Hepatotoxicity of Hornet's Venom Sac Extract, after Repeated in Vivo and in Vitro Envenomation

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Abstract
The activity of some enzymes involved in hepatic function was measured in rats, in vivo, after 1 wk repeated envenomation with hornet''s (Vespa orientalis) venom sac extract (VSE) and in vitro in monolayers of tissue culture of rat hepatocytes treated with VSE. The maximal serum enzymatic changes observed in vivo were significant: 26-fold rise of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a 7-8 fold rise of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and a 4-5 fold rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. Also 2-3-fold increases of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were noted. The maximal in vitro changes were observed after 6 days of daily envenomation. There were 5-fold rises of the activity of AST in the medium, and 2-3-fold rises of ALT, ALP and LDH. Hornet''s VSE induced enzymatic changes in the liver after prolonged, repeated exposures. It also excluded a general effect, like shock, that might have occurred in the intact animal, as the cause of the hepatic damage.