Smooth muscle contracting compounds in the venom of Megascolia flavifrons (Hym: Scoliidae) with notes on the stinging behaviour.
1. The wasp Megascolia flavifrons stings larvae of the stag beetle Oryctes nasicornis on the ventral side of all segments, except the last three, which do not contain nerve ganglia. 2. Experiments indicate a central rather than a peripheral action of the venom. 3. From pharmacological analysis it is concluded that the venom does not contain cholinergic or serotonergic activity, but contains histamine- and bradykinin-like substances. 4. The presence of histamine was confirmed by a radioenzymatic method.
D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology*
D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms; D006632:Histamine; D001920:Bradykinin