Bee venom and phospholipase A2 extracted from bee venom enhanced guanylate cyclase (E.C. 4.6.1.2) activity two- to threefold in rat liver, lung, heart, kidney, ileum, and cerebellum. Dose-response relationships revealed that bee venom at concentrations as low as 1 microgram per milliliter and phospholipase A2 at 1 microunit per milliliter caused a maximal enhancement of guanylate cyclase.