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Resiere D, Mehdaoui H, Neviere R. Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Snakebite Envenomation: A Brief Descriptive Review and Clinical Implications. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14110802. [PMID: 36422976 PMCID: PMC9694585 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a pathological condition which may occur in response to the injection of venom. Snake venoms contain a complex mixture of biologically active molecules which are responsible for a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from local tissue injuries to fatal complications. Snake venom administration commonly provokes local tissue injury often associated with systemic effects, including neurotoxic and cardiotoxic manifestations, bleeding, acute kidney injury, and rhabdomyolysis. An important spectrum of pathogenesis of snake envenomation is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can directly provoke tissue damage and also potentiate the deleterious consequences of inflammation at the bite site. Snake venom components known to induce oxidative stress include phospholipases A2, metalloproteinases, three-finger toxins, and L-amino acid oxidase. Clear evidence is mounting suggesting that inflammation and oxidative stress participate in the destructive effects of envenoming, including acute renal failure, tissue necrosis, and unusual susceptibility to bleed (hemorrhage), mostly due to hypocoagulability, neuro/cardio toxicity, and myonecrosis. Impaired regulation of oxidative stress may also set the stage for secondary/long-term complications of snakebite envenomation such as musculoskeletal disabilities. Some aspects of natural antioxidant therapeutic options are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dabor Resiere
- Cardiovascular Research Team EA7525, University of the French West Indies, 97157 Fort de France, France
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Toxicology and Emergency, CHU Martinique, University Hospital of Martinique, 97200 Fort de France, France
| | - Hossein Mehdaoui
- Cardiovascular Research Team EA7525, University of the French West Indies, 97157 Fort de France, France
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Toxicology and Emergency, CHU Martinique, University Hospital of Martinique, 97200 Fort de France, France
| | - Remi Neviere
- Cardiovascular Research Team EA7525, University of the French West Indies, 97157 Fort de France, France
- Correspondence:
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Traces of Bothrops snake venoms in necrotic muscle preclude myotube formation in vitro. Toxicon 2022; 211:36-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes in snakebite envenoming. Toxicon 2020; 187:188-197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Kenzo-Kagawa B, Vieira WF, Cogo JC, da Cruz-Höfling MA. Muscle proteolysis via ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is activated by BthTx-I Lys49 PLA 2 but not by BthTx-II Asp49 PLA 2 and Bothrops jararacussu venom. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 402:115119. [PMID: 32619552 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Bites by viperid snakes belonging to Bothrops genus produce fast and intense local edema, inflammation, bleeding and myonecrosis. In this study, we investigated the role of Myogenic Regulatory Factors (MRFs: MyoD; Myog), negatively regulated by GDF-8 (Myostatin), and ubiquitin-proteasome system pathway (UPS: MuRF-1; Fbx-32) in gastrocnemius muscle regeneration after Bothrops jararacussu snake venom (Bjussu) or its isolated phospholipase A2 myotoxins, BthTx-I (Lys-49 PLA2) and BthTx-II (Asp-49 PLA2) injection. Male Swiss mice received a single intra-gastrocnemius injection of crude Bjussu, at a dose/volume of 0.83 mg/kg/20 μl, and BthTx-I or BthTx-II, at a dose/volume of 2.5 mg/kg/20 μl. Control mice (Sham) received an injection of sterile saline solution (NaCl 0.9%; 20 μl). At 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post injection, right gastrocnemius was collected for protein expression analyses. Based on the temporal expressional dynamics of MyoD, Myog and GDF-8/Myostatin, it was possible to propose that the myogenesis pathway was impacted most badly by BthTx-II followed by BthTx-I and lastly by B. jararacussu venom, thus suggesting that catalytic activity has likely inhibitory