Effect of honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom on the course of adjuvant-induced arthritis and depression of drug metabolism in the rat.
The ability of honeybee venom to suppress Mycobacterium butyricum-induced arthritis was studied in Lewis rats. Bee venom, 2 mg.kg-1.day-1 for 24 days, suppressed but did not abolish the primary and secondary inflammatory responses to the adjuvant as monitored by decreases in the swelling of the left and right hind paws and adjuvant-induced arthritis on heme metabolism were also examined. Bee venom or adjuvant had no effect on hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase, porphyrin content, or ferrochelatase activity. However, with both treatments cytochrome P-450 and the associated enzymic activities of ethylmorphine N-demethylase and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase were depressed markedly. In contrast, both treatments caused several-fold enhancement of hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase activity. Adjuvant-treated rats receiving bee venom showed changes in heme metabolism which were of a magnitude similar to those observed when either agent was administered to the experimental animals. Although the bee venom appears to suppress adjuvant-induced arthritis to a greater extent in female than in male rats, the alterations in heme metabolism were similar in bee venom-treated male and female rats. The observed changes in heme metabolism elicited by the venom or by the adjuvant are strongly suggestive of perturbations of the immune system causing alterations in hepatic microsomal enzymes.
D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001514:Bee Venoms; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D006418:Heme; D007372:Interferons; D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase