Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the inhibitory action of medium molecular weight heparinyl amino acid derivatives (MHADs) on scorpion venom (SV)-induced acute pulmonary edema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SV was injected into the tail vein of rats after MHAD pre-treatment. An hour later, lungs were removed from each experimental animal, followed by measurement of the lung/body index (LBI) and Na(+)/K(+) ratio of the pulmonary tissue as indices for acute pulmonary edema. RESULTS: Medium molecular weight heparinyl arginine (MHR)-administered rats exhibited significantly lower LBI and Na(+)/K(+) ratios compared to control rats. Although the mechanism of inhibitory action of MHR on pulmonary edema is unclear, MHR inhibited the vascular permeability increase by SV because both LBI and Na(+)/K(+) ratio of the pulmonary tissue remained at almost normal values. CONCLUSION: MHR may prevent scorpion venom-induced acute pulmonary edema and thus makes a good candidate for clinical use.