Botox May Move into the Brain

I've never really understood the point of Botox. Freezing my face into a rictus of wrinklessness doesn't seem like it would be an improvement over natural expression. Plus, I figured intentionally injecting a neurotoxin into my skin just wasn't... well... wise. If I really wanted to have the whole botulism experience, I'd cook more food from dented cans. Bloomberg.com has been running a story that makes me even less likely to try Botox for beauty. Apparently researchers have found evidence that botulism toxin injected into muscles at the base of rat whiskers has migrated into the brain stem of the rats. The toxin prevents neurons from releasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, thereby interfering with nerve impulses and paralyzing muscles. Obviously, rats aren't people, plus the study was done using a lab preparation of the botulism toxin which was different from the protein in commercial preparations, but it's still an interesting finding.

According to the same article, the FDA is investigating reports of breathing difficulties and death after using Botox and Myobloc to treat cerebral palsy in children. The results of the rat study and the reports of Botox-related illness and death indicate it might be time for a closer look at how the toxin behaves in humans, particularly when it is used for other purposes than the approved cosmetic use.

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Photo: Serotype A of the Botulinum neurotoxin. (Lacy et al.)