Hepatotoxicity of hornet's venom sac extract in isolated perfused rat liver.

The changes in the activity of some enzymes in parenchymal liver cells were measured in the perfusate of rat isolated liver after a single envenomation with two different doses of Hornet's (Vespa orientalis) venom sac extract (VSE). The maximal observed enzymatic changes were significant: twenty four fold rise of alkaline phosphatase E.C.3.1.3.1(ALP), six fold rise of alanine aminotransferase E.C.2.6.1.2. (ALT) and nine fold rise of aspartate aminotransferase E.C.2.6.1.1. (AST) activity. There were moderate changes (four fold) in lactic dehydrogenase activity E.C.1.1.1.2.7. (LDH) and a non-significant change in gamma-glutamyl-transferase E.C.2.3.2.1. (GGT) activity. These changes varied with the venom's dose. Also a decrease in the rate of effluent draining out via the hepatic vein was noted as an additional sign of liver damage. In light of the biochemical evidence presented here, as well as in previous work, it seems that no further biochemical proof is needed to establish the hepatotoxicity of VSE in rats, cats and probably humans too. It seems that VSE is a predictable hepatotoxin causing a pattern of enzyme changes of the cholangiocellular type.