title: Decreased levels of nerve growth factor in organs of mice as a consequence of sub-lethal injection of cobra venom.
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is endogenously present in salivary glands of mice and sex organs of various animals. This research reports the presence of NGF in almost all major organs of mice at varying concentrations. The research further reports that intramuscular injection of a sub-lethal dose of Naja kaouthia venom lowered the levels of NGF in the organs of mice. Adult Balb/C male mice were injected with a half lethal dose of cobra venom. The mice were sacrificed for organs at 2, 8, and 24 hours post injection. Organs were homogenized, centrifuged, and the supernatants were assayed for NGF using anti-NGF by immunological tests enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The organs of the mice injected with PBS served as controls. Major decrease in the levels of NGF was observed 2 hours after venom injection, and tremendous decrease of NGF was observed in organs of mice 24 hours post injection. The most lowering for NGF was observed in brain, heart, liver, salivary gland, and testis. This is a first-hand investigation showing the pharmacokinetics of NGF in organs of mice as an effect of envenomation.
authors.affiliation: Ophidia Products, Inc., Houston, Texas 77035, USA. bvl@ophidia.com
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Lipps
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004546:Elapid Venoms; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor