Abstract
Myotoxins present in Bothrops venom disrupt the sarcolemma of muscle fibers leading to the release of sarcoplasmic proteins and loss of muscle homeostasis. Myonecrosis and tissue anoxia induced by vascularization impairment can lead to amputation or motor functional deficit. The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic behavior of motor function in mice subjected to injection of Bothrops jararacussu venom (Bjssu) and exposed to low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Male Swiss mice received Bjssu injection (830 μg/kg) into the medial portion of the right gastrocnemius muscle. Three hours later the injected region was irradiated with diode semiconductor Gallium Arsenide (GaAs– 904 nm, 4 J/cm²) laser following by irradiation at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Saline injection (0.9% NaCl) was used as control. Gait analysis was performed 24 hours before Bjssu injection and at every period post-Bjssu using CatWalk method. Data from spatiotemporal parameters Stand, Maximum Intensity, Swing, Swing Speed, Stride Length and Step Cycle were considered. The period of 3 hours post venom-induced injury was considered critical for all parameters evaluated in the right hindlimb. Differences (p<0.05) were concentrated in venom and venom + placebo laser groups during the 3 hours post-injury period, in which the values of stand of most animals were null. After this period, the gait characteristics were re-established for all parameters. The venom + laser group kept the values at 3 hours post-Bjssu equal to that at 24 hours before Bjssu injection indicating that the GaAs laser therapy improved spatially and temporally gait parameters at the critical injury period caused by Bjssu. This is the first study to analyze with cutting edge technology the gait functional deficits caused by snake envenoming and gait gains produced by GaAs laser irradiation. In this sense, the study fills a gap on the field of motor function after laser treatment following snake envenoming.
Highlights
Estimated global incidence of snakebites amounts to more than 5 million cases every year, from which 400,000 people are left with permanent sequels and 25,000 to 125,000 die [1]
3 h after Bothrops jararacussu venom (Bjssu) injection (V-3 h and venom-placebo laser (VPL)-3 h groups) animals i.m.-injected with Bjssu and which were not submitted to level laser therapy (LLLT) cannot put weight on the right hindlimb (RH) during the runs, indicating hindrance of motor activity (Fig 3)
Three-dimensional graphics for the right hindlimb generated from pressure applied by the right paws on the footpath remained at zero arbitrary units for V and VPL groups at 3 hours post-Bjssu (Fig 5)
Summary
Estimated global incidence of snakebites amounts to more than 5 million cases every year, from which 400,000 people are left with permanent sequels and 25,000 to 125,000 die [1]. The World Health Organization considers snakebites envenoming a neglected tropical disease which needs an integrated global strategy for controlling the problem. Depending on the severity of accident, snakebites impose a health and economic burden to victims who are generally male young people living in low-income rural regions of tropical countries. In Brazil, Bothrops genus accounts for nearly 90% of accidents; Bothropic envenoming shows low lethality (less than 0.5%), morbidity is high due to incidence of cases, period of immobilization and the severe set of fast local complications [4]. The search for alternative and high-impact interventions is needed to minimize the local effects of snakebites
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