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tetanospasmin
(redirected from Spasmogenic toxin)

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
tetanospasmin /tet·a·no·spas·min/ (tet″ah-no-spaz´min) the neurotoxic component of the exotoxin (tetanus toxin) produced by Clostridium tetani, which causes the typical muscle spasms of tetanus.
tet·a·no·spas·min (ttn--spzmn)
n.
The neurotoxin of Clostridium tetani that causes the characteristic signs and symptoms of tetanus.

tetanospasmin [tet″ah-no-spaz´min]
the neurotoxic component of the tetanus toxin, which causes the muscle spasms of tetanus.

tetanospasmin
the neurotoxic exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani, which inhibits release of gamma amino butyric acid by inhibitory neurons, resulting in tetanic spasms.

tetanospasmin
Toxicology A 150 kD neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani, which is one of the most toxic substances known to man; it selectively blocks inhibitory nerve transmission from the spinal cord to the muscles, causing severe muscle spasms, which may be intense enough to tear muscle or cause compression fractures of the vertebrae; it evokes unrestrained muscle firing and sustained muscular contraction, causing lockjaw, dysphagia, or acute respiratory failure by tetany of the diaphragm. See Poisons.


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