Hemodynamic impairment induced by Crotoxin using in vivo and ex vivo approach in a rat model

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 232; p. 123408
• Main Authors: Sartim, Marco A., Nogueira, Renato C., Cavalcante, Tavila T.A., Sousa, Lucas O., Monteiro, Wuelton M., Cintra, Adélia C.O., Neto-Neves, Evandro M., Sampaio, Suely V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 31.03.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Pressure; Brazil; Cardiovascular; Crotoxin; Crotoxin - pharmacology; Ex vivo Langendorff; Hemodynamics; Rat model; Rats; Snake Bites; Brazil; Rat model; Hemodynamics; Ex vivo Langendorff; Cardiovascular; Crotoxin
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123408

Crotalus durissus snakebite represent 10 % of snakebite cases in Brazil, which cardiovascular disorders are associated with severe cases. Considering crotoxin (CTX) as the major venom component, the present study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic alterations induced by CTX using in vivo and ex vivo approaches in a rat model. In vivo cardiac function parameters were analyzed from anesthetized rats treated with CTX or saline only (Sham), along with serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and lung myeloperoxidase. From the same animals, hearts were isolated and functional parameters evaluated in Langendorff method ex vivo. CTX binding to myoblast cell line in vitro were evaluated using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. CTX was capable of reducing arterial and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, along with left ventricle pressure development or decay during systole (LVdP/dtmax and LVdP/dtmin) in vivo, however no differences were found in the ex vivo approach, showing that intrinsic heart function was preserved. In vitro, CTX binding to myoblast cell line was mitigated by hexamethonium, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. The present study has shown that CTX induce hemodynamic failure in rats, which can help improve the clinical management of cardiovascular alterations during Crotalus durissus snakebite. •Crotoxin is capable to impair cardiac functional parameters from anesthetized rats.•Intrinsic function of hearts isolated from crotoxin-treated rats was found preserved.•Crotoxin binds to nicotinic receptors in myoblast cell lines in vitro.