Received: October 7, 2003, Accepted: January 13, 2004, Published online: February 11, 2005.

BIODISTRIBUTION STUDIES OF BEE VENOM AND SPIDER TOXIN USING RADIOTRACERS

YONAMINE C. M. (1), COSTA H.(1), SILVA J. A. A. (1), MURAMOTO E. (1), ROGERO J. R. (1), TRONCONE L. R. P. (2), CAMILLO M. A. P. (1)

(1) Centro de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, CNEN, São Paulo, Brazil; (2) Laboratório de Farmacologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: The use of radiotracers allows the understanding of the bioavailability process, biodistribution, and kinetics of any molecule labelled with an isotope, which does not alter the molecule’s biological properties. In this work, technetium-99m and iodine-125 were chosen as radiotracers for biodistribution studies in mice using bee (Apis mellifera) venom and a toxin (PnTX2-6) from the Brazilian “armed” spider (Phoneutria nigriventer) venom. Incorporated radioactivity was measured in the blood, brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen, stomach, testicle, intestine, muscle, and thyroid gland. Results provided the blood kinetic parameter, and different organs distribution rates.

KEY WORDS: Phoneutria nigriventer, Apis mellifera, toxin, venom, radiotracer, biodistribution.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

M. A. P. CAMILLO - Centro de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brasil. Email: camillo@ipen.br