A biodistribution study of Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom and available polyclonal antivenom in rats

Seyedian R (1), Jalali A (2), Babaee MH (2), Pipelzadeh MH (3), Rezaee S (4)

(1) Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; (2) Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, and Toxicology Research Centre, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; (3) Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, and Toxicology Research Centre, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; (4) Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

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 Telimination 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 Telimination 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.

Key words: Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom, polyvalent antivenom, pharmacokinetic parameters, tissue distribution.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Professor Simin Dadashzadeh (School of Pharmacy, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran), Dr Ali Hassan Rahmani (School of Medicine), Dr Alireza Droudi (School of Pharmacy, Jundishapur University), Dr Saghir Shakil (Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA) and Nazanin Shobeiry for their suggestions and guidance in performing this study. We also would like to thankfully acknowledge the financial support of Deputy of Research Affairs of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: March 19, 2012.

Accepted: June 15, 2012.

Abstract published online: June 29, 2012.

Full paper published online: November 30, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

The Deputy of Research Affairs of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran provided the financial grants.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Jundishapur University, Ahvaz (Ref. n. IA/P/2100). Moreover, the protocols were conducted according to the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Amir Jalali, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, and Toxicology Research Centre of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Phone: + 0098 611 3738380. Fax: 0098 611 3738381. Email: amjalali@hotmail.com.