role on the satellite cells-mediated reparative myogenesis pathway. Inversely, the catalytic activity seems to be not a determinant for the activation of proteins ubiquitination by MuRF-1 and Fbx-32/Atrogin-1 E3 proteasome ligases, given proteolysis pathway through UPS was activated neither after Bjussu, nor after BthTx-II, but just after the catalytically-inactive BthTx-I Lys-49 PLA2-homologue exposure. The findings of this study disclose interesting perspective for further mechanistic studies about pathways that take part in the atrophy and repair after permanent damage induced by bothropic snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Kenzo-Kagawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Willians Fernando Vieira
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - José Carlos Cogo
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Brazil University, Itaquera, Brazil
| | - Maria Alice da Cruz-Höfling
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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Biotoxins in muscle regeneration research. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 2019; 40:291-297. [PMID: 31359301 DOI: 10.1007/s10974-019-09548-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscles are characterized by their unique regenerative capacity following injury due to the presence of muscle precursor cells, satellite cells. This characteristic allows researchers to study muscle regeneration using experimental injury models. These injury models should be stable and reproducible. Variety of injury models have been used, among which the intramuscular injection of myotoxic biotoxins is considered the most common and widespread method in muscle regeneration research. By using isolated biotoxins, researchers could induce acute muscle damage and regeneration in a controlled and reproducible manner. Therefore, it is considered an easy method for inducing muscle injury in order to understand the different mechanisms involved in muscle injuries and tissue response following injury. However, different toxins and venoms have different compositions and subsequently the possible effects of these toxins on skeletal muscle vary according to their composition. Moreover, regeneration of injured muscle by venoms and toxins varies according to the target of toxin or venom. Therefore, it is essential for researcher to be aware of the mechanism and possible target of toxin-induced injury. The current paper provides an overview of the biotoxins used in skeletal muscle research.
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Why is Skeletal Muscle Regeneration Impaired after Myonecrosis Induced by Viperid Snake Venoms? Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10050182. [PMID: 29723952 PMCID: PMC5983238 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10050182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration after myonecrosis involves the activation, proliferation and fusion of myogenic cells, and a coordinated inflammatory response encompassing phagocytosis of necrotic cell debris, and the concerted synthesis of cytokines and growth factors. Myonecrosis often occurs in snakebite envenomings. In the case of venoms that cause myotoxicity without affecting the vasculature, such as those of many elapid snakes, regeneration proceeds successfully. In contrast, in envenomings by most viperid snakes, which affect the vasculature and extracellular matrix in addition to muscle fibers, regeneration is largely impaired and, therefore, the muscle mass is reduced and replaced by fibro-adipose tissue. This review discusses possible causes for such poor regenerative outcome including: (a) damage to muscle microvasculature, which causes tissue hypoxia and affects the inflammatory response and the timely removal of necrotic tissue; (b) damage to intramuscular nerves, which results in atrophy of regenerating fibers; (c) degradation of muscle cell basement membrane, compromising the spatial niche for proliferating myoblasts; (d) widespread degradation of the extracellular matrix; and (e) persistence of venom components in the damaged tissue, which may affect myogenic cells at critical points in the regenerative process. Understanding the causes of poor muscle regeneration may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic interventions aimed at fostering the regenerative process in envenomed patients.
