CARDIAC NORADRENALINE IN EXPERIMENTAL RAT ENVENOMATION WITH AFRICANIZED BEE VENOM

The concentration of cardiac tissue noradrenaline (NOR) was determined in Wistar rats injected with 1.5 mu l/100 g body weight Africanized b ee venom (ABV) (LD(50) = 0.8 mu l/100 g body weight by the intravenous route). The animals were injec ted with ABV by the intramuscular (IM) , intraperitoneal (IP), subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) routes. Animals injected by the IM, IP and SC routes were sacrificed 4, 7 and 24 hours after injection. The animals injected by the TV route were s acrificed when they became apnoeic (within minutes). NOR levels in ani mals injected by the IM, IP and SC routes were inconstant and inconclu sive. In contrast, animals injected with ABV by the IV route showed a significant decrease in NOR concentration when compared to their respe ctive controls, suggesting tissue NOR release. It is suggested that th e mechanism of death of the animals injected IV with ABV seems to be r elated, at least in part, to functional cardiac alterations secondary to stress-induced NOR release. As a consequence, cardiological monitor ing of patients who are victims of multiple bee stings is recommended, together with a judicious evaluation of therapy involving drugs with a sympathomimetic action.