title: Smooth muscle contracting compounds in venoms of sphecid wasps (Hym: Sphecidae).
abstract: 1. The presence of smooth muscle contracting substances in venom preparations made from six species of sphecid wasps was investigated using a number of standard pharmacological techniques. 2. In addition, acetylcholine was identified by enzymatic degradation as well as by mass fragmentography, while histamine was determined using a radio-enzymatic method. 3. The venom reservoir of P. triangulum contains about 400 ng acetylcholine, but no histamine-, 5-HT- or bradykinin-like activity. 4. The venoms of the five other species contain histamine in amounts varying from 20 to 2000 ng per venom reservoir, but no acetylcholine-, 5-HT- or bradykinin-like activity.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D011898:Ranidae; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms; D012701:Serotonin; D006632:Histamine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D001920:Bradykinin