title: Screening of the venoms of two Parabuthus scorpion species on isolated cardiomyocytes.
abstract: Crude, diluted venoms of Parabuthus transvaalicus and P. granulatus were tested on isolated cardiomyocytes. Ventricular myocytes were subjected to hypercontractility tests and whole-cell voltage clamp. Both venoms had a profound influence on the hypercontractility of cardiomyocytes, which was markedly decreased when they were pre-absorbed with commercial antiserum. Whole-cell clamp results showed an increase in the sodium current, and a retardation of the time course of inactivation, implicating the presence of an alpha toxin in both venoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Potchefstroom University, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Van Aarde
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Van Rooyen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Aswegen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D065008:Scorpion Stings; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012605:Scorpions; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms