Cardiovascular effects of the scorpions Centruroides margaritatus, Centruroides limpidus and Centruroides noxius crude venom

Abstract

Scorpions from the Centruroides genus have high toxicity and it is potentially dangerous to humans. In this study we compare the effect of the crude venom of a colombiam scorpion Centruroides margaritatus (Cm) with two Mexican Scorpions, Centruroides limpidus (Cl) e Centruroides noxius (Cn). The venom was injected intravenously in bolus to pentobarbital anesthetized normotensive rats in the doses of 1, 10, 30, 60, 100 e 300 (μg/kg) (n=6/each group). The hemodynamic parameters were evaluted by using a pressure‐volume cateter implanted into the left ventricle (millar pressure‐volume microcatheter) and the direct effect of the venoms on cardiac output, arterial blood pressure, vascular resitsance, ejection fraction, stroke work, maximal and minimal dP/dt and tau. A lead II electrocardiogram was also evaluated. Cm venom injection did not promote significant alterations. Th venom from Cl decreased all hemodynamic parameters such as dP/dt min (dP/dt minct=−10780±2153; dP/dt min300=−5972±2921 (mmHg/s), p<0,05*) and heart rate (FCct=−403±31; FC300=−250±66 (bpm), p<0,05*). The Cn venom significantle decreased the stroke work (TCct=5957±1509; TC100=2611±1583 (mmHg*μL), p<0,05) and all other hemodynamic parameters evaluated. The structural analysis by optical microscopy showed that Cn venom induced lung hemorragy and pulmonary edema. The venom from Cn and Cl induced severe arrhythmias with ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular tachycardia. The venom of Cm is of low toxicity while the venom from Mexican Scorpions such as Cl and especially Cn have severe cardiovascular toxicity.Support or Funding InformationCAPES, CNPq and FUNCAPThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.