Pharmacological actions of "kyushin," a drug containing toad venom(2): effects on urinary volume and electrolyte excretion.

A study was conducted on the pharmacological actions of the toad venom-containing drug "Kyushin" (KY-2 and KY-R) on urinary volume and electrolytes excretion, regional blood flow, renal artery blood flow and carrageenin-induced hind-paw edema. In rabbits, KY-2 and KY-R significantly increased urinary volume after intravenous administration of 8 mg/kg. In guinea pigs, KY-2 and KY-R produced a significant increase in urinary volume after intraduodenal administration (i.d.) of 80 mg/kg. In guinea pigs treated with propranolol, KY-2 at 20 and 40 mg/kg p.o. and KY-R at 40 mg/kg p.o. increased urinary volume. At 40 mg/kg i.d. both KY-2 and KY-R produced an increase in regional blood flow, as determined by the hydrogen gas clearance method, of the brain areas including the amygdaloid nucleus, but did not affect regional blood flow in liver, kidney and skeletal muscle, or renal artery blood flow. In rats, carrageenin-induced hind-paw edema was inhibited by KY-2 or KY-R at 600 mg/kg p.o.