Sulfated polysaccharide extracted of the green algae Caulerpa racemosa increase the enzymatic activity and paw edema induced by sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

Sulfated polysaccharides derived from seaweed have shown great potential for use in the development of new drugs. In this study, we observed that a low-molecular-weight sulfated polysaccharide from Caulerpa racemosa, termed CrSP, could interact with secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. When native sPLA2 (14 kDa) was incubated with CrSP, they formed a molecular complex (sPLA2:CrSP) with a molecular mass of 32 kDa, approximately. Size exclusion chromatography experiments suggested that CrSP formed a stable complex with sPLA2. We belived that sPLA2 and SPCr are involved an ionic interaction between negatively charged CrSP and the positively charged basic amino acid residues of sPLA2, because this interaction induced significant changes in sPLA2 enzymatic and pharmacological activities. CrSP caused a significant increase in sPLA2 enzymatic and bactericidal activity and increased its edematogenic effect. A pharmacological assay showed that the myotoxic activity of sPLA2:CrSP is unrelated to its enzymatic activity and that sPLA2:CrSP may have a practical application as a natural antibacterial agent for use in humans and commercially raised animals.

Effects of antiproteolytic agents on corneal epithelial viability and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 activity in alkali-burned corneas of rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A new surgical technique to treat corneal perforations using amniotic membrane and surgical adhesive

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Endotélio da córnea e facoemulsificação em cães

This study aims, by a literature review, to evaluate the effects of the phacoemulsification surgery into the endothelial cells of the cornea, especially on dogs. The phacoemulsification is a surgical technique of cataract surgery, and presents a series of factors pre, trans and post operation that can affect the cornea endothelium. Knowing that the cornea transparency is essential to the preservation of the visual acuity, and that the endothelium cells do not demonstrate an adequate regeneration, it is important to the surgeon to be aware of these factors in order to avoid or to minimize them. Among then can be mentioned: previous diseases, surgical and chemical trauma, intra-ocular lens, uveitis etc. As consequence, a reduction on the number of endothelium cells and edema can be observed, which can lead to a loss of vision by definitive cornea opacity or to late visual recuperation