Heparin or a PAF antagonist (BN-52021) prevents the acute pulmonary edema induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom in the rat.

Experiments were performed in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats, to study the mechanism of the acute pulmonary edema induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom. In control rats injection of venom (50 micrograms/100 g, i.v.) induced arterial hypertension and lung edema (lung/body index or LBI equal to 1.01 +/- 0.09). In rats pretreated with heparin (100 IU/100 g 30 min previously) the venom induced similar hypertensive effects, but no edema was detected (LBI = 0.63 +/- 0.06, P > 0.05). Similarly, in rats pretreated with the PAF antagonist BN-52021 (0.5 mg/100 g, i.v., 30 min previously), the venom-induced hypertension was not modified but the acute pulmonary edema was prevented (LBI = 0.67 +/- 0.08, P > 0.05). It is concluded that PAF plays an important role on the genesis of pulmonary edema induced by scorpion venom in the rat. It is suggested that the inhibitory action of heparin could be related to a decrease in the vascular permeability in the lungs.