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The mechanical effects of rhinoceros horned viper (Bitis nasicornis) venom on the isolated perfused guinea‐pig heart
Author(s) -
Alloatti G,
Gattullo D,
Losano G,
Marsh NA,
Pagliaro P,
Vono P
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1991.sp003529
Subject(s) - medicine , venom , heart rate , guinea pig , endocrinology , chemistry , blood pressure , biology , biochemistry
In the guinea‐pig Langendorff heart preparation, addition of 0.1 mg Bitis nasicornis venom to the perfusion solution caused transient increases in heart rate (HR) and left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) with peak increases at 2 min. With higher doses (0.6 and 1.4 mg), these increases were followed by the return of HR to normal, significant decreases in LVSP below control values and marked increases in left ventricular diastolic pressure. Histaminergic blockade with ranitidine reduced the positive responses. The results suggest that a venom component, possibly acting on intracellular calcium movement, could be responsible for both positive and negative effects.