Effect of low-level laser therapy in the myonecrosis induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.
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.
Barbosa
Ana Maria
AM
Laboratory of Inflammation, Institute of Research and Development, University of Vale do Paraíba, São Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
Villaverde
Antonio Balbin
AB
Sousa
Ludmila Guimarães
LG
Munin
Egberto
E
Fernandez
Cristina Maria
CM
Cogo
José Carlos
JC
Zamuner
Stella Regina
SR
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
D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms