title: Effect of maternal exposure to Tityus bahiensis scorpion venom during lactation on the offspring of rats.
abstract: Scorpion stings are a public health problem in Brazil and lactating women may be affected. We aimed to study the effects of Tityus bahiensis venom in the offspring of rats treated during lactation. Mothers received a subcutaneous injection of saline (1.0ml/kg) or venom (2.5mg/kg) or an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (lipopolysaccharide) (100μg/kg) on postnatal (PN) days 2 (PN2), 10 (PN10) or 16 (PN16). The offspring were evaluated during the childhood and adulthood. Pups showed a delay in physical and reflexological development, and a decrease in motor activity. Adults displayed low anxiety. There was an increase in the number of viable neuronal cells in hippocampal areas CA1 and CA4. The levels of IFN-γ (interferon-gamma) increased in the experimental groups. Several of the parameters analyzed showed important differences between the sexes. Thus, the scorpion venom affects the development in the offspring of mothers envenomed during the lactation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Toxinology of Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana do Nascimento
authors.initials: Ado N
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Leonor Abrahão
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nencioni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Leticia Coronado
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dorce
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Eliza F V
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Paulo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Osório
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Frare
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: vdorce@butantan.gov.br.
authors.forename: Valquíria Abrão Coronado
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dorce
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D012605:Scorpions; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Behavior; Cytokines; Development; Lactation; Offspring; Tityus bahiensis