The effects of a sodium and a calcium channel blocker on lethality of mice injected with the yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) venom

ORIGINAL PAPER

The effects of a sodium and a calcium channel blocker on lethality of mice injected with the yellow scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) venom

Al-Shanawani A. R.; Fatani A. J.; El-Sayed F. H.

Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

Scorpion venom toxins generally produce similar effects by mainly acting on sodium channels, and to a lesser extent, on potassium, calcium, and chloride channels. This leads to increased release of neurotransmitters and mediators, resulting in a cascade of pathological events, involving the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, the cardiovascular and the respiratory system, eventually leading to death. The objective of this paper was to discover whether a sodium channel blocker, lidocaine, or a calcium channel blocker, verapamil, would prolong the survival of mice injected with the venom from the common yellow scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus (LQQ). For this purpose, mice were divided into 2 groups, each injected with a different venom dose (250 or 300 µg.kg^-1, s.c.). Subgroups (n=10) from each group were given venom alone; different doses of lidocaine (4, 10, 15, or 20 mg.kg^-1); or several doses of verapamil (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, or 1 mg.kg^-1). All doses of lidocaine and verapamil were intravenously administered 3 minutes before, 1, 5, and 15 minutes after venom injection. Percent surviving after 24 hours was recorded in addition to the time of death. In general, lidocaine significantly prolonged survival at the dose of 10 mg.kg^-1 (P<0.05 and P<0.01, versus low and high dose of venom, respectively) or 15 mg.kg^-1 (P<0.01 and P<0.001, versus low and high dose of venom, respectively; Covariance Wilcoxon survival statistics), especially when injected before the venom or in the early stages of envenomation. On the other hand, in all doses administered, verapamil was either toxic or showed non-significant results. Lidocaine, the sodium channel blocker, appears to play an important role in the protection from lethality of mice injected with LQQ venom, and significantly prolonged the survival time of mice whether injected before or in the early stages of envenomation.

Key words:Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus, scorpion venom, neurotoxins, Na⁺ channels, Ca²⁺ channels, lidocaine, verapamil, mice, lethality.

INTRODUCTION

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a vast country located between the temperate and tropical geographical regions. As with similar areas, it is known to harbor many species of the most venomous scorpions that can present medical problems and life hazards, especially for children (10). The toxins in these scorpions have been divided into two types, a and b, based on their pharmacological effects on Na⁺ channels (36). The a toxins, such as those in Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus, an Old World scorpion very common throughout the Middle East, bind to site 3 of Na⁺ channels, slowing or blocking the inactivation mechanism of these channels (36, 44). This would lead to prolonged action potential, sustained depolarization, and uncontrolled release of several neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (18), noradrenaline (32) and adrenaline (29), in addition to several pharmacologically active endogenous substances such as histamine (7), cytokines (33), bradykinins (31) and prostaglandins (15). This usually results in detrimental venom-evoked pathological changes in several systems including the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, muscular, gastro-intestinal, and immunological system, and ultimately death (23, 26).

Although several researchers have utilized scorpion a toxins in studying the structure and function of Na⁺ channels (4, 19), few have advocated the utilization of Na⁺ channel blockers to treat victims, by preventing the first step in the whole cascade that occurs following scorpion envenomation (12, 41, 43). Freire-Maia and Campos (13) employed lidocaine solely to relieve pain at sting site following scorpion envenomation. However, Barzilay et al. (1) utilized lidocaine to treat LQQ venom-evoked arrhythmias. In addition, Vital et al. (41) showed that lidocaine was useful in the treatment of arrhythmia and hypertension following envenomation by Androctonus australis and LQQ. Moreover, Fatani et al. (12) showed the effectiveness of pretreatment with lidocaine in protecting rabbits from venom-induced cardiovascular changes and prolonging survival. To the best of our knowledge, no or little work has been done showing whether early administration of a Na⁺ channel blocker after envenomation would avoid all the subsequent venom-elicited sequelae and thus enhance survival. This would change therapy towards alleviation of the original pathological cause, rather than symptomatic treatment of the aftermath.

On another work, several authors have reported a role for altered Ca²⁺ influx in LQQ scorpion venom eliciting pathological changes in different systems such as skeletal (45) and cardiac muscles (9, 20). Additionally, several scorpion venoms have been known to affect Ca²⁺ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal and cardiac muscles by binding to ryanodine receptors that regulate intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration, and whose elevation triggers a cascade of events culminating in muscle contraction (11, 39). It is also known that in addition to the activation of sodium and potassium channels, Ca²⁺ influx is essential for neurotransmitter release in several systems, and is governed by a number of high-voltage-operated Ca²⁺ channels (35). Since scorpion venom acts by prolonging the action potential, leading to sustained depolarization, and uncontrolled neurotransmitter release, it seems logical that blocking Ca²⁺ channels may prevent the exaggerated venom-evoked release of transmitters and mediators, thus positively altering the consequent sequelae (28, 38). In addition, Gueron and Sofer (21) and Bawaskar and Bawaskar (2) showed that nifedipine and/or verapamil, both calcium channel blockers, when utilized as vasodilators in treating venom-elicited hypertension, appeared to be effective. It would be interesting to discover whether the efficacy of these drugs could be attributed not only to their vasodilator effects but also to their channel blocking capabilities. If it is proven to be correct, these blockers may be administered in the earlier stages of envenomation and might also help in preventing the venom-evoked exaggerated neurotransmitters release and the subsequent pathological changes, thus prolonging survival.

