Skeletal muscle damage induced in rats by Bothrops lanceolatus venom

• Grant number: 05/60929-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2006
• End date: July 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - General Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Albetiza Lôbo de Araújo
• Grantee: Albetiza Lôbo de Araújo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bothrops snake venoms cause myonecrosis and vascular alterations. Myonecrosis involves a direct action of toxins on muscle cells that is accompanied by ischemia, hemorrhage and inflammatory alterations. Skeletal muscle regeneration following damage by these venoms begins with the activation of stem cells that initiate replication during muscle degeneration, in a process that is very similar to myogenesis, except for the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the damaged tissue. The presence of inflammatory cells, particularly macrophages and neutrophils, and the mediators they release (growth factors, cytokines and free radicals) are important in muscle regeneration. In the present study, the tissue damage caused by B. lanceolatus venom in rat gastrocnemius muscle will be studied using light and electron microscopy, and some of the proteins involved in muscle regeneration after venom-induced damage will be assessed by immunohistochemistry. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BARBOSA-SOUZA, VALERIA; CONTIN, DANIEL KISS; BONVENTI FILHO, WALDEMAR; DE ARAUJO, ALBETIZA LOBO; IRAZUSTA, SILVIA PIERRE; DA CRUZ-HOEFLING, MARIA ALICE. Osteopontin, a chemotactic protein with cytokine-like properties, is up-regulated in muscle injury caused by Bothrops lanceolatus (fer-de-lance) snake venom. Toxicon, v. 58, n. 5, p. 398-409, OCT 2011. (05/60929-7)