Extract of the bristles of Dirphia sp. increases nitric oxide in a rat pleurisy model.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study we assessed the inflammatory potential of venom obtained from caterpillar genus Dirphia in an acute model of lung injury.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Injection of extract from the bristles of Dirphia sp. (EBD) into the pleural cavity of rats elicited an acute inflammation response characterized by fluid accumulation which contained a large number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).

RESULTS

The results show that EBD induces an inflammatory response, with a significant increase in PMNs, exudate and nitric oxide within 4 h after a 0.04 mg/kg dose. The administration of anti-inflammatory drugs (fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, dexamethasone, rofecoxib, sodium diclofenac and pyrilamine) significantly reduced the inflammatory effect of EBD.

CONCLUSIONS

EBD causes an inflammatory reaction in the pleural cavity of rats involving a variety of inflammatory mediators, its action mechanism probably involving cellular injury and the exacerbated induction of cytokines and nitric oxide.