title: Systemic effects induced by intralesional injection of ω-conotoxin MVIIC after spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcium channel blockers such as conotoxins have shown a great potential to reduce brain and spinal cord injury. MVIIC neuroprotective effects analyzed in in vitro models of brain and spinal cord ischemia suggest a potential role of this toxin in preventing injury after spinal cord trauma. However, previous clinical studies with MVIIC demonstrated that clinical side effects might limit the usefulness of this drug and there is no research on its systemic effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of MVIIC on organs and to evaluate clinical and blood profiles of rats submitted to spinal cord injury and treated with this marine toxin. Rats were treated with placebo or MVIIC (at doses of 15, 30, 60 or 120 pmol) intralesionally following spinal cord injury. Seven days after the toxin administration, kidney, brain, lung, heart, liver, adrenal, muscles, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and intestine were histopathologically investigated. In addition, blood samples collected from the rats were tested for any hematologic or biochemical changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical, hematologic and biochemical evaluation revealed no significant abnormalities in all groups, even in high doses. There was no significant alteration in organs, except for degenerative changes in kidneys at a dose of 120 pmol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that MVIIC at 15, 30 and 60 pmol are safe for intralesional administration after spinal cord injury and could be further investigated in relation to its neuroprotective effects. However, 120 pmol doses of MVIIC may provoke adverse effects on kidney tissue.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carla Maria O
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departament of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário Sérgio L
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lavor
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Isabel R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabíola B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Anna Luiza Fv
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Assumpção
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Saira Mn
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guilherme R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Sciences and Technology on Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinícius
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marília M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30123-970, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eliane G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Melo
keywords: Biochemistry; Cone snail; Conus magus; Hematology; Histopathology
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