Laboratory of Venoms and Toxins, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca 20360, Morocco.
Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
Life Sci. 2015 Mar 1;124:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.12.031. Epub 2015 Jan 24.
Scorpion venoms contain complex mixtures of molecules, including peptides. These peptides specifically bind to various targets, in particular ion channels. Toxins modulating Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Cl(-) currents were described from venoms. The Androctonus and Buthus geni of scorpions are widely distributed in Morocco. Their stings can cause pain, inflammation, necrosis, muscle paralysis and death. The myotoxicity is predominantly associated with neurotoxic effects and is a cause of mortality and morbidity. In this study, pharmacological effects of venoms were investigated in vitro on neuromuscular transmission.
Effects of Androctonus mauretanicus (Am) and Buthus occitanus (Bo) venoms were investigated using the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparations. The protective activity of antivenom was also investigated. The antivenom was made from serum of horse that was hyperimmunized with Bo and Androctonus australis hector (Aah) venoms and one venom from Middle East species (Lq). The protective activity of the antivenom was assessed on the neuromuscular system by using stimulated chick nerve-muscle. The results were compared with lethal activity neutralization in mice.
Am and Bo venoms contain myotoxins and postsynaptic neurotoxins. In agreement with lethal potencies of these venoms in mice, Am venom displays greater neurotoxicity and myotoxicity. The antivenom prevented lethality caused by Am, Bo and Aah venoms. The antivenom did not prevent toxic effects caused by Am venom whereas it neutralized Bo venom.
Am and Bo venoms contain distinct toxins that are responsible for myotoxicity and neurotoxicity. It would be appropriate to add Am venom to produce more efficient antivenom.
蝎毒液含有复杂的分子混合物，包括肽。这些肽特异性地结合到各种靶标，特别是离子通道。从毒液中描述了调节 Na(+)、K(+)、Ca(2+) 和 Cl(-)电流的毒素。蝎的安德罗克妥斯和布胡斯属在摩洛哥广泛分布。它们的蜇伤会引起疼痛、炎症、坏死、肌肉瘫痪和死亡。肌肉毒性主要与神经毒性作用有关，是导致死亡率和发病率的原因。在这项研究中，研究了毒液在体外对神经肌肉传递的药理学作用。
使用小鸡双颈神经-肌肉标本研究了安德罗克妥斯·毛里塔努斯（Am）和布胡斯·奥西坦斯（Bo）毒液的作用。还研究了抗毒液的保护活性。抗毒液是由马血清制成的，马血清是用 Bo 和安德罗克妥斯·赫克托（Aah）毒液以及一种来自中东物种（Lq）的毒液高度免疫制成的。使用受刺激的小鸡神经-肌肉评估抗毒液对神经肌肉系统的保护活性。结果与在小鼠中中和致死活性进行了比较。
Am 和 Bo 毒液含有肌毒素和突触后神经毒素。与这些毒液在小鼠中的致死效力一致，Am 毒液显示出更强的神经毒性和肌毒性。抗毒液可预防 Am、Bo 和 Aah 毒液引起的致死作用。抗毒液不能预防 Am 毒液引起的毒性作用，但能中和 Bo 毒液。
Am 和 Bo 毒液含有不同的毒素，这些毒素负责肌毒性和神经毒性。添加 Am 毒液以产生更有效的抗毒液是合适的。
