title: Neurohormonal activation in severe scorpion envenomation: correlation with hemodynamics and circulating toxin.
abstract: We studied the effects of scorpion (Androctonus australis hector) venom on hemodynamics and on the release of catecholamines, neuropeptide Y (NPY), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in dog model of severe scorpion envenomation. Nine mongrel anesthetized dogs were submitted to mechanical ventilation through intubation and were administered intravenously purified dried scorpion venom (Androctonus autstralis) 0.05 mg/kg. Measurements including pulmonary artery catheter derived parameters, serum toxin levels and humoral variables were performed at baseline (before venom injection) and 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after venom injection. Humoral variables included: serum lactate, epinephrine (EP), norepinephrine (NE), NPY, ET-1 and ANP plasma concentrations. Scorpion venom caused rapid and transient increase of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and PAOP associated with a marked and sustained decline in cardiac output (-55% at 60 min; P < 0.001). Hemodynamic changes were associated with a rapid and significant increase of all measured hormones. The highest increase was for NE (28-fold) and EP (25-fold). MAP was closely correlated with NE and less significantly correlated with toxin levels. Similarly, significant correlation was observed between PAPO and ANP plasma levels. These findings support the implication of excessive catecholamines release in hemodynamic disturbances of severe SE and suggest that NPY and ET-1 could be involved in this process. Serum toxin does not appear to consistently contribute to these effects. Through its correlation with PAOP, ANP could be a reliable and useful marker of cardiac dysfunction in SE.
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation Médicale and Experimental Toxicology Unit (99/UR/088-59 and UR/06/02), Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital Monastir 5000, Tunisia. Semir.nouira@rns.tn
authors.forename: Semir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nouira
authors.forename: Souheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elatrous
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Besbes
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boukef
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Devaux
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aubrey
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elayeb
authors.forename: Fekri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abroug
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D019332:Endothelin-1; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009498:Neurotoxins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor