Display options
Cite
Sousa PC, Brito TS, Freire DS, et al. Vasoconstrictor effect of Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on rat aorta. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2013;19(1):24doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-19-24.
Sousa, P. C., Brito, T. S., Freire, D. S., Ximenes, R. M., Magalhães, P. J., Monteiro, H. S., Alves, R. S., Martins, A. M., Toyama, D. O., & Toyama, M. H. (2013). Vasoconstrictor effect of Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on rat aorta. The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases, 19(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/1678-9199-19-24
Sousa, Paulo César P, et al. "Vasoconstrictor effect of Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on rat aorta." The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases vol. 19,1 (2013): 24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1678-9199-19-24
Sousa PC, Brito TS, Freire DS, Ximenes RM, Magalhães PJ, Monteiro HS, Alves RS, Martins AM, Toyama DO, Toyama MH. Vasoconstrictor effect of Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on rat aorta. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2013 Sep 25;19(1):24. doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-19-24. PMID: 24066982; PMCID: PMC3849866.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2013 Sep 25;19(1):24. doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-19-24.

Vasoconstrictor effect of Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on rat aorta.

The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases

Paulo César P Sousa, Teresinha S Brito, Daniel S Freire, Rafael M Ximenes, Pedro Jorge C Magalhães, Helena Sa Monteiro, Renata S Alves, Alice Maria C Martins, Daniela O Toyama, Marcos H Toyama

Affiliations

  1. Paulista Coast Experimental Campus, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), São Vicente, São Paulo State, Brazil. [email protected].

PMID: 24066982 PMCID: PMC3849866 DOI: 10.1186/1678-9199-19-24

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Apis mellifera stings are a problem for public health worldwide, particularly in Latin America due to the aggressiveness of its Africanized honeybees. Massive poisoning by A. mellifera venom (AmV) affects mainly the cardiovascular system, and several works have described its actions on heart muscle. Nevertheless, no work on the pharmacological action mechanisms of the AmV in isolated aorta has been reported. Thus, the present work aimed to investigate the actions of AmV and its main fractions, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin, on isolated aorta rings and a probable action mechanism.

RESULTS: AmV and the complex PLA2 + melittin (0.1-50 μg/mL) caused contraction in endothelium-containing aorta rings, but neither isolated PLA2 nor melittin were able to reproduce the effect. Endothelium removal did not change the maximum vasoconstrictor effect elicited by AmV. Ca2+-free medium, as well as treatment with phentolamine (5 μM), verapamil (10 μM), losartan (100 μM), and U-73122 (10 μM, a phospholipase C inhibitor), eliminated the AmV-induced contractile effects.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, AmV caused contractile effect in aorta rings probably through the involvement of voltage-operated calcium channels, AT1 and α-adrenergic receptors via the downstream activation of phospholipase C. The protein complex, PLA2 + melittin, was also able to induce vasoconstriction, whereas the isolated proteins were not.

References

  1. J Proteomics. 2009 Mar 6;72(2):145-54 - PubMed
  2. Toxicon. 2010 Sep 1;56(3):305-12 - PubMed
  3. Toxicon. 2010 Sep 1;56(3):355-62 - PubMed
  4. Toxicon. 1995 Jul;33(7):917-27 - PubMed
  5. Eur J Biochem. 1971 Jun 11;20(3):344-50 - PubMed
  6. Adv Physiol Educ. 2003 Dec;27(1-4):201-6 - PubMed
  7. Nature. 1980 Nov 27;288(5789):373-6 - PubMed
  8. Arch Intern Med. 1995 Oct 23;155(19):2038-43 - PubMed
  9. Circ Res. 1989 Mar;64(3):463-73 - PubMed
  10. Rev Saude Publica. 2003 Apr;37(2):237-41 - PubMed
  11. Neotrop Entomol. 2006 Mar-Apr;35(2):210-4 - PubMed
  12. Am J Physiol. 1985 Jul;249(1 Pt 2):H14-9 - PubMed
  13. Hypertension. 2000 Jan;35(1 Pt 2):173-8 - PubMed

Publication Types