Aim of the Work

Although there are many studies on the prevention of the detrimental toxicities that occur after scorpion envenomation, a lot of work is still necessary. It is a dilemma to decide on modules of treatment that would cover all damages, which usually depend on symptomatic treatment rather than the original cause of the pathological sequelae. Thus the aim of this study is to discover whether a sodium channel blocker, such as lidocaine, or a calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, given either before or at different times after scorpion envenomation, would halt or reduce the venom-elicited subsequent cascade of events, and ultimately extend survival. This is the first in a series of both in vivo and in vitro experiments that will study the protective effects of lidocaine on different systems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Swiss Albino mice (22.5 ± 0.01 g) were obtained from the Animal Care Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University. They were kept at the Animal Care Unit at ambient temperature with food and water ad libitum. The experiments were carried out according to the institution's guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus venom was obtained from the Antivenom Center of the King Fahad National Guard Hospital; lidocaine from Astra (Sweden); and verapamil from Sabex INC. (Canada).

Groups of 10 mice were injected subcutaneously with one of the following doses of LQQ scorpion venom: 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 µg.kg^-1. The experiment was then repeated with the same doses of venom injected intravenously via the mouse tail vein. The number of dead animals in every group was recorded after 24 hours. The lethal dose that killed 50% of the animals (LD₅₀) plus the minimal lethal dose (MLD) were then calculated for both the subcutaneous and intravenous routes, according to the Miller and Tainter method (34).

In another set of experiments mice were randomized into two main groups, each injected with a different dose of venom (250 or 300 µg.kg^-1, s.c.). Subgroups (n=10) from each group were given venom alone; different doses of lidocaine (4, 10, 15, or 20 mg.kg^-1); or several doses of verapamil (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, or 1 mg.kg^-1). All doses of lidocaine and verapamil were intravenously administered 3 minutes before, and 1, 5, and 15 minutes after venom injection. Proper positive and negative controls utilizing LQQ, lidocaine, verapamil and 0.9%NaCl were simultaneously performed. Time of death plus percent surviving after 24 hours were recorded. Covariance Wilcoxon survival statistics and survival distribution curves were determined utilizing SAS program, with the aid of the Biomedical Statistics Department at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital Research Center.

RESULTS

Effect of intravenous injection of 0.9%NaCl on mice

For control, 10 male mice (22.5 ±0.08 g) were injected with 0.9%NaCl (0.2 ml/20 g mouse, i.v.). All the animals were alive at the end of the 24-hour time limit of the experiment with no outward signs of toxicity.

Effect of intravenous and subcutaneous injection of LQQ venom on the survival of mice

Gradually increasing doses of LQQ venom (100-500 µg.kg^-1, either i.v. or s.c.) were injected in male mice. The LD₅₀ was calculated to be 220 and 240 µg.kg^-1 for the intravenous and subcutaneous routes, respectively; while the MLD, 330 and 350 µg.kg^-1, respectively (Tables 1 and 2). All the animals injected with venom doses higher than 200 µg.kg^-1 developed the following symptoms in varying degrees: agitation, aggressive behavior, increased respiration, hypersalivation, lacrimation, micturition, defecation, shivering, periodic spastic contractions, gasping, convulsions, and, in fatal cases, cardiac and respiratory arrest.

In all subsequent experiments, animals were injected subcutaneously to simulate the natural route of envenomation. For this purpose we utilized 2 venom doses (250 and 300 µg.kg^-1); the first was expected to kill more than 50% of the animals and the second less than 100%, without any therapeutic interventions. These experiments showed that the percent survival averaged 28%±1.64 and 5%±1.89 for 250 and 300 µg.kg^-1 of LQQ venom, respectively. Additionally, the average survival time was 36±1.23 min and 30±2.19 min for the low and high dose of venom, respectively.

Effect of intravenous injection of lidocaine and verapamil on mice

For control, male mice were divided into two groups; the first was injected with lidocaine (Lid; 4, 10, 15, or 20 mg.kg^-1, n=10/subgroup), and the second with verapamil (V, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 mg.kg^-1). In both cases, the doses used were known to affect calcium and sodium channels (17,30). All animals were alive at the end of the 24-hour time limit of the experiment with no outward signs of toxicity.

