Neuroethological analysis of the effects of spider venom from Scaptocosa raptoria (Lycosidae: Araneae) microinjected in the lateral ventricle of Wistar rats.

The inhibition of excitatory mechanisms by components of low molecular weight, isolated from spiders and solitary wasps, such as, the acyl-polyamines, has demonstrated, on the one hand, neuroprotection potential, and on the other hand, it is well known that some arthropod venom components have convulsant activity. While many sophisticated experiments are conducted to determine the mechanisms and effects of arthropod venoms, relatively little attention has been paid to the behavioral changes that occur in mammals after being administered given doses of them. The precise detection of these behavioral changes can be used as a sensitive indicator of central nervous system dysfunction. This study investigated the behavioral effects of crude venom from the spider Scaptocosa raptoria after intracerebroventricular injection in male Wistar rats. The venom induced behavioral changes quantified using a neuroethological method, which allows the evaluation of the following parameters: frequency, duration, and strength of statistical association (chi-square) between pairs of behaviors. The rats exhibited a period of freezing, which was always followed by procursive-type seizures (running, gyrating, atonic falling, and jumping).