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Abstract:The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biodistribution profile of the venom of Hemiscorpius lepturus, the most dangerous scorpion in Iran. Blood and tissue samples were taken at various predetermined intervals during a 400-minute period for the venom and a 360-minute period for the antivenom in rats. The radio-iodination was carried out using the chloramine-T method. The results showed that the descending order of venom uptake was skin, kidneys and intestine, respectively. The descending order of polyclonal antivenom uptake was kidneys, intestine, heart and lungs. The calculated pharmacokinetic parameters of the venom were T elimination half-life = 521.5 ± 12.6 minutes; Vd/F (apparent volume of distribution) = 14.9 ± 3.3 mL; clearance (CL/F, apparent total clearance of the drug from plasma) 0.02 ± 0.005 mL/minute and for the antivenom T elimination half-life = 113.7 ± 7.4 minutes; Vd/F = 13 ± 1.2 mL and CL/F 0.08 ± 0.01 mL/minute. The pharmacokinetics profile comparison of the venom with that of the antivenom shows that serotherapy may be more effective if administered within 2-4 hours following envenomation by H. lepturus.

Abstract:The available Razi Institute antivenom is still, empirically, used by intramuscular (IM) administration for the treatment of scorpion stings in humans by six medically dangerous species including Hemiscorpius lepturus (H. lepturus). The aim of this study was to assess the neutralizing ability and effectiveness of the antivenom in inhibiting hemoglobinuria, biochemical changes, increased microalbuminuria and urinary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) following H. lepturus sting. Simultaneous intramuscular administration of 10 μL and 100 μL of antivenom, after 24 hours, had no significant preventive effect on the extent and degree of hemoglobinuria or proteinuria produced in venom-treated rats. After IM administration of antivenom, no significant changes in decreased red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin were observed. Immediate intramuscular administration of 10 µL of antivenom had no significant effects on both LDH and microalbuminuria. The present findings did not present correlation with clinical signs. Therefore, to fully assess the efficacy of the available antivenom and make appropriate recommendations, more in vivo or in vitro investigations including antigen-antibody interaction, enzymatic analysis and route-dependent administration are required.

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Background: Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis has been accepted as an animal model for fibrosis in

Introduction: Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4’-trihydroxystilbene) as a polyphenol with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties is known as an effective herbal medicine in different disorders in rats. Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of oral consumption of resveratrol on vanadium induced renal injury in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Animals received either ammonium metavanadate (AMV, 5 mg/ kg/d, (intraperitoneally; 14 consecutive days) or resveratrol solution (10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, gastric gavage) along with AMV treatment. The last group received resveratrol alone (50 mg/ kg, gastric gavage) for 4 weeks. Results: AMV injection caused progressive tubular damages resembling acute tubular necrosis. Microscopic views revealed tubular attenuation and blebbing. In addition, progressive peritubular congestion of the capillaries observed while no evidence of renal fibrosis was present in trichrome staining. Further, levels of the renal transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) as an index of fibrosis had no difference in treated animals as compared with the control (13.4±1.2 versus 11.24±0.93 pg/mg protein) at the P<0.05. However, in AMVtreated animals receiving the higher dose of resveratrol (50 mg/kg), the renal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, showed no difference as compared with the saline-treated rats (42±1.3 versus 51±1.4). Conclusions It is evident that AMV injection had no ability to induce renal fibrosis in rats while it evokes renal destructive lesions based on pathological results and enzyme levels. Moreover, our preliminary results suggest that resveratrol in high dose (50 mg/kg) could confer a minor role against AMV induced renal tubular necrosis in rats due to pathological results.

Background: Cutaneous reactions like pruritus and erythema are common in warm months of