Avaliação das alterações neurológicas e comportamentais resultantes do envenenamento por Bothrops atrox em camundongos

Abstract

The snakebite accident represents a serious public health issue in Brazil, with significant implications for the population's health, particularly in endemic regions, due to its high incidence, severe clinical consequences, and public spending resulting from hospitalization or disability pensions. Cases of poisoning by Bothrops atrox reported in the literature, when not fatal, may result in highly debilitating sequelae, including those in the central nervous system (CNS), triggered by the direct or indirect impact of the venom on brain functions. In this context, the hippocampus plays a very important role, as it is involved in memory formation and cognitive processing. This study aimed to evaluate the neurological and behavioral changes induced by the administration of Bothrops atrox venom in mice, seeking to elucidate the neurotoxic effects and the possible repercussions on the behavior of these animals. Male and female albino mice (Balb/C strain) were used, divided into groups that received different doses of Bothrops atrox venom (Vba) (10 μg, 30 μg, and 70 μg) and evaluated at different times (24 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days). To assess the impairment of brain function and possible morphological changes, the Neurological Severity Score (NSS) test was applied, followed by histological analysis of the brains. The NSS test results showed that the animals performed worse in the first 24 hours after venom administration when compared to the other groups at different times (72 hours and 7 days), suggesting that, although variable, these changes resulting from poisoning impair the functional brain profile. Histological findings showed edema, tissue vacuolization, and evidence of neurodegeneration, indicating significant changes in brain morphology due to exposure to the venom. These findings reinforce the need for a more detailed investigation of the direct or indirect effects of Bothrops atrox venom on the CNS, in relation to the pathophysiological mechanisms involved and their clinical impacts.