Abstract
The secretory phospholipases A 2 (sPLA 2) OS 2 (10, 20 and 50 pmol) or OS 1, (50 pmol) purified from taipan snake Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus venom, and the excitatory amino acid glutamate (Glu) (2.5 and 5.0 μmol) were injected into the right striatum of male Wistar rats. Injection of 10 and 20 pmol OS 2 caused no neurological abnormalities or tissue damage. OS 2 (50 pmol) caused apathy and circling towards the injection side. Histology revealed an infarct at the injection site. Injection of 50 pmol OS 1 showed very little or no signs of neurotoxicity. Injection of 2.5 μmol Glu caused no tissue damage or neurological abnormality. After injection of 5.0 μmol Glu, the animals initially circled towards the side of injection, and gradually developed generalized clonic convulsions. These animals showed a well demarcated striatal infarct. When non-toxic concentrations of 20 pmol OS 2 and 2.5 μmol Glu were co-injected, a synergistic neurotoxicity was observed. Extensive histological damage occurred in the entire right hemisphere, and in several rats comprising part of the contralateral hemisphere. These animals were apathetic in the immediate hours following injection, with circling towards the side of injection in the following days. Thus, OS 2 greatly potentiates glutamate excitoxicity in vivo.
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