Acetylcholine and an unidentified, muscle-contracting factor in the venom of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris L.
Extracts of venom reservoirs as well as dilutions of venom droplets collected from the tip of the sting of Bombus terrestris were tested for biological activity on the isolated guinea-pig ileum, the frog rectus abdominis, and the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation. The venom contains a cholinergic factor, apparently identical to acetylcholine, at a concentration of about 30 micrograms per venom reservoir. This was confirmed using radioimmunoassay of acetylcholine. The venom also contains a component causing a slow contraction of guinea-pig ileum and rat diaphragm. This component is heat stable, non dialysable, and is slowly destroyed in the venom preparation at about 0 degrees C.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011898:Ranidae; D051381:Rats
D001514:Bee Venoms; D009388:Neostigmine; D000109:Acetylcholine