title: Antivenom Evaluation by Electrophysiological Analysis.
abstract: Scorpion stings on humans are medically relevant because they may contain toxins that specifically target ion channels. During antivenom production, pharmaceutical companies must use a large number of experimental animals to ensure the antivenom's efficacy according to pharmacopeia methods. Here we present an electrophysiological alternative for the evaluation of horse antivenoms produced against two species of Moroccan scorpions:Buthus mardocheiandAndroctonus mauretanicus. Human sodium and potassium channels and acetylcholine nicotinic receptors were analyzed by standard patch-clamp techniques. The results showed that the antivenom is capable of reversing ion current disruption caused by the venom application. We propose the use of this in vitro technique for antivenom evaluation as an alternative to using a large number of live animals.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnologia, National Autonomous University of México, Av. Univeresidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico. rita@ibt.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Restano-Cassulini
authors.affiliation: Instituto Bioclón S.A. de C.V., Calle Miguel Laurent 427, Del. Benito Juarez, Ciudad de México 03100, Mexico. wgarcia@silanes.com.mx.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratorios Silanes, S.A. de C.V., Amores 1304, Colonia del Valle, Ciudad de México 03100, Mexico. jpaniagua@laboratoriosilanes.es.
authors.forename: Jorge F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Paniagua-Solís
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnologia, National Autonomous University of México, Av. Univeresidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico. possani@ibt.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Lourival D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Possani
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D012605:Scorpions; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D015222:Sodium Channels
keywords: antivenom; electrophysiology; horse immunoglobulin; human ion channels scorpion venoms; patch-clamp; sodium channel