Biomedical subjects

Yara Cury

Publications and source records attributed to Yara Cury.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Animal toxins as analgesics--an overview.

Pain is a multidimensional sensory experience, and multiple mechanisms are involved in the generation of pathophysiological nociceptive pain. Identification of the mechanisms and molecular components responsible for pain generation has not only advanced our understanding of pain and its control, but has also led to the selection of new targets for designing novel analgesic drugs. The high selectivity and specificity of animal toxins have enabled their use as potential therapeutics in the treatment of pain and candidates for the development of new analgesic drugs. This review focuses on the use of animal toxins for pain control and examines the possible analgesic mechanisms of these molecules.

Analgesics↗

PubMed2004

Involvement of spinal neurokinins, excitatory amino acids, proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide and prostanoids in pain facilitation induced by Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom.

The major local symptom of Phoneutria nigriventer envenomation is an intense pain, which can be controlled by infiltration with local anesthetics or by systemic treatment with opioid analgesics. Previous work showed that intraplantar (i.pl) injection of Phoneutria nigriventer venom in rats induces hyperalgesia, mediated peripherally by tachykinin and glutamate receptors. The present study examined the spinal mechanisms involved in pain-enhancing effect of this venom. Intraplantar injection of venom into rat hind paw induced hyperalgesia. This phenomenon was inhibited by intrathecal (i.t.) injection of tachykinin NK1 (GR 82334) or NK2 (GR 94800) receptor antagonists, a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist (CGRP8-37) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; MK 801 and AP-5), non-NMDA ionotropic (CNQX), or metabotropic (AIDA and MPEP) glutamate receptor antagonists, suggesting the involvement of spinal neurokinins and excitatory amino acids. The role of proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and prostanoids in spinally mediated pain facilitation was also investigated. Pharmacological blockade of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) or interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) reduced the hyperalgesic response to venom. Intrathecal injection of L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL), but not of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), inhibited hyperalgesia induced by the venom, indicating that NO, generated by the activity of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase, also mediates this phenomenon. Furthermore, indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxigenases (COX), or celecoxib, a selective inhibitor of COX-2, abolished venom-induced hyperalgesia, suggesting the involvement of spinal prostanoids in this effect. These data indicate that the spinal mechanisms of pain facilitation induced by Phoneutria nigriventer venom involves a plethora of mediators that may cooperate in the genesis of venom-induced central sensitization.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Peripheral neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity mediates the antinociceptive effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, a delta- and kappa-opioid receptor agonist.

Previous work has shown that nitric oxide (NO) mediates the antinociceptive effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom on carrageenin-induced hyperalgesia. In the present study the role of constitutive neuronal or of inducible form of nitric oxide synthase on venom effect was determined. The rat paw prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-induced mechanical hyperalgesia model was used for nociceptive evaluation. The venom (200 microg/kg) administered per oz immediately before prostaglandin induced antinociception that persisted for 120 h. The characterisation of the antinociceptive effect of the venom in this model of hyperalgesia showed that kappa and delta-opioid receptors are involved in this effect. 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, but not L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL), an inhibitor of the inducible form of NOS, injected by intraplantar (i.pl.) route, antagonized the antinociceptive effect of the venom. The i.pl. administration of 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ), a selective guanylate cyclase inhibitor, blocked antinociception, whereas Rp-cGMP triethylamine, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, partially reversed this effect. These data indicate that peripheral kappa- and delta-opioid receptors are involved in the antinociceptive effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus on prostaglandin E(2)-induced hyperalgesia. Peripheral nitric oxide, generated by neuronal NO synthase, and cGMP/PKc are responsible, at least partially, for the molecular mechanisms of venom effect.

Analgesics↗

PubMed2004

Snake venom phospholipase A2s (Asp49 and Lys49) induce mechanical allodynia upon peri-sciatic administration: involvement of spinal cord glia, proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide.

Snakebites constitute a serious public health problem in Central and South America, where species of the lancehead pit vipers (genus Bothrops) cause the majority of accidents. Bothrops envenomations are very painful, and this effect is not neutralized by antivenom treatment. Two variants of secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2), corresponding to Asp49 and Lys49 PLA2s, have been isolated from Bothrops asper venom. These sPLA2s induce hyperalgesia in rats following subcutaneous injection. However, venom in natural Bothrops bites is frequently delivered intramuscularly, thereby potentially reaching peripheral nerve bundles. Thus, the present series of experiments tested whether these sPLA2s could exert pain-enhancing effects following administration around healthy sciatic nerve. Both were found to produce mechanical allodynia ipsilateral to the injection site; no thermal hyperalgesia was observed. As no prior study has examined potential spinal mechanisms underlying sPLA2 actions, a series of anatomical and pharmacological studies were performed. These demonstrated that both sPLA2s produce activation of dorsal horn astrocytes and microglia that is more prominent ipsilateral to the site of injection. As proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide have each been previously implicated in spinally mediated pain facilitation, the effect of pharmacological blockade of these substances was tested. The results demonstrate that mechanical allodynia induced by both sPLA2s is blocked by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, anti-rat interleukin-6 neutralizing antibody, the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, and a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (L-NAME). As a variety of immune cells also produce and release sPLA2s during inflammatory states, the data may have general implications for the understanding of inflammatory pain.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Snake venom components enhance pain upon subcutaneous injection: an initial examination of spinal cord mediators.

