Pharmacodynamic actions of crude venom of the Indian catfish Heteropneustes fossilis
Datta, A.; Gomes, A.; Sarangi, B.; Kar, P.K.; Lahiri, S.C.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 76: 892-897
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 7169246 Document Number: 186024
The crude venom of the common Indian catfish H. fossilis was examined for its pharmacodynamic activity. It lowered blood pressure in the cat, an action not antagonized by atropine, mepyramine or methysergide. Venom showed a positive inotropic effect on toad and guinea pig hearts and increased cutaneous capillary permeability in guinea pig skin. Venom contracted several isolated smooth muscle preparations i.e., guinea pig ileum, guinea pig colon, rat fundus, hamster fundus, rat ascending colon and rat ileum. Contraction of guinea pig ileum was blocked by prostaglandin blockers SC-19220 and polyphloretin phosphate, but not atropine, mepyramine, methysergide. No action could be shown on skeletal muscle. Washed human erythrocytes were not hemolyzed by the venom. LD50 in mouse (i.v.) was 5.01 mg/kg.