ANAPHYLAXIS, APOPTOSIS AND TISSUE DAMAGE UNDER THE EFFECT OF LEIURUS QUINQUESTRIATUS VENOM

Abstract

Scorpion venoms are composed of a variety of biologically active components. Recent researches investigated the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effect and cytotoxicity of scorpion venom to tumor cells in experimental animals. Leiurus quinquestriatus is a dangerous scorpion found in Egypt. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis, as well as the allergy, induced by the effect of intra-peritoneal injection of sub lethal doses (1/4, 1/10, 1/16, and 1/32 LC50) of L. quinquestriatus venom were evaluated by measuring the immunoglobulin E (IgE) and and caspases3 (CASP3) levels, as well as the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, in serum of male albino mice after 24 hours of injection. Moreover, other biochemical parameters were evaluated after the same period of injection. The results indicated that, IgE level did not significantly changed in all injected groups. However, a significant increase in CASP3 was obtained. In treated group received 0.05 µg/g body weight, LDH and aspartate amino transferase (AST) activities were not significantly changed. Meanwhile, all the other treated groups showed a significant increase in LDH activity. Furthermore, all the other biochemical parameters did not significantly affected by scorpion venom. It can be concluded that, sub-lethal concentration of L. quinquestriatus venom did not cause allergy, tissue damage, liver and kidney dysfunction except the dose ¼ LC50 (0.05 µg/g). While, it could cause apoptosis by increasing the CASP3 level. So, using of L. quinquestriatus venom in therapeutic application with more caution is recommended.