Cardiorespiratory Alterations in Rodents Experimentally Envenomed with Hadruroides Lunatus Scorpion Venom

Overview

Journal J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis

Date 2016 Jul 19

PMID 27429609

Citations 1

Authors

Fernanda Costal-Oliveira

Clara Guerra-Duarte

Maira Souza Oliveira

Karen Larissa Pereira de Castro

Leticia Lopes-de-Sousa

Aline Lara

Eneas Ricardo de Morais Gomes

Cesar Bonilla

Silvia Guatimosim

Marilia Martins Melo

Carlos Chavez-Olortegui

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Hadruroides lunatus is the most abundant scorpion species in the Peruvian central coast, where most of the accidents involving humans are registered. In spite of its prevalence, there are only very few studies on H. lunatus envenomation. The aim of the present study was to analyze the cardiorespiratory alterations caused by H. lunatus envenomation in rodents.

Methods: Wistar rats injected with H. lunatus scorpion venom were submitted to electrocardiography. After euthanasia, rat lungs were collected and histopathologically analyzed. Mouse cardiomyocytes were used to perform immunofluorescence and calcium transient assays. Data were analyzed by ANOVA or Student's t-test. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results: It was observed that H. lunatus venom increased heart rate and caused arrhythmia, thereby impairing the heart functioning. Lungs of envenomed animals showed significant alterations, such as diffuse hemorrhage. In addition, immunofluorescence showed that H. lunatus venom was capable of binding to cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes incubated with H. lunatus venom showed a significant decrease in calcium transient, confirming that H. lunatus venom exerts a toxic effect on heart.

Conclusion: Our results showed that H. lunatus venom is capable of inducing cardiorespiratory alterations, a typical systemic effect of scorpionism, stressing the importance of medical monitoring in envenomation cases.

Citing Articles

Pulmonary involvement from animal toxins: the cellular mechanisms.

Thumtecho S, Suteparuk S, Sitprija V J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2023; 29:e20230026.

PMID: 37727535 PMC: 10506740. DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0026.

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