Effect of administration of lidocaine on the survival of mice injected with LQQ venom

Based on the survival time of envenomed mice, it was decided that, in addition to pretreating the animals with either lidocaine or verapamil, they would be injected immediately after (1 min), early (5 min) and at a later stage (15 min) following envenomation in order to assess the best time for intervention.

Lidocaine, in doses ranging from 4 to 20 mg.kg^-1, was intravenously administered 3 min before, and 1, 5, and 15 min after injecting LQQ venom (250 or 300 µg.kg^-1) (Tables 3 and 4); and the survival distribution function curves were drawn. In general, with both doses of venom, lidocaine significantly prolonged survival when injected at the dose of 10 mg.kg^-1 (P<0.05 and P<0.01, vs low and high dose of venom, respectively, Figures 1I and 2I) or 15 mg.kg^-1 (P<0.05 and P<0.001, vs low and high dose of venom, respectively; Figures 1II and 2II; Covariance Wilcoxon survival statistics).

Analysis of individual experiments showed that injection of 4 mg.kg^-1 Lid was incapable of altering the outcome whether injected before or after both doses of venom. When animals received Lid (10-20 mg.kg^-1) 3 min before the low dose of venom (250 µg.kg^-1), the survival time was significantly increased with the dose of 10 mg.kg^-1 (P<0.05 vs venom). Moreover, both percent survival and survival time were significantly elevated with the dose of 15 mg.kg^-1 (P<0.01 vs venom). When injected 1 min after the venom, Lid (15 and 20 mg.kg^-1) significantly elevated both percent survival and survival time (P<0.05 vs venom). Furthermore, Lid significantly increased survival time (P<0.01, vs venom), in the dose of 15 mg.kg^-1, and percent survival (P<0.01, vs venom), in the dose of 20 mg.kg^-1, when injected 5 min after LQQ venom. Surprisingly, when Lid was injected 15 min after LQQ venom, only animals treated with 10 mg.kg^-1 presented a significant prolongation in both percent survival and survival time (P<0.05 vs venom; Table 3).

A similar pattern was observed with the high dose of venom (300 µg.kg^-1) when Lid was injected 3 min before, significantly increasing the percent survival (P<0.01 for 15 mg.kg^-1) and survival time (P<0.05 for 10 and 20 mg.kg^-1; P<0.001 for 15 mg.kg^-1) versus venom alone. Unlike the results obtained with the lower dose of venom, when animals were treated with Lid 1 min after the venom, a significant protection was provided only by 10 mg.kg^-1 (survival time, P<0.05) vs venom-injected group. Also, when Lid was injected 5 min after LQQ venom, there was a significant difference in survival time (P<0.05 and P<0.001, for Lid 10 and 15 mg.kg^-1, respectively). Furthermore, when Lid was injected 15 min after the venom, percent survival of animals given 10 and 15 mg.kg^-1 was significantly higher than the corresponding venom-treated animals (P<0.05). In addition, survival time was also significantly elevated with 15 mg.kg^-1 Lid (P<0.05, vs venom alone; Table 4).

Effect of administration of verapamil on the survival of mice injected with LQQ venom

To compare the efficacy of the sodium channel blocker (lidocaine) with that of verapamil (a calcium channel blocker) in protecting LQQ-envenomed mice, animals were injected with several doses of V (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 mg.kg^-1) 3 min before and 1, 5, and 15 min after 250 or 300 µg.kg^-1 LQQ venom (Tables 5 and 6 plus Figures 3I, 3II, 4I, and 4II). Unlike the results obtained with Lid, regardless of the V dose utilized in these experiments or its time of injection, no significant difference was observed between envenomed animals treated with verapamil or those given venom alone. On the contrary, V significantly shortened survival time of mice when injected at the dose of 0.03 mg.kg^-1, either 5 or 15 min after 300 µg.kg^-1 LQQ venom (P<0.05, vs venom alone).

DISCUSSION

In the present study, when LQQ venom was injected subcutaneously into mice; the percent survival ranged from 10% to 30% with 250 µg.kg^-1 and from 0% to 10% with 300 µg.kg^-1 of venom. Additionally, survival time was between 33-42 min and 22-40 min for the low and high dose of venom, respectively. It is known that despite the zoological differences between dangerous species of scorpions of the subfamily Buthinae, including LQQ, most of their venoms cause similar signs and symptoms in both humans and experimental animals. These generally involve the central nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and gastrointestinal system, ultimately leading to death (14,22,26).

