Changes in carbohydrate expression In the cervical spinal cord of mice intoxicated with perivitellin PV2 from Pomacea canaliculata

FERNÁNDEZ PE,; FRASSA,V.; GIMENO, E.; DREON MS,; HERAS, H

João Pessoa, Brasil

Congreso; 8th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants (ISOPP 8); 2009

Federal University of Campina Grande

In a previous work, we reported a proteinaceous neurotoxin inside the eggs from the southamerican freshwater apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Heras et al., 2008). It displayed a neurotoxic effect in mice upon intraperitoneal injection. Clinical signs, histopathological and immunocytochemical studies revealed damage mostly in mice spinal cord. Experiments showed chromatolysis and a decreased response to calbindin D-28K associated with a significant increase of TUNEL-positive cells in the dorsal horn neurons. These results suggest that calcium buffering and apoptosis may play a role in the neurological disorders induced by the toxin in mammalian central nervous system. Here we report the histochemical changes in carbohydrates profile in the spinal cord of control and PV2-intoxicated mice. Nine lectins were used, namely: Con A (Concanavalia ensiformis), DBA (Dolichos biflorus), SBA (Glycine max), PNA (Arachis hypogaea), RCA - I (Ricinus communis-I), UEA-1 (Ulex europaeus-I), WGA (Triticum vulgaris), sWGA (succinylated WGA) and JAC (Artocarpus integrifolia). The results showed differences between the two groups in the lectin binding pattern. The most striking difference was observed with SBA, a lectin that specifically recognize a-D-GalNAc, b-D-GalNAc and a and b-Gal. SBA showed an increased staining of the gray matter at laminae II and III as compared to control mice. Interestingly, this is the same region showing neuroprotective calbindin D-28K decrease and TUNEL-positive neuron increase. Considering that calcium buffering and apoptosis may play a role in neurological disorders induced by PV2 toxin, the increased expression of galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine residues may be related with neuron apoptosis in spinal cord laminae  II and III, leading to the highly lethal effect of the toxin. References: Horacio Heras , M. Victoria Frassa, Patricia E. Fernández, Cecilia M. Galosi, Eduardo J. Gimeno, Marcos S. Dreon. FIRST EGG PROTEIN WITH A NEUROTOXIC EFFECT ON MICE. Toxicon 52 (2008) 481–488.