THE USE OF SEROTHERAPHY TO REVERSE ECG and CARDIAC ENZYME CHANGES CAUSED BY SCORPION Mesobuthus tamulus concanesis, Pocock ENVENOMING

K. RADHA KRISHNA MURTHY(1), M. ABBAS ZARE(1), L. HAGHNAZARI(1)

(1)Department of Physiology, Seth G.S. Medical College & K.E.M. Hospital, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, India.

ABSTRACT: Acute myocardiopathy in experimental dogs and rabbits was induced by subcutaneous (SQ) injection of 3.5 mg/kg of scorpion venom from Mesobuthus tamulus concanesis, Pocock. An increase in circulating lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT), creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), serum glutamine pyrovate transaminase (SGPT) and alpha hydroxy butyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) enzyme levels was observed in dogs 60 min after venom injection, and a further rise was observed 120 min after venom injection. The administration of the species-specific scorpion antivenom (SAV) at different time intervals after venom injection resulted in reversal of electrocardiographic changes and a reduction in cardiac enzyme levels. The administration of SAV to scorpion envenomed alloxan-pretreated animals did not cause clinical or biochemical improvement. On the other hand, administering insulin to envenomed only animals or envenomed alloxan-pretreated animals resulted in a biochemical and clinical improvement, as well as in a reduction of the cardiac enzyme levels. Insulin administration in scorpion envenoming syndrome is essentially a metabolic support to control the adverse effects triggered by catecholamines and other counter-regulatory hormones.

KEY WORDS: Mesobuthus tamulus concanesis, electrocardiography, glutamicoxalacetate transaminase, glutamine pyruvate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase - MB, alpha hydroxy butyrate dehydrogenase.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

K. RADHA KRISHNA MURTHY - Professor of Physiology, Seth G.S. Medical College & K. E. M. Hospital, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, India. Email krdhakrishnamurthy@yahoo.com