title: Changes in blood pressure in the rat induced by the venom extract from a sea anemone-Bunodosoma cavernata.
abstract: The effect of graded doses of crude sea anemone extract from Bunodosoma cavernata on rat blood pressure was investigated with a view to accessing its effects on the status of the cardiovascular system. From the results, the extract (2-8 ug protein/kg, i.v.) caused only transient hypotension. With higher doses of the extract (10-20 ug protein/kg, i.v.), the transient hypotension was accompanied by a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure. Atropine, mepyramine and propranolol failed to affect the transient hypotension. Of these drugs, only propranolol decreased the extract-induced hypertension. Doses of the extract above 20 ug protein/kg, i.v. produced a decrease in pulse rate and an increase in pulse pressure. We suggest that the extract-induced transient hypotension could be due to the presence of a less potent agent in the extract with acetylcholine-like action, and the hypertensive action of the extract was probably due to the stimulation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system by agent(s) in the extract.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012615:Sea Anemones; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D003064:Cnidarian Venoms