection and other symptoms induced by the spider toxin Tx2-6

Brain areas expressing c-fos messenger RNA were mapped by quantitative in situ hybridization after 1–2 h of intoxication with 10 μg/kg Tx2-6, a toxin obtained from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer. Relative to saline-treated controls, brains from toxin-treated animals showed pronounced c-fos activation in many brain areas, including the supraoptic nucleus, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, the motor nucleus of the vagus, area postrema, paraventricular and paratenial nuclei of the thalamus, locus coeruleus, central amydaloid nucleus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The paraventricular hypothalamus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis have been implicated in erectile function in other studies. A possible role for central NO is considered. Acute stress also activates many brain areas activated by Tx2-6 as well as with NOstimulated Fos transcription. Brain areas that appear to be selectively activated by Tx2-6, include the paratenial and paraventricular thalamic nuclei, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the area postrema and the dorsal motor n. of vagus in the medulla. However, direct injections of different doses of the toxin into the paraventricular hypothalamic n. failed to induce penile erection, arguing against CNS involvement in this particular effect. ► Tx2-6 is a neurotoxin from Phoneutria nigriventer venom that induces penile erection. ► Induction of c-fos expression in brain during intoxication was mapped. ► Brain areas correlate better to a stress response than to erction-related regions. ► There is a poor correlation with convulsion-related areas. ► Intracerebral injection of the toxin failed to induce penile erection.