Vasoconstrictor effect of Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on rat aorta.

Background: Apis mellifera stings are a problem for public health worldwide, particularly in Latin America due to the aggressiveness of its Africanized honeybees. Massive poisoning by A. mellifera venom (AmV) affects mainly the cardiovascular system, and several works have described its actions on heart muscle.