Effects of gamma irradiation on allergen compounds and and lethality of bee venom in a hamster animal model

This study was done to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on lethal dose 50% (LD50) of honey bee venom.

Venom samples were irradiated at doses of 0,2,4,6 and 8 kGy . Malondialdehyde level and true protein concentration were determined pre- and post-irradiation. Protein subunits of venom was detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Allergen compounds were measured using HPLC technique. Lethal dose 50% (LD50) was determined using in vivo trial. Eighty hamsters were allocated to 5 treatments and 4 replicates in a CRD design. Venom solution at dose of 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 2 mg/Kg BW were injected intra peritoneal and mortality recorded then LD50 was computed by Spearman–Karber method. In the final of study, hamsters liver samples collected and fixed in 10% formalin. Liver samples were sliced, fixed and stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Data were analyzed by SAS Software.

The results showed that true protein content and malondialdehyde level in irradiated samples had no differ with the control group (P>0.05). Electrophoresis patterns and HPLC results showed that irradiation at doses of 4 and 6 kGy decreased phospholipase amount and increase the low subunits of protein (P<0.05). Irradiation at doses of 6 and 8 kGy increased LD50 by 34%. Based on the histology results, irradiation of honey bee venom at dose of 4 and 6 kGy could decrease the inflammation of hepatocytes and vein hyperemia in liver.

Irradiation at dose of 6 kGy by removing allergens can be used to reduce the toxicity of bee venom.