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Cristina de Oliveira-Lima K, Farsky SHP, Lopes PH, de Andrade RMG, van den Berg CW, Tambourgi DV. Microcirculation abnormalities provoked by Loxosceles spiders' envenomation. Toxicon 2016; 116:35-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Gonçalves-Machado L, Pla D, Sanz L, Jorge RJB, Leitão-De-Araújo M, Alves MLM, Alvares DJ, De Miranda J, Nowatzki J, de Morais-Zani K, Fernandes W, Tanaka-Azevedo AM, Fernández J, Zingali RB, Gutiérrez JM, Corrêa-Netto C, Calvete JJ. Combined venomics, venom gland transcriptomics, bioactivities, and antivenomics of two Bothrops jararaca populations from geographic isolated regions within the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. J Proteomics 2015; 135:73-89. [PMID: 25968638 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bothrops jararaca is a slender and semi-arboreal medically relevant pit viper species endemic to tropical and subtropical forests in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina (Misiones). Within its geographic range, it is often abundant and is an important cause of snakebite. Although no subspecies are currently recognized, geographic analyses have revealed the existence of two well-supported B. jararaca clades that diverged during the Pliocene ~3.8Mya and currently display a southeastern (SE) and a southern (S) Atlantic rainforest (Mata Atlântica) distribution. The spectrum, geographic variability, and ontogenetic changes of the venom proteomes of snakes from these two B. jararaca phylogroups were investigated applying a combined venom gland transcriptomic and venomic analysis. Comparisons of the venom proteomes and transcriptomes of B. jararaca from the SE and S geographic regions revealed notable interpopulational variability that may be due to the different levels of population-specific transcriptional regulation, including, in the case of the southern population, a marked ontogenetic venom compositional change involving the upregulation of the myotoxic PLA2 homolog, bothropstoxin-I. This population-specific marker can be used to estimate the proportion of venom from the southern population present in the B. jararaca venom pool used for the Brazilian soro antibotrópico (SAB) antivenom production. On the other hand, the southeastern population-specific D49-PLA2 molecules, BinTX-I and BinTX-II, lend support to the notion that the mainland ancestor of Bothrops insularis was originated within the same population that gave rise to the current SE B. jararaca phylogroup, and that this insular species endemic to Queimada Grande Island (Brazil) expresses a pedomorphic venom phenotype. Mirroring their compositional divergence, the two geographic B. jararaca venom pools showed distinct bioactivity profiles. However, the SAB antivenom manufactured in Vital Brazil Institute neutralized the lethal effect of both venoms to a similar extent. In addition, immobilized SAB antivenom immunocaptured most of the venom components of the venoms of both B. jararaca populations, but did not show immunoreactivity against vasoactive peptides. The Costa Rican bothropic-crotalic-lachesic (BCL) antivenom showed the same lack of reactivity against vasoactive peptides but, in addition, was less efficient immunocapturing PI- and PIII-SVMPs from the SE venom, and bothropstoxin-I, a CRISP molecule, and a D49-PLA2 from the venom of the southern B. jararaca phylogroup. The remarkable paraspecificity exhibited by the Brazilian and the Costa Rican antivenoms indicates large immunoreactive epitope conservation across the natural history of Bothrops, a genus that has its roots in the middle Miocene. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Omics Evolutionary Ecolog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Gonçalves-Machado
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Estrutural, Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rede Proteomica do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Davinia Pla
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Libia Sanz
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Roberta Jeane B Jorge
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza 60430-270, Brazil
| | - Moema Leitão-De-Araújo
- Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, Museu de Ciências Naturais, Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Lúcia M Alves
- Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, Museu de Ciências Naturais, Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Diego Janisch Alvares
- Laboratorio de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçãlves 9500, Agronomia, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Joari De Miranda
- Hygeia Biotecnologia Aplicada S.A., Fundação Bio-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jenifer Nowatzki
- Hygeia Biotecnologia Aplicada S.A., Fundação Bio-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karen de Morais-Zani
- Laboratorio de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Wilson Fernandes
- Laboratorio de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Russolina B Zingali
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Estrutural, Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rede Proteomica do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Corrêa-Netto
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Estrutural, Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rede Proteomica do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil; Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain.
