SUB-LETHAL INJECTION OF COBRA VENOM DECREASES ADENOSINE DEAMINASE, HISTAMINE, AND IgE IN ORGANS OF MICE

Abstract

The pharmacological substances adenosine deaminase (ADA), histamine, and IgE are endogenously present in animals. They are implicated in allergy and asthma and detectable in blood serum. This research reports the presence of ADA, histamine, and IgE at varying levels in almost all major organs of mice. This research further reports that intramuscular injection of sub-lethal dose of Naja kaouthia venom disrupted homeostasis and lowered the levels of ADA, histamine, and IgE in the organs of mice. Adult Balb/C male mice were injected with a half lethal dose of the venom. The mice were sacrificed at 2, 8, and 24 hours post-injection and different organs were collected. Organs were homogenized, centrifuged, and the supernatants were assayed for ADA, histamine, and IgE using respective antisera by immunological test enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Organs from mice injected with PBS served as controls. No major decrease in the levels of ADA, histamine, and IgE was observed after 2 hours of venom injection. However, tremendous decreases in the levels of ADA, histamine, and IgE was observed in organs 24 h post-injection. The highest decrease for ADA was observed in the brain, liver, lung, muscle, and testis; for histamine, in the heart, muscle, lung, and testis; and for IgE, in the bone, heart, lung, muscle, and testis. This is a first-hand investigation showing the effect of envenomation on the pharmacokinetics of ADA, histamine, and IgE in organs.