Avaliação do efeito do veneno de Bothrops atrox sobre baços de camundongos tratados com o extrato de Bellucia dichotoma Cong.: um estudo estereológico

Abstract

Aqueous extract from Bellucia dichotoma bark (EaBd) has traditionally been used in cases of snakes-bites accidents and has been shown to be promising against Bothrops atrox (VBa) poisoning. Antibothropic serum (SAB) is the conventional therapy after the accident with B. atrox. There is evidence of the local blocking action of EaBd in poisoned mice, however studies of the systemic action of this plant against VBa are lacking. The association between EaBd and SAB could also be an alternative for the injured. The spleen is the site responsible for filtration, immune response of the blood, as well as site of extramedullary hematopoiesis. In the present study, Swiss mice were challenged with bothropic venom and treated with Bellucia dichotoma, using the same extract concentration and native population preparation conditions, in order to investigate the action of venom and the possible antiofidic effect of EaBd in the period of 24 h. Thus, five experimental treatments (n = 4) were established: saline, VBa (Bothrops atrox venom), EaBd, EaBd/SAB and SAB. After the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and the spleens removed and fixed in buffered formalin for further processing in histological resin. Each organ was serially sectioned (9-12 sections/organ) that allowed the determination of the total volume of the spleen and its microstructure according to modern stereological techniques. B. atrox venom reduced the volume of the erythropoietic region of the red pulp and the volume of the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS), a region rich in T lymphocytes of the white pulp. In addition, the population of follicular macrophages was significantly increased in the VBa group in relation to the other groups. The treatment EaBd and EaBd/SAB did not present significant changes, except for the capsule component that was increased in EaBd/SAB. The treatments involving the extract were also similar to saline and SAB treatments. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of B. dichotoma administered orally shortly after B. atrox poisoning is effective in inhibiting the quantitative morphological changes in the spleen of mice poisoned when evaluated after 24 hours.