The effects of a new O-superfamily conotoxin, SO3, on sodium current (/Na), transient A-type potassium currents (/A), and delayed rectified potassium currents (/K), were examined in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Addition of SO3 caused a concentration-dependent,rapidly developing, and reversible inhibition of voltage-activated currents. The IC50 values for the blockage of /Na, /A, and /K were calculated as 0.49, 33.9, and 7.6 μmol/L, respectively. The determined Hill coefficients were 1.7, 0.6, and 1.2, respectively. These results indicate that SO3 can selectively inhibit neuronal sodium and potassium currents.