Snakebites are a relevant public health problem in Central and South America. Snake bite envenomations cause intense pain, not relieved by anti-venom. The fangs of many species are short, causing subcutaneous injection. Fangs of larger species inflict subcutaneous or intramuscular envenomation. To understand pain induced by subcutaneous venom, this study examined spinal mechanisms involved in pain-enhancing effects of subcutaneous Lys49 and Asp49 secretory phospholipase-A(2) (sPLA2), two components of Bothrops asper snake venom showing highly different enzymatic activities. Unilateral intraplantar sPLA2-Lys49 (catalytically inactive) or sPLA2-Asp49 (catalytically active) into rat hindpaws each induced mechanical hyperalgesia (Randall-Selitto test), whereas only catalytically active sPLA2-Asp49 caused mechanical allodynia (von Frey test). Effects induced by both sPLA2s were inhibited by intrathecal fluorocitrate, a reversible glial metabolic inhibitor. In support, immunohistochemical analysis revealed activation of dorsal horn astrocytes and microglia after intraplantar injection of either sPLA2. Spinal proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide, and prostanoids each appear to be involved in the pain-enhancing effects of these sPLA2s. Blockade of interleukin-1 (IL1) inhibited hyperalgesia induced by both sPLA2s, while leaving allodynia unaffected. Blockade of tumor necrosis factor reduced responses to sPLA2-Asp49. An inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), inhibited hyperalgesia induced by both sPLA2s, without interfering with allodynia induced by sPLA2-Asp49. On the other hand, L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NI), an inhibitor of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, did not alter any sPLA2-induced effect. Lastly, celecoxib, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, attenuated sPLA2 actions. These data provide the first evidence of spinal mediators involved in pain facilitation induced by subcutaneous venoms.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Activation of peripheral ATP-sensitive K+ channels mediates the antinociceptive effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom.

The role of peripheral potassium channels on the antinociceptive effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, a mixed delta- and kappa-opioid receptor agonist, was investigated in hyperalgesia induced by carrageenin or prostaglandin E(2). Rat paw pressure test was applied before and 3 h after the intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of the nociceptive stimuli. Oral administration of venom 2 h after carrageenin or prostaglandin E(2) induces antinociception. Local pretreatment with 4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium (blockers of voltage-dependent K(+) channel) or charybdotoxin and apamin (inhibitors of large- and small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel, respectively) did not modify venom effect. On the other hand, glybenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K(+) channel abolished antinociception induced by the venom. Glybenclamide also inhibited the antinociceptive effect of [D-Pen(2.5)] enkephalin (DPDPE), a delta opioid receptor agonist, but did not modify the effect of (+)-trans-(1R,2R)-U-50488 (U50488), a kappa opioid receptor agonist. Diazoxide and pinacidil, two ATP-sensitive K(+) channel openers, injected by intraplantar route, induced a long-lasting increment of pain threshold of the animals and produced antinociception in both models of hyperalgesia. These results suggest that the antinociceptive effect of crotalid venom is mediated by activation of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels at peripheral afferent neurons.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2003

Peripheral tackykinin and excitatory amino acid receptors mediate hyperalgesia induced by Phoneutria nigriventer venom.

The generation of hyperalgesia by Phoneutria nigriventer venom was investigated in rats using the paw pressure test, through the intraplantar injection of the venom. Hyperalgesia was significantly inhibited by N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl) ethyl]-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-2H-2-benzazepine-2-carbothioamide (capsazepine), a vanilloid receptor antagonist, by the local administration of pGlu-Ala-Asp-Pro-Asn-Lys-Phe-Tyr-Pro (spiro-gamma-lactam) Leu-Trp-NH(2) (GR82334) or of Phenyl-CO-Ala-Ala-D-Trp-Phe-D-Pro-Pro-Nle-NH(2) (GR94800), inhibitors of tachykinin NK(1) and NK(2) receptors, respectively, or by the local injection of dizocilpine (MK 801), (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid ((+/-)-AP-5), or 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), antagonists of NMDA and non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptors. The correlation between hyperalgesia and the inflammatory response induced by the venom was also investigated. The venom-induced edematogenic response was not modified by the pharmacological treatments. These results suggest that hyperalgesia induced by P. nigriventer venom is mediated by stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive neurons, with activation of peripheral tachykinin NK(1) and NK(2) receptors and of both the NMDA and AMPA receptors. Distinct mechanisms are involved in the development of hyperalgesia and edema induced by the venom.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Assessment of efficacy of bothropic antivenom therapy on microcirculatory effects induced by Bothrops jararaca snake venom.

Intravenous administration of antibothropic antivenom (BAv) neutralises the systemic effects, but does not efficiently reverse the local symptoms elicited by the Bothrops jararaca venom (BjV). The mechanisms involved in this poor protection have not been clarified. In this work, intravital microscopy studies were carried out to determine the efficacy of different schedules of BAv treatment on local effects evoked by topical application of BjV in the microcirculatory network of the internal spermatic fascia of Wistar rats. Results demonstrated that BAv administration 15 min before, simultaneously with, or 15 min after BjV application did not totally reverse the local symptoms, represented by disturbances of coagulation, development of haemorrhage lesions, vascular permeability increase and increment on leukocyte-endothelium interactions. This lack of effectiveness neither reflects an inadequate amount of specific antibodies in the antivenom against toxins responsible for local effects nor an insufficient dose of circulating BAv during the assays. Administration of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labelled-BAv showed the dynamics of distribution of the antivenom in the microcirculatory network. Images obtained from prior and simultaneously treated animals showed that the antivenom remains at luminal side of vessels before venom application, and the latency time to antivenom leakage is coincidental to that for local effects evoked by the venom. In addition, images from posterior treatment demonstrated that the intense alterations in the microcirculatory network impair antivenom distribution at the site of injection. Together, our data show that the lack of effectiveness of antivenom therapy is due to impaired and delayed venom and antivenom interaction at the site of injury.

Administration, Topical↗