Pelagia noctiluca (Scyphozoa) Crude Venom Injection Elicits Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in Rats |
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Authors: | Giuseppe Bruschetta Daniela Impellizzeri Rossana Morabito Angela Marino Akbar Ahmad Nunziacarla Spanò Giuseppa La Spada Salvatore Cuzzocrea Emanuela Esposito |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy; E-Mails: (G.B.); (D.I.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (N.S.); (S.C.); (E.E.);2.Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Messina, Via T. Cannizzaro 278, Messina 98122, Italy; E-Mail: ;3.Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK |
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Abstract: | Cnidarian toxins represent a rich source of biologically active compounds. Since they may act via oxidative stress events, the aim of the present study was to verify whether crude venom, extracted from the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca, elicits inflammation and oxidative stress processes, known to be mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production, in rats. In a first set of experiments, the animals were injected with crude venom (at three different doses 6, 30 and 60 µg/kg, suspended in saline solution, i.v.) to test the mortality and possible blood pressure changes. In a second set of experiments, to confirm that Pelagia noctiluca crude venom enhances ROS formation and may contribute to the pathophysiology of inflammation, crude venom-injected animals (30 µg/kg) were also treated with tempol, a powerful antioxidant (100 mg/kg i.p., 30 and 60 min after crude venom). Administration of tempol after crude venom challenge, caused a significant reduction of each parameter related to inflammation. The potential effect of Pelagia noctiluca crude venom in the systemic inflammation process has been here demonstrated, adding novel information about its biological activity. |
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Keywords: | crude venom Pelagia noctiluca oxidative stress inflammation apoptosis tempol |
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