Electrophysiological evidence of the neurotoxic effects of apamin on auditory function in the rat.
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded from rats before and after injection with apamin, a polypeptide component of bee venom. Increased absolute and interpeak latencies were found in Peaks III-VII of the BAEP beginning about 30 minutes after apamin injection suggesting impaired auditory function. No change in BAEP was found when animals were injected with saline or during the baseline period before apamin administration. Results corroborate recent findings from our laboratories of decreased glucose metabolism in brainstem nuclei of the auditory system [3] after injection with the same dose of apamin.
Moore
B D
BD
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
Kadekaro
M
M
Gary
H E
HE
Eisenberg
H M
HM
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001030:Apamin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*
D001514:Bee Venoms; D009498:Neurotoxins; D001030:Apamin