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Published ahead of print on January 24, 2003, doi:10.1164/rccm.200207-688OC
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American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 167. pp. 1064-1067, (2003)
© 2003 American Thoracic Society

Original Article

Scorpion Venom Decreases Lung Liquid Clearance in Rats

Alejandro P. Comellas, Liuska M. Pesce, Zaher Azzam, Fernando J. Saldías and Jacob I. Sznajder

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Jacob I. Sznajder, M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Tarry 14-707, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: j-sznajder{at}nwu.edu

It has been reported that scorpion venom causes respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. However, the effects of this toxin on lung edema clearance have not been previously studied. We examined the effects of scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) venom on the ability of the lung to clear fluid and on alveolar epithelial Na,K-ATPase. The wet-to-dry lung weight ratio was increased in anesthetized rats injected intraperitonally with scorpion venom. Lung edema clearance decreased by up to approximately 60% in rats injected with the venom. Na,K-ATPase {alpha}1- and ß1-subunit protein abundance and activity decreased at the basolateral membranes of alveolar epithelial type II cells incubated with scorpion venom as compared with that of control animals. There was no difference in cell injury in alveolar epithelial type II cells incubated with scorpion venom for 60 minutes compared with that of control animals. We provide here the first evidence that scorpion venom decreases lung liquid clearance, probably by downregulating Na,K-ATPase in the alveolar epithelium.

Key Words: Na,K-ATPase • sodium transport • scorpion venom • alveolar epithelial cells




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