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Sobrian SK, Walters E. Enhanced Satellite Cell Activity in Aging Skeletal Muscle after Manual Acupuncture-Induced Injury. Chin Med 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/cm.2014.51004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Paiva-Oliveira EL, Ferreira da Silva R, Correa Leite PE, Cogo JC, Quirico-Santos T, Lagrota-Candido J. TLR4 signaling protects from excessive muscular damage induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom. Toxicon 2012; 60:1396-403. [PMID: 23085424 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Revised: 09/14/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Immune cells and skeletal muscle express Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that participate as sensors of tissue injury triggering signals for activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of TLR4 in the process of skeletal muscle repair. Muscular injury was induced by injection of 0.6 mg/kg of Bothrops jararacussu snake venom in the gastrocnemius muscle of C3H/HeJ mice that express a non-functional TLR-4 receptor and C3H/HeN mice with functional receptor. TLR4-deficient mice had persistent muscular inflammation with few F4/80 macrophages at onset but increased MMP9 activity and collagen deposition during resolution of injury. Since such effect was not observed in the mouse strain with functional receptor it is concluded that TLR4 signaling exerts a protective role preventing from excessive muscular damage induced by B. jararacussu venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eustaquio Luiz Paiva-Oliveira
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro 24020-141, Brazil
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Poor regenerative outcome after skeletal muscle necrosis induced by Bothrops asper venom: alterations in microvasculature and nerves. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19834. [PMID: 21629691 PMCID: PMC3101212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Viperid snakebite envenoming is characterized by prominent local tissue damage, including muscle necrosis. A frequent outcome of such local pathology is deficient skeletal muscle regeneration, which causes muscle dysfunction, muscle loss and fibrosis, thus provoking permanent sequelae that greatly affect the quality of life of patients. The causes of such poor regenerative outcome of skeletal muscle after viperid snakebites are not fully understood. Methodology/Principal Findings A murine model of muscle necrosis and regeneration was adapted to study the effects of the venom and isolated toxins of Bothrops asper, the medically most important snake in Central America. Gastrocnemius muscle was injected with either B. asper venom, a myotoxic phospholipase A2 (Mtx), a hemorrhagic metalloproteinase (SVMP), or saline solution. At various time intervals, during one month, tissue samples were collected and analyzed by histology, and by immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical techniques aimed at detecting muscle fibers, collagen, endothelial cells, myoblasts, myotubes, macrophages, TUNEL-positive nuclei, and axons. A successful regenerative response was observed in muscle injected with Mtx, which induces myonecrosis but does not affect the microvasculature. In contrast, poor regeneration, with fibrosis and atrophic fibers, occurred when muscle was injected with venom or SVMP, both of which provoke necrosis, microvascular damage leading to hemorrhage, and poor axonal regeneration. Conclusions/Significance The deficient skeletal muscle regeneration after injection of B. asper venom is likely to depend on the widespread damage to the microvasculature, which affects the removal of necrotic debris by phagocytes, and the provision of nutrients and oxygen required for regeneration. In addition, deficient axonal regeneration is likely to contribute to the poor regenerative outcome in this model.
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Experimental pathology of local tissue damage induced by Bothrops asper snake venom. Toxicon 2009; 54:958-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Revised: 01/22/2009] [Accepted: 01/23/2009] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Ameis K, Kanaan YM, Das JR, George M, Sobrian S. Effect of Manual Acupuncture-Induced Injury on Rat Skeletal Muscle. Med Acupunct 2008. [DOI: 10.1089/acu.2008.0641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Ameis
- Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | | | | | | | - Sonya Sobrian
- Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
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Pharmacological Study of Edema and Myonecrosis in Mice Induced by Venom of the Bushmaster Snake (Lachesis muta muta) and Its Basic Asp49 Phospholipase A2 (LmTX-I). Protein J 2008; 27:384-91. [DOI: 10.1007/s10930-008-9148-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Neto HS, Vomero VU, Marques MJ. l-arginine enhances muscle regeneration after experimental envenomation by B. jararacussu: A future for nitric oxide-based therapy? Toxicon 2006; 48:353-7. [PMID: 16876838 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2006] [Revised: 05/18/2006] [Accepted: 05/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether muscle fiber regeneration would be rescued by exogenous administration of l-arginine, the precursor of endogenous synthesis of nitric oxide. The right tibialis anterioris muscle of adult mice (n=20) was injected with 80 microg of venom. One group of mice (n=10) received drinking water containing l-arginine (3.75 mg/ml) and another group (n=10) did not receive any pharmacological treatment. Two months later, muscle regeneration was evaluated by counting the total number of muscle fibers. We found that in l-arginine-treated mice, muscle regeneration was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in saline-treated (2.230+/-478 muscle fibers versus 1.005+/-134, respectively) although the level of muscle fiber population of uninjured tibialis anterioris muscle (3.121+/-102) was not attained. These results show that muscle regeneration was significantly facilitated by l-arginine and suggest that pharmacological activators of the NO pathway may be potentially useful for improving muscle regeneration in human envenomation by B. jararacussu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Santo Neto
- Departamento de Anatomia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), CP 6109, CEP 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
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