Very low concentrations (5 nM) of α-toxin from the venom of Naja naja atra produced a characteristic fade in muscle compound action potential and tetanus induced by repetitive nerve stimulation which was identical to the effects of curare. High concentrations of α-toxin and all concentrations of α-bungarotoxin reduced the response but produced very little fade in comparison to curare. These results suggest that α-toxins have more than one effect at the neuromuscular junction.
