Effects of Odontobuthus Doriae Scorpion Venom on Mouse Sciatic Nerve

Temporary paralysis is a rare manifestation of envenoming following the yellow Iranian scorpion, Odontobuthus doriae (O. doriae). Thus, to elucidate the underlying mechanism, we investigated the neurotoxic effect of venom in the sciatic nerve, the possible mechanism in a mice model. The neurotoxicity and temperature effects in the venom-induced neurotoxicity were examined using the mouse sciatic nerve and mouse phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm (MHD) preparations. O. doriae venom (1 µg/mL) caused changes in the perineural waveform associated with nerve terminal action potentials. Venom affected on both negative and positive components of the waveform which is known as a compound action potential. The time-response relationship of venom-induced depression of resting membrane potential (RMP) was significant (p < 0.05). No significant difference in augmentation was seen in room temperature in comparison with 37°C. In conclusion, although there was no evidence that the venom had any specific curarizing action at the neuromuscular junction, the results suggest that the venom exerts its neuromuscular transmission on the sciatic nerve through potassium and sodium ionic-currents. Furthermore, the influence of temperature on neurotoxicity was ineffective on blockade of the neuromuscular transmission in-vitro.