title: Prostaglandin associated mortality following intravenous injection of catfish epidermal secretions in rabbits.
abstract: Toxicity of soluble protein extracts from epidermal gel secretions of the catfish, Arius thalassinus, was examined in rabbits. Intravenous injections containing doses as low as 2 mg protein/kg body weight caused mortality in all animals tested. An increase in plasma levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and of 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha) were observed following injections. Both the mortality and prostaglandin release were prevented by pretreatment of rabbits with either indomethacin or hydrocortisone. A similar indomethacin sensitive induction of prostaglandin release was noted following the in vitro treatment of arterial tissue sections with gel. Lethality appears to result from gel substances stimulating phospholipase activity to yield arachidonic acid, which is then metabolized to give toxic levels of prostaglandins.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D007213:Indomethacin