The effect of the venom of Bitis gabonica on mesenteric and external iliac blood flow. - A preliminary study in the dog.

The activity of the venom of Bitis Gabonica on mesenteric and external iliac circulation was investigated in four anaesthetized dogs. Venom doses of 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg were injected intravenously with an interval of 30 minutes between two successive injections. Following the first and the second dose, a transient fall of the resistance was observed in the mesenteric and especially in the external iliac vascular bed. Then, mesenteric resistance returned to normal, whereas external iliac resistance increased noticeable above the control value. After the third injection the animals died in a state of severe hypotension. It is note-worthy that during the transient vasodilation, mesenteric flow did not increase proportionally to the reduction of the relevant resistance, owing to the fact that BP fell more than would have been expected from the mesenteric vasodilation. This discrepancy seemed to depend on a more conspicuous reduction of the resistance in other vascular beds as observed in the external iliac circulation.