title: Effects of the venom and the dermonecrotic toxin LiRecDT1 of Loxosceles intermedia in the rat liver.
abstract: Brown spider bites cause dermonecrotic lesions and systemic manifestations known as loxoscelism. The Loxosceles intermedia venom contains many active proteins, as phospholipase D. There are reports of increased levels of hepatic transaminases in humans with loxoscelism, but detailed studies about the action of the Loxosceles intermedia venom on the liver functions are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the venom and the dermonecrotic recombinant toxin 1 (LiRecDT1) in the liver of Wistar rats injected subcutaneously with venom (80 microg) or toxin (80 microg). After 6 and 12h the liver immunofluorescence was positive for venom and toxin. Hepatocytes from the venom group were tumefacted and apoptotic. There was leucocyte infiltration in the portal region combined with a high degree of steatosis in 12h. In the toxin group the histological alterations were less severe. Plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase were significantly elevated only in the venom group in 6h. Hepatic metabolism was modified: the venom, but not LiRecDT1, reduced gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis from alanine and glycogen accumulation. These results show that the venom is hepatotoxic and that the dermonecrotic toxin is only partly responsible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Jardim das Américas, 81531-990 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Christoff
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Olga Meiri
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Chaim
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lugarini
authors.forename: Amanda Leite
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bastos Pereira
authors.forename: Katia Sabrina
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Paludo
authors.forename: José Ederaldo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Queiroz Telles
authors.forename: Adelar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracht
authors.forename: Silvio Sanches
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acco