Blocking voltage dependent calcium channels is an important strategy in acute spinal trauma treatment, because it prevents the exacerbated calcium influx which participates actively in acute neurodegenerative processes, resulting in neuroprotection with improvement of neurological and electrophysiological functions. The cone snail toxins are peptides with adequate structural stability, which have been studied by specific actions on ion channels and receptors that directly interfering in the release of neurotransmitters and neuromodulation of sensory and motor neurons of the spinal cord. They are already used in the treatment of neurological disorders and appear to be promising in the development of new therapies for spinal trauma. Therefore, it was aimed to discuss the pathophysiology of spinal cord trauma, and possible therapeutic use of marine snail toxins that acts in voltage-dependent calcium channels.
conotoxin; calcium channels; Conus magus; Conus geographus; spinal cord injury
