title: Effect of low-level laser therapy in the myonecrosis induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to investigate the capacity of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) alone or in combination with antivenom (AV) to reduce myonecrosis induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Myonecrosis is the most pronounced local effect caused by B. jararacussu venom. AV therapy and other first-aid treatments do not reverse these local effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Swiss mice were used. Myonecrosis was induced by injection of 0.6 mg/kg of B. jararacussu venom in the right gastrocnemius muscle and was evaluated at 3 or 24 h after venom injection. The site of venom administration was irradiated for 29 s with a low power semiconductor laser (685 nm) at a dose of 4.2 J/cm(2). Intravenous AV therapy (0.5 mL dose) was administered at different times: 30 min before venom injection or 0, 1, or 3 h afterward. Both AV therapy and LLLT treatments were duplicated in mice groups killed at 3 or 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B. jararacussu venom caused a significant myonecrotic effect 3 and 24 h after venom injection. LLLT significantly reduced myonecrosis by 83.5% at 24 h (p < 0.05) but not at 3 h, and AV therapy alone was ineffective for reducing myonecrosis at 3 and 24 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only LLLT significantly reduced myonecrosis of the envenomed muscle, suggesting that LLLT is a potentially therapeutic approach for treating the local effects of B. jararacussu venom.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Inflammation, Institute of Research and Development, University of Vale do Paraíba, São Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Antonio Balbin
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: Ludmila Guimarães
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Egberto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munin
authors.forename: Cristina Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.forename: Stella Regina
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Zamuner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017837:Bothrops; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009336:Necrosis
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms