Investigations of cardiac sarcolemmal ATPase activity in rabbits with acute myocarditis produced by scorpion venom (Buthus tamulus).

Acute myocarditis is produced in rabbits with scorpion (Buthus tamulus) (a common scorpion found in South India) venom. Acute myocarditis is confirmed by changes in the ECG taken before and after venom injection. The atrial and ventricular sarcolemmal Na+-K+ ATPase, Mg++ ATPase, and Ca++ ATPase activities are assayed in control and venom injected rabbits. Atrial and ventricular sarcolemmal ATPase activities are similar in control animals. A significant reduction in atrial Ca++ ATPase activity is seen in venom treated rabbits. Animals injected with 2 mg/Kg venom exhibited significant increases in Mg++ ATPase and Ca++ ATPase activities in the ventricular sarcolemma. However, significant reductions in Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca++ ATPase activities are observed in ventricular tissue from rabbits treated with 4 mg/Kg of venom.