[Cardiotoxicity in rats of purified gamma toxin isolated from venom of Naja nigricollis and of toxins extracted from scorpion venom].

In vivo, atropine or tetrodotoxin prevent arrhytmias which are due to acetylcholine released by the scorpion's venom. On the contrary, atropine is ineffective against cardiotoxicity of the purified gamma toxin and tetrodotoxin aggravates its effects. These findings allow us to postulate the mechanism of action which differs in these two toxin groups.