Oriental hornet venom-induced hepatic injury: The first animal-produced hepatotoxin?

The hepatotoxic effect of venom sac extract (VSE) of the Oriental hornet has already been demonstrated using the well-known models of experimental toxicology: in vivo, isolated in situ and in vitro. The present work deals with a series of 48 rats treated daily with 5 mg VSE/kg body weight for 1–14 days. Serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were measured. Liver tissue fractionation was performed. Detailed information on the topographical and functional aspects of some enzyme changes was obtained in respect to the number of envenomations. The biochemical alterations are partially reversible. The biochemically proven liver damage induced by VSE correlated well with previous electron microscopic observations of damage to mitochondria and cell membranes.