In this research, lidocaine, a sodium channel blocker, generally provided protection and prolonged survival of envenomed mice when injected intravenously either before or 1, 5 and 15 min after both venom doses. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the main targets of LQQ venom toxins are the voltage-sensitive Na⁺ channels, whose activation lead to sustained depolarization and exaggerated release of several transmitters and modulators (6,25,42). Sodium is also an important ion for maintenance of cellular homeostasis; thus agents, such as lidocaine, that attenuate Na⁺ intracellular increase may be a major factor in improving cell homeostasis and survival (16). It is known that lidocaine is a local anesthetic that inhibits the initiation and propagation of action potential by blocking voltage-dependent Na⁺ channels (37). Moreover, lidocaine has been used in symptomatic treatment of scorpion envenomation, either as a local anesthetic or as an anti-arrhythmic agent (1, 13).

In general, lidocaine, when administered 3 min before both doses of venom, significantly increased envenomed mice survival. This is comparable with the work of Fatani et al. (12), who showed the effectiveness of pretreatment with lidocaine in prolonging survival and protecting rabbits from LQQ venom-induced pathological changes. This verifies that the lethal effects of scorpion venom seem to be due to its ability to act on Na⁺ channels, since their blockade before venom injection prolonged survival.

In the present study, when animals were injected with Lid after envenomation by LQQ, as would be expected to occur in a clinical setting, survival was prolonged, especially during earlier interventions. This would be expected since it is known that LQQ venom prolongs the inactivation of Na⁺ channels and increases the release of several neurotransmitters and mediators (8), what usually leads in both humans and animals to a sustained blood pressure elevation, tachycardia, hyperpnea, increased secretions, plus signs of neuromuscular and CNS stimulation. This period is usually followed by a second phase characterized by gradually increasing hypotension, bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, gasping, convulsions, and ultimately cardiac plus respiratory arrest and death (3, 13, 23, 27, 43, 46), many of which were observed in the envenomed mice of the present work. Thus, Na⁺ channels blockade with Lid during the early stages of the cascade of venom-evoked pathological changes would prevent further release of various mediators, and thus protect the animals from the subsequent sequelae, ultimately prolonging survival.

It was noticed that administration of a high dose of Lid (20 mg.kg^-1), especially in the later stages of envenomation (from 15 min onwards), did not provide any protection; and both survival time and percent survival were not different from the groups injected with venom alone. It is known that Lid, especially in higher doses, may cause hypotension and myocardial depression (2), which would probably aggravate the venom-evoked hypotension and bradycardia, particularly in the later stages of envenomation or with higher concentrations of venom.

Even though most of the scorpion neurotoxins act selectively on sodium channels, these venoms also contain minor components that act on other voltage-dependent channels, such as calcium (40) and potassium channels (24). Furthermore, it is also known that in addition to activation of sodium and potassium channels, Ca²⁺ influx is essential for neurotransmitter release in several systems (39). Thus this study attempted to verify whether a calcium channel blocker, verapamil, could provide protection against venom-elicited neurotransmitter release and its subsequent pathological sequelae. However, with the route and doses utilized, verapamil could not protect the LQQ-envenomed mice, regardless of the intervention time or venom dose. On the contrary, verapamil on certain occasions significantly shortened survival time, as seen when it was injected 5 or 15 min after the high dose of venom. It is probable that verapamil doses and/or route of administration were not suitable, or that the additive effects of both, venom and verapamil, counteracted any beneficial actions. It is known that verapamil, by blocking the Ca²⁺ channels in the cardiovascular system, may lead to cardiac depression and hypotension (28,39), effects also observed with LQQ venom especially in the later stages. Alternatively, the ineffectiveness of verapamil may be explained by the fact that it only blocks L-type calcium channels (5) and thus lacks protective effects on other types of calcium channels. Furthermore Casali et al. (5) showed that venom-induced release of acetylcholine is mediated via P-type calcium channels, which are probably not affected by verapamil. Further work is needed to assess the exact role, if any, of calcium channels in scorpion envenomation.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the hypothesis that the detrimental effects of LQQ venom are mainly due to Na⁺ channels activation and consequent pathological changes in several systems of the body, leading ultimately to death. It was evident that blockade of voltage-sensitive Na⁺ channels with lidocaine, as early as possible, was able to halt the progressive damages caused by scorpion envenomation and prolong survival. Additional studies are underway in order to assess how lidocaine protects the animals, by undertaking a thorough investigation on its protective effects on the different systems of envenomed animals, especially the most affected ones, the cardiovascular and respiratory system.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Special thanks to King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology for their generous grant; Antivenom Center at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital for collecting and milking the scorpions; and Biomedical Statistics Department at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital Research Center for their help with the statistics.

Received: March 19, 2004

Accepted: August 30, 2004

Published online: March 3, 2005

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  03 May 2005
• Date of issue
  June 2005

History

• Accepted
  30 Aug 2004
• Received
  19 Mar 2004