THE PHYSIOLOGIC ACTION OF THE VENOM OF THE HONEYBEE (APIS MELLIFERA)

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Abstract
The venom of 6 bees intravenously injected into an etherized dog, weighing 4.5 kgm., caused, after a latent period of 12 sec., a sharp rise and a rapid and profound fall of blood-pressure; the venom of 4 bees injected into an etherized rabbit weighing 2-6 kgm., after a 10-sec. latent period, caused a rapid fall of blood-pressure, returning to normal in 4 min. Intravenous injection of the venom from 10 bees into a dog weighing 6.8 kgm. caused a precipitate fall in blood-pressure and in kidney volume, both returning to normal in 1 hr. That splanchnic dilatation is not the cause of the immediate fall in blood pressure is indicated by the fact that the venom from 10 bees, injected into a dog weighing 10 kgm., produced immediate increase in the volume of the hind limb. Maximal contraction occurred in the perfused uterus of a virgin guinea pig on addition of the venom of 1 bee to the perfusing solution. The intravenous injection of a venom from 4 bees into a large guinea pig caused occlusive bronchospasm. A perfused rabbit heart was rapidly incapacitated when the venom from 8 bees was added to the perfusing solution. In general, the venom of the bee may be described as a violent endothelial poison and a marked stimulant of smooth muscle; it is comparable in these respects to . histamine. In view of the fact that the perfused mammalian heart is promptly incapacitated by this substance and erythrocytes are quickly laked, it would be preferable to designate the venom as a general protoplasmic poison, as has been done for the venom of rattlesnakes.

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