title: Peripheral and central effects of intracerebroventricular microinjection of Hottentotta gentili (Pallary, 1924) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) venom.
abstract: Central effects of scorpion venom toxins have been neglected, due both to the common belief that scorpion venoms act by targeting peripheral organs and also to the misunderstanding that these peptides do not cross the brain-blood barrier (BBB). Determining whether scorpion neurotoxicity is restricted to peripheral actions or whether a central mechanism may be partly responsible for systemic manifestations could be crucial in clinical therapy trends. The present study therefore aims to assess histopathological damages in some organs (heart, kidney, liver, and lungs) and the related biochemical impairments, together with a neurobehavioral investigation following an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) micro-injection of Hottentotta gentili (Scorpiones, Buthidae) venom (0.47 μg/kg). I.c.v. injection of venom produced focal fragmentation of myocardial fibers, while lungs showed rupture of the alveolar structure. Concurrently, there was a significant rise in the serum enzymes levels of ASAT, ALAT, CPK and LDH. Meanwhile, we observed behavioral alterations such as a hypoactivity, and in addition the venom seems to have a marked anxiogenic-like effect. The present investigation has brought new experimental evidence of a peripheral impact of central administration of H. gentili venom, such impact was manifested by physiological and behavioral disturbances, the last of these appearing to reflect profound neuro-modulatory action of H. gentili venom.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Environment L2E, (URAC 32, CNRST, ERACNERS 06) Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, BP 2390-40080, Marrakesh, Morocco. Electronic address: Elhidan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Moulay Abdelmonaim
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El Hidan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Environment L2E, (URAC 32, CNRST, ERACNERS 06) Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, BP 2390-40080, Marrakesh, Morocco; Polyvalent Laboratory of Research & Development LPVRD, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, University Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
authors.forename: Oulaid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Touloun
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, Pharmacology and Environment Unit, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El Hiba
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: Jawad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laadraoui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: Hind
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ferehan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Ecology and Environment L2E, (URAC 32, CNRST, ERACNERS 06) Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, BP 2390-40080, Marrakesh, Morocco. Electronic address: aboumezzough@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boumezzough
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D057967:Infusions, Intraventricular; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D012605:Scorpions / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms
keywords: Anxiety; Biochemical disturbances; Histopathology; Hottentotta gentili; Intracerebroventricular injection; Locomotion; Scorpion venom