Effects of toxins isolated from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom on hippocampal levels of biogenic amines, excitatory amino acids, and cytokines in rats

• Grant number: 09/54710-3
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2010 - June 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Leonor Abrahao Nencioni Soares
• Grantee: Ana Leonor Abrahao Nencioni Soares
• Home Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Scorpion venoms are composed, among others, by neurotoxins, low molecular weigh polypeptides that act on ionic channels, mainly sodium, modifying chemical mediators release. Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom is been extensively studied and several toxins are well characterized and sequenciated. The more important toxins from this venom are TsTX, an a-type toxin, whose convulsive and neurotoxin activity has yet been demonstrated, and TsTX-I, a p-type toxin, whose peripherical effects are well characterized but the central ones not yet. TsIV-IV has a chromatographic profile similar to TsTX but little is known about its effects and mechanism of action. Some studies demonstrate that scorpion toxins are able to modify cerebral concentration of neurotransmitters and plasmatic levels of cytokines. The present work aims to verify alteration in the neurotransmitters release, particularly excitatory amino acids and biogenic amines, after intracerebral injection of the toxin TsTX-I and TsIV-IV, and intracerebral levels of cytokines after intrahipocampal injection of TsTX, TsTX-I and TsIV-IV toxins. The samples will be collected by microdialysis, before and after the toxins injection, and measurement of neurotransmitter concentration will be realized by HPLC and cytokines by immuno-enzymatic assay. (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)

RODRIGUEZ, RENAN VOLNER; CORONADO DORCE, VALQUIRIA ABRAO; DE FREITAS, LUCAS ALVES; CORONADO DORCE, ANA LETICIA; LEBRUN, IVO; MARTINS SOBRAL, ANA CLAUDIA; VIEIRA PORTARO, FERNANDA CALHETA; KUNIYOSHI, ALEXANDRE KAZUO; CARVALHO, DANIELA CAJADO; ABRANDAO NENCIONI, ANA LEONOR. Intrahippocampal injection of TsTX-I increases the levels of INF-gamma in the cerebral tissue but not the levels of glutamate. Toxicon, v. 103, p. 155-159, SEP 1 2015. Web of Science Citations: 3.