Expression of Fos Protein In the Rat Central Nervous System After Icv Injection Of the Spider Toxin 6-Hydroxytripargine.

¹Cesar, L. M. M.; ²Elias, C. F.; ²Bittencourt, J. C. and ¹Palma, M. S. 

1 Laboratory of Structural Biology and Zoochemistry - University of of São Paulo State  - Rio Claro – SP, Brazil. 2 Department of Anatomy - Institute of Biomedical Science - University of São Paulo - São Paulo – SP, Brazil.

The tetrahydro-b-carbolines (THBC) are alkaloids compounds presenting neurotoxic and hallucinogenic properties, found in plants, tissues and body fluids. The THBC toxin: 6-hydroxytripargine, was purified from the venom  ofthe spider Parawixia bistriata. Its molecular structure was elucidated by using spectroscopic techniques. In the present study we used tha natural toxin for toxicity assays: 15 µl of 6-hydroxitripargin solution (1µg/µl)   was applied through intracerebroventricular (icv) injection in adult male Wistars rats (n=18). Immunohystochemistry procedures evidenced the fos protein expression by using anti-fos primary antibody and imunoperoxidase reaction. The best visualization of the labeled areas was obtained by osmium intensification.  We observed the expression of the fos protein in some regions of the central nervous system, such as: ependyma on the ventricles, lateral septal nucleus, sensorial cortex, paraventricular and dorsomedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. These results suggested a possible interaction of the 6-hydroxitripargine with some specific areas of the central nervous system, related to attention and arousal. The action of this compound in such areas will allow a better understanding of the applicability of this neurotoxin.

Support: FAPESP and CNPq.

Correspondence to: lmmc@rc.unesp.br