title: The effects of the Brazilian ant Dinoponera quadriceps venom on chemically induced seizure models.
abstract: Arthropod venoms are potential sources of neuroactive substances, providing new tools for the design of drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Dinoponera quadriceps venom (DqV) on seizure models in mice induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), pilocarpine, and strychnine. In the PTZ model, intraperitoneal treatment with DqV (0.5mg/kg) increased the time until the first seizure and the percentage of survival (155.4±27.7s/12.5%, p<0.05) compared to the control group (79.75±3.97s/0%), whereas endovenous treatment (0.1 and 0.5mg/kg) decreased the time until the first seizure (0.1mg/kg: 77.83±5.3s versus 101.0±3.3s in the control group; 0.5mg/kg: 74.43±3.9s versus 101.0±3.3s for the control group, p<0.05). We did not observe significant changes in the pilocarpine- and strychnine-induced seizure models. In assays that measured oxidative parameters in the PTZ model, intraperitoneal treatment with DqV (0.5 and 2.0mg/kg) only decreased the levels of MDA and nitrite in the cortex. However, endovenous treatment with DqV (0.1 and 0.5mg/kg) increased the levels of MDA in the cortex and hippocampus and at a dose of 0.5mg/kg in the striatum. Moreover, increased in nitrite content was observed in all three of the brain regions analyzed. Taken together, the D. quadriceps venom caused both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects in a PTZ-induced seizure model, and this effect was dependent on the route of administration used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kamila Soares
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Emiliano Ricardo Vasconcelos
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Camila Nayane de Carvalho
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Linhares
authors.forename: Alba Fabíola Costa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Havt
authors.forename: Yves Patric
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Quinet
authors.forename: Marta Maria de França
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fonteles
authors.forename: Alice Maria Costa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000862:Ant Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D001000:Ants; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000862:Ant Venoms; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents
keywords: Ant; Dinoponera quadriceps venom; Seizure