title: Comparison of the biodistribution of free or liposome-entrapped Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) venom in mice.
abstract: The local absorption rate, clearance and tissue distribution of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, (Cdt) were examined using a two-antibody sandwich ELISA assay. We compared the biodistribution of both free or encapsulated Cdt in mice. Following subcutaneous injection of 10 microg/mouse of free Cdt (0.8 LD50), venom was detected in serum after 15 min, showed its highest level at 30 min (45+/-5 ng/ml) and was cleared from the circulation after 6 h. After 2 h of inoculation, venom was detected in the kidney (57+/-9 ng/g of tissue), spleen (18+/-4 ng/g of tissue) and brain (14+/-6 ng/g of tissue). For both subcutaneous or intravenous injection of free Cdt, venom was firstly detected in the kidney. No Cdt appeared either in the kidney, spleen, brain, or other tissues after subcutaneous inoculation of encapsulated venom even though a higher dose was used, 25 microg/mouse (2 LD50). Venom remained at the site of injection for a period of 1 week. Following intravenous injection of encapsulated venom (5 microg/mouse, 2 LD50), venom was detected in liver and spleen tissues. The biodistribution of encapsulated venom is discussed in relation to the effects of reduction of toxicity and increase of adjuvanticity.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Bioprodutos, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro, 80, Belo Horizonte 30510-010, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: R P F
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Camargos
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Viotti
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Revelo
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051379:Mice; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes