Africanized Bee Venom (Apis mellifera Linnaeus): Neuroprotective Effects in a Parkinson’s Disease Mouse Model Induced by 6-hydroxydopamine
Camila Gomes Dantas, Ailma Oliveira da Paixão, Tássia Luiza Gonçalves Magalhães Nunes, Italo J. F. Silva, Bruno dos S. Lima, Adriano Antunes de Souza Araújo, Ricardo Luiz Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Júnior, Kátia Peres Gramacho, Francine Ferreira Padilha, Luiz Pereira da Costa, Patrícia Severino, Juliana Cordeiro Cardoso, Eliana B. Souto, Margarete Zanardo Gomes
Abstract
This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of the Africanized bee venom (BV) and its mechanisms of action after 6-hydroxydopamine-(6-OHDA)-induced lesion in a mice model. Prior to BV treatment, mice received intrastriatal microinjections of 6-OHDA (no induced dopaminergic neuronal death) or ascorbate saline (as a control). BV was administered subcutaneously at different dosages (0.01, 0.05 or 0.1 mg·Kg−1) once every two days over a period of 3 weeks. The open field test was carried out, together with the immunohistochemical and histopathological analysis. The chemical composition of BV was also assessed, identifying the highest concentrations of apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin. In the behavioral evaluation, the BV (0.1 mg·Kg−1) counteracted the 6-OHDA-induced decrease in crossings and rearing. 6-OHDA caused loss of dopaminergic cell bodies in the substantia nigra pars compacta and fibers in striatum (STR). Mice that received 0.01 mg·Kg−1 showed significant increase in the mean survival of dopaminergic cell bodies. Increased astrocytic infiltration occurred in the STR of 6-OHDA injected mice, differently from those of the groups treated with BV. The results suggested that Africanized BV has neuroprotective activity in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease.