Effect of Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom on isolated jejunum: A very useful tool to study the interaction between neurons in the enteric nervous system.

Effect of Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom on isolated jejunum: A very useful tool to study the interaction between neurons in the enteric nervous system. Auton Neurosci. 2020 May 19;227:102676 Authors: Louza GSG, Carmo LLGD, Conceição IM Abstract Scorpion envenomation is a public health problem in tropical and subtropical areas. In Brazil, Tityus serrulatus is the biggest cause of accidents with venomous animals. Tityus serrulatus venom causes symptoms related to a great activation of the autonomic system attributed to a massive release of sympathetic and parasympathetic mediators. This effect is attributed to the presence of toxins acting in Na+ and K+ ion channels, leading to an increase in cell excitability. Although gastrointestinal symptoms, like diarrhoea and sialorrhea, is observed in moderate to severe cases, little attention is given in clinical reports. Gastrointestinal motility is controlled by the enteric nervous system which is composed of a wide variety of interconnected neurons that are influenced by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Thus, this work aimed to characterize the effects of Tityus serrulatus venom on sympathetic and parasympathetic neurotransmission of rat jejunum, as well as to investigate possibles effects on other neurons of the enteric nervous system. To this, we verify the effects of Tityus serrulatus venom on the contractility of isolated rat jejunum through organ-bath experiment...
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Auton Neurosci Source Type: research