The effect of Portuguese Man-of-war (Physalia physalis) venom on calcium, sodium and potassium fluxes of cultured embryonic chick heart cells

Lincoln Edwards, Eva Luo, Raymond Hall, Ramon R. Gonzalez, David A. Hessinger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Portuguese Man-of-war venom markedly increases calcium (45Ca2+) influx into primary, cultured, embryonic chick heart cells. This action is dose-dependent, but is unaffected by organic calcium blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine, nimodipine and mibefradil). On the other hand, certain trivalent (La3+, Gd(3+)) and divalent (Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mn2+) metals inhibit venom-induced calcium influx. Sodium (22Na+) influx into chick heart cells is also significantly increased by Man-of-war venom. Flecainide does not block venom-induced sodium influx. The efflux of the potassium analogue, 86Rb+, from heart cells is also significantly increased by the venom. The venom, however, has little or no effect on rubidium (86Rb+) or 2-deoxy-D-[2-3H] glucose influx. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)323-335
Number of pages13
JournalToxicon
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2000

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Toxicology

Keywords

  • Calcium influx
  • Cultured embryonic chick heart cells
  • Hematocyst
  • Physial Physalis
  • Portugese Man-of-War
  • Venom

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