Phenobarbital blocks the lung edema induced by centrally injected tityustoxin in adult Wistar rats.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of phenobarbital to block the lung edema observed after intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of tityustoxin (TsTX), a toxic fraction of the Tityus serrulatus venom. We injected 1.74 microg icv (1.0 microl) of TsTX in Wistar rats pre-treated with 0.1 ml intramuscular injections of sterile saline or phenobarbital (60 or 170 mg/kg body weight). After the experiments the lungs were harvested and the pulmonary index (PI = lung/body weight x 100) calculated. The animals pre-treated with saline developed severe lung edema (PI = 1.8 +/- 0.2) after TsTX icv injection whereas those that received 170 mg/kg of phenobarbital presented no lung edema (PI = 0.71 +/- 0.02). Our results suggest that the lung edema induced by TsTX is of neurogenic nature and that 170 mg/kg of phenobarbital blocks TsTX induced lung edema.

• Authors: Michel Beranos Soares Mesquita, Tasso Moraes-Santos, Márcio Flávio Dutra Moraes
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 332 Issue 2 Pg. 119-22 (Oct 31 2002) ISSN: 0304-3940 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 12384225 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

Chemical References

• GABA Modulators
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Scorpion Venoms
• tityustoxin
• Phenobarbital

Topics

• Animals
• GABA Modulators (pharmacology)
• Injections, Intraventricular
• Lung (pathology)
• Male
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Phenobarbital (pharmacology)
• Pulmonary Edema (chemically induced, pathology, prevention & control)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Respiratory Function Tests
• Scorpion Venoms (administration & dosage, antagonists & inhibitors, toxicity)