Abstract
Venom from the scorpion Androctonus amoreuxi was fractionated into eight components by cellulose acetate electrophoresis, using barbitone buffer pH 8·6. Only one of the electrophoretic fractions was lethal in mice. The ld 50 of the venom following i.m. injection into mice was estimated to be 0·88 ± 0·06 mg per kg. The cardiovascular effects of the venom appeared to be mediated through stimulation of both parts of the autonomic nervous system with predominance of sympathetic stimulation, and release of tissue catecholamines. The venom markedly decreased the tone of the spontaneously contracting rat uterus in all states of uterine function except in pregnancy where it produced a stimulant effect. The uterine inhibitory effect of the venom is probably due to stimulation of the β-adrenergic receptors as it was blocked by propranolol. The venom first increased the amplitude and then blocked the twitches of the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm and caused contracture and decrease of twitch height of the tibialis anterior muscle preparation. Of the various fractions separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis, only three fractions showed activity on the various preparations studied.
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