Indian red scorpion venom-induced augmentation of cardio-respiratory reflexes and pulmonary edema involve the release of histamine.
Pulmonary edema is a consistent feature of Mesobuthus tamulus (MBT) envenomation. Kinins, prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators are implicated in it. Since, histamine also increases capillary permeability, this study was undertaken to evaluate whether MBT venom utilizes histamine to produce pulmonary edema and augmentation of cardio-respiratory reflexes evoked by phenylbiguanide (PBG). Blood pressure, respiratory excursions and ECG were recorded in urethane anaesthetized adult rats. Injection of PBG (10 μg/kg) produced apnoea, hypotension and bradycardia and the responses were augmented after exposure to venom (100 μg/kg). There was increased pulmonary water content in these animals. Pretreatment with pheniramine maleate (H₁ antagonist, 3 mg/kg) blocked both venom-induced augmentation of PBG response and pulmonary edema. In another series, compound 48/80 (mast cell depletor) was treated for 4 days then the PBG responses were elicited as before. At the end of the experiments, mast cells were counted from the peritoneal fluid. The venom-induced pulmonary edema and the augmentation of PBG reflex were not observed in compound 48/80 treated animals. Further, mast cells in the peritoneal fluid were absent in this group as compared to vehicle treated group (29 ± 7.9 cells/mm³). These observations indicate that venom-induced pulmonary edema and augmentation of PBG reflexe are mediated through mast cells by involving H₁ receptors.
Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
Abhaya
A
Dutta
Shripad B
SB
Deshpande
D000818:Animals; D001645:Biguanides; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D010632:Pheniramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine / Q000494:pharmacology
D001645:Biguanides; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D010632:Pheniramine; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; C008846:phenyl biguanide