Zebrafish is an excellent model organism for studying tissue alterations caused by Bothrops alternatus venom (BAV) and for screening new anti-venom drugs. To study tissue alterations following exposure to BAV and the roles that glucocorticoids play in these tissue reactions, zebrafish were randomly divided into five groups: the free injection control group (FIC), the phosphate-buffered saline injection control group (PIC), the venom injected group (VI), the group treated with dexamethasone 1 h before venom injection (D1hBVI) and the group treated with dexamethasone 1 h after venom injection (D1hAVI). The concentration of BAV injected was 0.13 mg/mL and each fish received an injection of 20 μL. Body weight measurements and histopathological characteristics of the gills, kidneys, liver, and intestine were determined. Histopathological analyses showed necrosis, inflammation and weight gain in animals that received BAV. The histological alteration indices of the gills, liver, kidneys, and intestines were statistically higher in the animal groups treated with BAV. These alteration indices were lower in the D1hBVI and D1hAVI groups compared to the group treated with BAV alone. The D1hBVI group is presented with minor alterations. A significant difference in the histological alterations index was observed in the intestinal tissue of the FIC group compared to the PIC group. Cumulatively, zebrafish may serve as a useful biomarker for alterations induced by BAV. Interestingly, dexamethasone reduced the damage caused by BAV in the organs studied, which suggests that zebrafish might be useful for screening new drugs that can mitigate tissue damage caused by snakebites.
: Loratadine is used as antihistaminic without side effects in nervous systems. This drug is a weak base and it is absorbed from the intestine. The nitrogen of the pyridine ring is protonated in the stomach affecting the oral bioavailability. The aim of this paper was obtaining, characterize and evaluate the release profiles and the stability of a gastroresistant loratadine nanosuspension. : The nanosuspension was prepared by the solvent displacement evaporation method, using three different polymers (Eudragit® L 100 55, Kollicoat® MAE 100P and PEG 4000) and Polysorbate 80. Dynamic Light Scattering was used for evaluating the particle size (PS), zeta potential, and conductivity of the nanosuspension. Loratadine release profiles were evaluated in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The shelf and accelerated stability were assessed during three months.: Nanosuspension particle size was 45.94 ± 0.50 nm, with a low polydispersion index (PdI, 0.300). Kollicoat® MAE 100P produced a hard and flexible coating layer. In simulated intestinal fluids, the 100 percent of loratadine was released in 40 min, while in simulated stomach fluids the release was lesser than 5%. Nanosuspension presented a good physicochemical stability showing a reduction in PS and PdI after three months (43.29 ± 0.16 and 0.250; respectively). : A promissory loratadine nanosuspension for loratadine intestinal delivery was obtained, by using a low energy method, which is an advantage for a possible scale up for practical purpose.
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