Intrahippocampal infusion of crotamine isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus alters plasma and brain biochemical parameters.
Crotamine is one of the main constituents of the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. Here we sought to investigate the inflammatory and toxicological effects induced by the intrahippocampal administration of crotamine isolated from Crotalus whole venom. Adult rats received an intrahippocampal infusion of crotamine or vehicle and were euthanized 24 h or 21 days after infusion. Plasma and brain tissue were collected for biochemical analysis. Complete blood count, creatinine, urea, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), creatine-kinase (CK), creatine kinase-muscle B (CK-MB) and oxidative parameters (assessed by DNA damage and micronucleus frequency in leukocytes, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls in plasma and brain) were quantified. Unpaired and paired t-tests were used for comparisons between saline and crotamine groups, and within groups (24 h vs. 21 days), respectively. After 24 h crotamine infusion promoted an increase of urea, GOT, GPT, CK, and platelets values (p ≤ 0.01), while red blood cells, hematocrit and leukocytes values decreased (p ≤ 0.01). Additionally, 21 days after infusion crotamine group showed increased creatinine, leukocytes, TBARS (plasma and brain), carbonyl (plasma and brain) and micronucleus compared to the saline-group (p ≤ 0.01). Our findings show that crotamine infusion alter hematological parameters and cardiac markers, as well as oxidative parameters, not only in the brain, but also in the blood, indicating a systemic pro-inflammatory and toxicological activity. A further scientific attempt in terms of preserving the beneficial activity over toxicity is required.
Physiology Research Group, Graduate Program on Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), P.O. Box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. rithiele.gpfis@gmail.com.
Rithiele
R
Gonçalves
Physiology Research Group, Graduate Program on Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), P.O. Box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. lianeevargas@gmail.com.
Liane S
LS
Vargas
Physiology Research Group, Graduate Program on Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), P.O. Box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. marcus1192@hotmail.com.
Marcus V S
MV
Lara
Physiology Research Group, Graduate Program on Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), P.O. Box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. angelicagullich@hotmail.com.
Angélica
A
Güllich
Physiology Research Group, Graduate Program on Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), P.O. Box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. vanusa_manfredini@yahoo.com.br.
Vanusa
V
Mandredini
Laboratório de Química de Proteínas (LAQUIP), Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6109, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil. poncesot@unicamp.br.
Luis
L
Ponce-Soto
Laboratório de Química de Proteínas (LAQUIP), Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6109, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil. marango@unicamp.br.
Sergio
S
Marangoni
Neurobiology and Toxinology Group (LANETOX), Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), 97300-000, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil. charistonbelo@unipampa.edu.br.
Cháriston A
CA
Dal Belo
Physiology Research Group, Graduate Program on Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), P.O. Box 118, 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. pamelacarpes@unipampa.edu.br.
Pâmela B
PB
Mello-Carpes
D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017839:Crotalus; D057967:Infusions, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003435:Crotalid Venoms; C010563:crotamine