title: Effects of drugs against cytotoxic compoundsfrom marine animals iv-hepatotoxic activity ofsea-snake hydrophis cyanocinctus venom.
abstract: Hepatotoxic activity and pathogenesis of sea snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus venom have been studied in guinea pigs and albino rats by histopathological examination and determining total Ca(2+). Concentration in liver tissue. Efficacy of two Ca(2+). antagonist drugs, verapamil and diltiazem was also studied against the cytotoxic activity of this venom. Administration of both lethal and sublethal doses of Hydrophis cyancinctus crude venom induced increased cellularity within the portal area in liver accompanied by increased tissue Ca(2+) concentration. This elicit a close correlation between tissue necrosis and increased Ca(2+) content in tissues. Both verapamil and diltiazem administration after an injection of H. cyanocinctus venom showed significant decrease in Ca(2+) concentration and tissue necrosis. Increase in survival time was also noted in almost all animals receiving Ca(2+) - antagonist drugs. It is thus suggested that cytotoxic compounds present in this marine venom cause tissue and cellular necrosis by increasing Ca(2+) influx within the cells which in turn stimulates Ca(2+) -dependent processes resulting in both organ dysfunction and sometimes fatality in few cases. But both these effects could be inhibited by using antagonizing drugs which could reduce the pathological conditions induced by such compounds by blocking the cation influx and its dependent processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and M.A.H.Q. Biological Research Centre, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qasim
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D017815:Elapidae; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012910:Snake Venoms
chemical_list: D004546:Elapid Venoms; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012910:Snake Venoms