Serum from rabbit orally administered cobra venom inhibits growth of implanted hepatocellular carcinoma cells in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inhibitory effect of serum preparation from rabbits orally administered cobra venom (SRCV) on implanted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in mice.


METHODS
An HCC cell line, HepA, was injected into mice to prepare implanted tumors. The animals (n=30) were divided randomly into SRCV, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and distilled water (control) groups. From the second day after transplantation, 20 mg/kg 5-FU was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 9 days. SRCV (1,000 mg/kg) or distilled water (0.2 mL) was given by gastrogavage. Tumor growth inhibition was described by the inhibitory rate (IR). Apoptosis was detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), flow cytometry (FCM), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). Student's t-test was performed for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The tumor growth was inhibited markedly by SRCV treatment compared to that in the control group (P<0.01). The treatment resulted in a significant increase in the apoptotic rate of cancer cells by the factors of 10.5+/-2.4 % and 20.65+/-3.2 % as demonstrated through TUNEL and FCM assays, respectively (P<0.01). The apoptotic cells were also identified by characteristic ultrastructural features.


CONCLUSIONS
SRCV can inhibit the growth of implanted HepA cells in mice, and the apoptosis rate appears to elevate during the process.
Sun
Peng
P
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
Ren
Xian-Da
XD
Zhang
Hai-Wei
HW
Li
Xiao-Hong
XH
Cai
Shao-Hui
SH
Ye
Kai-He
KH
Li
Xiao-Kun
XK
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000637:transplantation; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011817:Rabbits
D001798:Blood Proteins; D004546:Elapid Venoms